ZURICH: The largest Kashmir sapphire to ever appear at an auction fetched 3.8 million dollars at Geneva on Tuesday.

The gemstone, a 55.19 carat stone, was part of a 1930s sapphire and diamond brooch _ set alongside another Kashmir sapphire weighing 25.97 carats.

The 55 carat stone had belonged to an heiress of the Guinness brewery fortune.

Also on the block was a diamond and pearl tiara passed down through generations of Italy’s royal family. It sold for $1.6m.

The price was one of the highest achieved for a tiara in recent years, auctioneers Sotheby’s said.

Dating from the second half of the 19th century, the tiara was a wedding gift to Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo upon her marriage in 1867 to Amadeo I of Savoy, later king of Spain.

The tiara features graduated scroll motifs set with diamonds and natural pearls and had an estimated price of $1m to $1.5m.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2021