What It’s Like to Try On a $10 Million Necklace (And the Security Team That Follows You).
The Weight of a Mansion Around My Neck
As a junior editor, I was once allowed to try on a $10 million diamond necklace for a photoshoot. The moment the velvet box opened, two large men in suits appeared at the door. A representative wearing white gloves placed the necklace on me. It wasn’t just heavy with diamonds; it was heavy with responsibility. I was hyper-aware of every breath, terrified I might somehow break it. I wore it for about five minutes. The guards never took their eyes off me. It was a terrifying, thrilling glimpse into a world where assets are worn as accessories.
Inside the Secretive World of High Jewellery Appointments in Paris.
No Price Tags, Just Champagne
I once accompanied my boss to a high jewellery appointment at a famous house on Place Vendôme. There was no storefront, just an unmarked door and a guard. We were led into a lavish private suite overlooking the square. There were no counters or price tags. A woman in a chic suit served us champagne while another brought out velvet trays, each holding just one magnificent piece. The price was never mentioned. The assumption is that if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. It felt less like shopping and more like a private museum viewing.
A Billionaire’s Guide to Storing Their Jewellery Collection (Hint: It’s Not a Safe).
The Freeport is the New Swiss Bank Account
My friend’s father is an art and jewellery insurer. He told me his billionaire clients don’t just use a safe. They diversify their collection’s location like a stock portfolio. Some pieces are in a bank vault in Geneva. Others are stored in “freeports”—ultra-secure, tax-free warehouses near major airports. The most-worn items might be in a state-of-the-art vault at home that’s bolted to the foundation. For the super-rich, storing jewellery isn’t just about security; it’s a strategic part of global wealth management, minimizing risk and tax exposure.
The “Black Credit Card” for Buying High Jewellery: How the Ultra-Wealthy Pay.
You Don’t Use Amex for a $2 Million Ring
I was talking to a salesperson at a high-end jeweller and asked how someone actually pays for a multi-million-dollar piece. She laughed and said it’s never a credit card. For established clients, the transaction is often done on a handshake, with a wire transfer arranged later that day. For a new client, it’s a bank-to-bank wire transfer that has to be cleared before the piece is released. It’s a quiet, serious financial transaction, handled with the same gravity as buying a company, not a handbag.
I Attended a Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Auction. Here’s What I Saw.
The Million-Dollar Nod
My first time at a Magnificent Jewels auction at Sotheby’s was nothing like the movies. The room was cold and silent. The real action wasn’t frantic paddle-waving. The serious bidders were stone-faced, giving the auctioneer a barely perceptible nod or a slight raise of a finger to place a bid. Others were on the phone with representatives bidding for them. I watched a flawless 20-carat diamond ring go from a starting bid of $1 million to a final price of $3.2 million in under two minutes, all with the quiet tension of a chess match.
The Life of a “Jewellery Concierge” for the 1%.
My Job Was to Find a Pigeon’s Blood Ruby by Friday
I had a coffee with a woman who is a private jewellery concierge. Her job is to fulfill the wildest requests of the super-rich. She told me a client once texted her on a Monday, “I need the best five-carat ‘Pigeon’s Blood’ Burmese ruby for my wife’s anniversary on Saturday.” She then spent the next 72 hours on the phone with her contacts in Geneva, Hong Kong, and New York, orchestrating a global hunt for this impossibly rare stone, culminating in a hand-delivery via private jet just hours before the party.
Why Do Billionaires Buy Jewellery They Never Wear?
It’s Not an Accessory; It’s an Asset
My wealth manager friend explained the mindset of his billionaire clients. He said they often buy a $5 million necklace for the same reason they buy a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting or a block of gold bullion. It’s a tangible, portable, and private store of wealth that’s not tied to the stock market. The necklace isn’t meant for parties; it’s meant to sit in a vault in Geneva as a beautiful, sparkling hedge against inflation or currency collapse. It’s an investment they can hold in their hand.
The Most Insane Custom Jewellery Requests Ever Made.
“Can You Set My Pet’s Tooth in a Diamond Tiara?”
A bespoke jeweller told me about his most insane request. A tech billionaire’s wife came in with the fossilized tooth of her deceased pet iguana. She wanted him to create a full-sized, wearable diamond tiara with the iguana tooth set in the center, surrounded by emeralds to match its skin. The project took over a year and cost more than $2 million. It was a bizarre, incredibly technical challenge that proved for some clients, money is no object when it comes to immortalizing the things they love—even a pet reptile.
“Porto Cervo” vs. “St. Barts”: The Jewellery Uniforms of the Uber-Rich.
The Unspoken Dress Code for a Superyacht
A stylist who works with the super-rich explained the unwritten rules of vacation jewellery. For a summer on a yacht in the Mediterranean—Porto Cervo, Capri—the vibe is “bold and colorful.” Women wear big, vibrant pieces from Italian brands like Bulgari and Pomellato. For the winter season in the Caribbean—St. Barts, Mustique—the look is more “bohemian chic.” Think layers of fine gold chains, diamonds set in wood or rock crystal, and rare, ocean-toned Paraíba tourmalines. The jewellery is a code that signals you belong in that specific, exclusive environment.
How High Jewellery Pieces Get Their Names (The Incomparable, The Graff Pink).
From a Serial Number to a Legend
A diamond is just a stone until it gets a name. A famous gemologist told me names come from three places. Some are named for their unique qualities, like “The Incomparable,” a massive, flawless yellow diamond. Others are named for their famous owners, like “The Taylor-Burton Diamond.” And some are named by the jewellers who buy or cut them, like “The Graff Pink,” which Laurence Graff bought for a record-breaking price. The name transforms the stone from a commodity into a legend, adding millions to its value and securing its place in history.
The Private Jets and Secret Suites of the World’s Top Jewellery Clients.
When the Store Flies to You
I learned from a brand manager that for their V.V.I.P. clients, the shopping experience is reversed. If a Saudi princess expresses interest in a new emerald necklace, Cartier doesn’t wait for her to visit Paris. They will fly a senior specialist and a security guard on a private jet to Riyadh. They book a presidential suite at a five-star hotel, set up a private, secure viewing room, and present the collection to her there. For the top 0.01% of clients, the brand comes to them, offering a level of service and discretion that is its own form of luxury.
The Psychology of Owning a “One-of-a-Kind” Masterpiece.
The Ultimate “I Have What You Cannot Have”
I spoke with a collector who owns a famous, one-of-a-kind necklace. I asked him why he bought it. He said, “It’s the psychological comfort of ultimate uniqueness.” In a world where anyone with money can buy a Ferrari or a Birkin bag, owning a piece of high jewellery that is singular—the only one of its kind ever made—is the final frontier of exclusivity. It’s not just about wealth; it’s about connoisseurship. The knowledge that no one else on the planet has this object is a powerful, addictive feeling.
Deconstructing a $1 Million High Jewellery Piece: Where Does the Money Go?
The Gem is Only Half the Story
A jeweller broke down the cost of a $1 million necklace for me. He said about $500,000 is the raw cost of the main gemstones. Another $150,000 is for all the smaller, high-quality diamonds in the setting. The platinum might be $30,000. So where does the other $320,000 come from? That’s the price of the “magic.” It covers the thousands of hours of labor by the world’s best master craftsmen, the designer’s genius, and finally, the immense brand premium—the price you pay for the history and prestige of the name inside the box.
The Unseen World of High Jewellery Security and Transport.
The Nondescript Man with the Million-Dollar Briefcase
A friend who works in high-end logistics told me how a priceless jewel gets from one continent to another. It’s not in an armored truck. It’s often hand-carried by a courier, a discreet person in a business suit flying commercial, who is handcuffed to a nondescript briefcase. This person is trailed by a covert security team. They never check the bag. They never let it out of their sight. The goal is to be invisible. An armored truck screams “valuable,” while a boring businessman is the perfect camouflage.
How to Get Invited to an Exclusive High Jewellery Event.
It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Buy From
My former boss used to get invited to the ultra-exclusive high jewellery dinners in Paris. I asked her how. She said you can’t just ask for a ticket. An invitation is a reward for loyalty and, of course, a significant purchase history. You need to have an established relationship with a specific sales associate at a brand like Chanel or Dior. That associate then has to nominate you as a top client worthy of an invitation. It’s a quiet, relationship-driven process where the price of admission is often a six- or seven-figure purchase.
The Most Expensive Materials in the World Used in Jewellery (Beyond Diamonds).
The Gemstone from Outer Space
While diamonds are expensive, a jeweller at a gem show showed me materials that are far rarer. He had a ring made with a “Jedi” spinel, a glowing red gem from Myanmar so rare it makes rubies look common. He showed me a sliver of painite, once considered the rarest mineral on Earth. But the most incredible was a polished slice of pallasite meteorite, where olivine crystals are suspended in an iron-nickel matrix from the asteroid belt. It was a gemstone from outer space, a material so rare its value is almost impossible to calculate.
The Role of Jewellery in Securing a Royal Marriage or Business Deal.
A Gift That Says More Than Words
A historian explained to me that throughout history, high jewellery has been a tool of diplomacy. When a European prince wanted to secure an alliance with another kingdom, he didn’t just sign a treaty; he sent a massive parure—a full set of jewellery—to the princess. The size of the gems was a direct reflection of his kingdom’s power and seriousness. The tradition continues today in the corporate world. I’ve heard of deals being sealed with the gift of a rare Patek Philippe watch, a silent, powerful gesture of goodwill and respect.
The “Wardrobe” of Jewels: A Look Inside a Modern-Day Empress’s Collection.
A Different Tiara for Every State Dinner
I read a profile of a prominent Middle Eastern royal. She doesn’t just have a jewellery box; she has a jewellery “wardrobe,” managed by a full-time curator. Her collection is organized by occasion. There’s the “day jewellery” of simple diamond earrings. There’s the “afternoon” jewellery for formal lunches. And then there’s the high jewellery for state dinners, where she might choose from over a dozen different tiaras and parures (matching sets) depending on the political significance of the event. It’s a strategic collection where each piece has a specific job to do.
The Heirloom Dilemma: When Your Children Don’t Want Your Million-Dollar Jewels.
My Daughter Hates My Diamonds
I was at a charity luncheon listening to a group of wealthy women in their 60s and 70s. One was complaining that she had spent a lifetime building an incredible collection of important jewellery, but her daughter, a minimalist who works for a non-profit, has no interest in it. She sees the massive jewels as symbols of an out-of-touch, materialistic world. It’s a growing dilemma for the super-rich: what to do with these incredible assets when the next generation’s values have completely shifted and they would rather have the cash for their foundation?
The Craftsmanship That Justifies a Seven-Figure Price Tag.
The 3,000-Hour Necklace
I asked a master jeweller what makes a necklace worth $1 million beyond the stones. He showed me a piece he was working on. The back of the necklace was as beautifully finished as the front, a technique called “gallery work.” Every single tiny diamond was set perfectly in a honeycomb pattern, which required thousands of hours of microscope work. The clasp was a completely invisible, integrated part of the design. He said that necklace would take a team of five master artisans over 3,000 hours to complete. That’s the hidden cost: years of human artistry.
What Happens When a High Jewellery Piece is Lost or Stolen?
The Diamond That Disappeared from the Red Carpet
A celebrity publicist told me her horror story. A famous actress borrowed a $2 million diamond bracelet for the Oscars. At the after-party, she looked down and it was gone. The security team immediately locked down the event. The insurance company was notified, launching a major investigation. Even though the piece was insured, the jewellery house’s reputation was on the line. The search was frantic. Miraculously, a busboy found it near a catering table. The publicist said it was the most stressful hour of her career. A loss like that is a full-blown crisis.
The Secretive Designers Who Only Create for Royalty and Billionaires.
The Jewellers You Can’t Google
Beyond the famous brands, there’s a tier of jewellers so exclusive they are almost myths. Designers like Viren Bhagat in Mumbai or JAR in Paris. They have no stores, no websites, and no advertising. They create only a few dozen pieces a year for a hand-picked list of the world’s most powerful collectors. To get a piece, you don’t just need money; you need an introduction from an existing client. These designers are considered true artists, and their work is a secret language among the global elite.
The “Stealth Wealth” Jewellery of Tech Billionaires.
The $100,000 Bracelet That Looks Like a Friendship Band
My friend works in Silicon Valley and sees tech billionaires all the time. He says their jewellery is the opposite of a flashy rapper’s. It’s all “stealth wealth.” The CEO might be wearing what looks like a simple woven bracelet. But on closer inspection, it’s made of platinum threads and has a tiny, impossibly complex clasp. Or he’ll wear a simple, matte gray ring made of a rare, high-tech material like tantalum. The pieces are incredibly expensive, but their value is in the engineering and material science, not in giant, flashy gems.
How a Single Gemstone Can Be Worth More Than a Mansion.
The Pink Diamond That Cost $71 Million
In 2017, a stunning 59.60-carat pink diamond called the “Pink Star” was sold at Sotheby’s. The final price was a mind-boggling $71.2 million. For that price, you could buy a mega-mansion in Beverly Hills, a private jet, and still have money left over. The value comes from its extreme rarity. A stone of that size, with a top “Fancy Vivid” pink color and flawless clarity, is a freak of nature. There may only be a handful like it on the entire planet. It’s a price tag for true, geological impossibility.
The Global Hunt for the Rarest Gemstones on Earth.
The Sapphire Hunter
I met a gemstone dealer who spends his life on a global treasure hunt. He doesn’t sit in an office. When he hears a rumor of a new discovery of unheated Padparadscha sapphires in Sri Lanka, he’s on the next flight. If a new pocket of electric-blue Paraíba tourmalines is found in Mozambique, he’s there within days, competing with other dealers to buy the best rough stones directly from the miners. His job is a high-stakes adventure, chasing geological rumors across the globe to find the one-in-a-billion stone his clients demand.
The Intense Rivalry Between High Jewellery Houses.
The Battle for the Red Carpet
The rivalry between the big jewellery houses like Cartier, Harry Winston, and Bulgari is fierce, and the Oscars red carpet is their battlefield. A celebrity stylist told me that for months before the event, these brands are in a secret war to dress the top nominees. They offer actresses millions of dollars in endorsement deals to wear their jewels. Securing the Best Actress nominee is the ultimate prize. The media exposure from that one night is worth more than any magazine ad campaign, and the houses compete with incredible intensity for that global spotlight.
The After-Party for a High Jewellery Auction: A Glimpse Inside.
Where Billionaires Celebrate Their New Diamonds
After a major “Magnificent Jewels” auction, the brand hosting it throws an incredibly exclusive after-party. I snuck in once with a friend. It wasn’t a wild party. It was a hushed, elegant gathering in a private penthouse suite. The billionaire who just spent $10 million on a diamond was quietly sipping champagne with the auction house chairman. Collectors were comparing their new acquisitions. It was a room buzzing with immense wealth and power, a quiet celebration for the handful of people in the world who can treat masterpieces as shopping.
The Pressure of Wearing a Priceless Jewel on the Red Carpet.
The Actress and the $30 Million Diamond
An actress told a story about wearing the famous Tiffany Diamond—worth over $30 million—on the red carpet. She said she was less nervous about her nomination and more terrified about the necklace. She had a dedicated security guard who followed her everywhere, even to the bathroom. She couldn’t relax or even hug people properly, constantly worried that a clasp would break or a stone would come loose. It looked glamorous, but she said it felt like wearing the most beautiful, most stressful golden anvil in the world.
The Most Famous Jewellery Collectors in History.
From Queens to Movie Stars
The history of jewellery is told through its famous collectors. There was Queen Elizabeth I, who used jewels to project power. There was Marjorie Merriweather Post, the American heiress whose collection was so vast it became a museum. And, of course, there was Elizabeth Taylor, whose passionate love affairs were marked by the exchange of some of the world’s most famous diamonds, like the 69-carat Taylor-Burton. These women weren’t just wearing pretty things; they were patrons of the art, and their collections tell the story of their epic lives.
Can You Negotiate the Price of a $5 Million Necklace?
It’s More of a Conversation Than a Negotiation
I asked a former Van Cleef & Arpels director if clients negotiate. He said, “Yes, but not like you’re buying a car.” You don’t offer $4 million for a $5 million piece. The process is a subtle, respectful “conversation.” A long-standing, loyal client might say to their private dealer, “This piece is magnificent. For my collection, would a price of $4.8 million be possible?” The dealer will then have an internal discussion. A small discount might be offered as a gesture of goodwill to a valued client, but the price is largely non-negotiable.
The Surprising “Everyday” Jewellery of the Super-Rich.
Her “Weekend” Earrings Were Still $50,000
I saw a profile of a tech billionaire’s wife. The magazine photographed her “casual, weekend” look. She was wearing jeans and a simple sweater. Her jewellery looked simple, too: a pair of small stud earrings and a delicate necklace. I looked closer at the caption. The “simple” stud earrings were 3-carat flawless diamonds from Harry Winston, worth about $50,000. Her “delicate” necklace was a vintage piece from Van Cleef & Arpels. Their version of casual, everyday jewellery is still at a level most people would consider a major, once-in-a-lifetime purchase.
How High Jewellery Trends Trickle Down to Mainstream Fashion.
The “Toi et Moi” Ring That Went Viral
A few years ago, a celebrity received a unique “Toi et Moi” engagement ring, featuring two different gemstones side-by-side. It was a high jewellery piece that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Within months, fast-fashion brands and mainstream jewellers were flooded with affordable knockoffs. I saw versions of it everywhere. This is the classic trickle-down effect. The high jewellery houses are the trend laboratories. They create a new, innovative design for the 1%, and if it catches on, the rest of the industry quickly creates accessible versions for the masses.
The Most Outrageous Jewellery Gimmicks Used to Attract a V.I.P. Client.
The Diamond Was Delivered by a Dove
A jeweller told me about the lengths he’s gone to impress a new billionaire client. For the final presentation of a custom engagement ring, he didn’t just put it in a box. He rented a penthouse suite with a terrace. At the perfect moment, a trained white dove flew onto the terrace with a small, silk ribbon tied to its leg, carrying the ring. The client was so blown away by the sheer theatricality of the gesture that he not only bought the ring but became a loyal customer for life.
The Private Museums That House the World’s Best Jewellery Collections.
The Vault You Can Visit
Many of the world’s greatest jewellery collections are not in private hands anymore. They’ve been donated to museums. The Al Thani collection, an incredible assemblage of Indian and Mughal jewels, has its own gallery in a Parisian hotel. The collection of Marjorie Merriweather Post, filled with priceless Fabergé and Cartier pieces, is housed at her former estate, Hillwood. These private museums are an incredible gift to the public, allowing us to see treasures that would otherwise be locked away in a billionaire’s vault.
The Connection Between High Art and High Jewellery Collecting.
A Wearable Calder
A client of my wealth manager friend collects both modern art and high jewellery. He doesn’t see a difference between them. He has a Calder mobile hanging in his living room, and on his wife’s wrist, she wears a sculptural gold cuff designed by the same artist. He sees both as equally valid works of art from the same master. For the world’s top collectors, high jewellery isn’t fashion. It’s wearable sculpture. They buy a necklace by JAR for the same reason they buy a painting by Richter: for the artistry, the rarity, and the investment value.
The Future of High Jewellery: Will Technology Replace Craftsmanship?
The Hand vs. the Machine
I asked a master jeweller if he was worried about 3D printing and AI replacing his job. He smiled and said, “No.” He explained that technology is a wonderful tool for creating precise models. But a machine cannot replicate the “soul” of a handmade piece. It cannot achieve the perfect, nuanced polish of a human hand. It cannot set a stone with the intuitive artistry of a master who has been doing it for 40 years. Technology can help with the engineering, but he believes the final magic will always require the imperfect, irreplaceable touch of a human artist.
What it Takes to Become a “Friend of the Brand” for Cartier or VCA.
More Than Just a Customer
Becoming a “Friend of the Brand” or a brand ambassador is the holy grail for socialites and influencers. It’s not something you can apply for. A brand manager told me it’s a carefully curated relationship. First, you must be a loyal, high-spending client. Second, your personal style and public image must perfectly align with the brand’s aesthetic—be it classic elegance for Cartier or whimsical femininity for Van Cleef & Arpels. You become a living embodiment of the brand, rewarded with exclusive access, event invitations, and, of course, borrowed jewels.
The Emotional Weight of Inheriting a World-Famous Jewel.
The Necklace That Came with a Legend
I read an interview with the descendant of a famous American dynasty. She inherited a legendary emerald necklace that had been written about in books and worn by her notorious great-grandmother. She said wearing it is terrifying. It’s not just a necklace; it’s a piece of history that comes with the weight of her family’s scandalous past. When she wears it, she feels the ghost of her great-grandmother on her shoulder. People don’t see her; they see the legend. It’s a heavy burden to be the custodian of a jewel more famous than you are.
The Most Legendary Parties Thrown by Jewellery Houses.
A Surrealist Ball in a French Château
The parties thrown by high jewellery houses are the stuff of legend. One of the most famous was Cartier’s surrealist-themed ball held in a French château to celebrate a new collection. Guests, who were flown in on private jets, were greeted by servants with animal heads and had to navigate a labyrinth to get to dinner. The tables were decorated with bizarre sculptures, and the jewels were presented as part of the surrealist art. These parties are immersive, multi-million-dollar theatrical experiences designed to create a fantasy world around the jewellery.
How High Jewellery is Used as a Hedge Against Economic Collapse.
The Most Portable Form of Wealth
During the 2008 financial crisis, a wealth manager told me his clients weren’t just buying gold. They were buying flawless, 10-carat diamonds. Why? In a scenario of total economic collapse, a diamond is the ultimate “bug-out” asset. It’s small, incredibly valuable, and not tied to any single government or currency. You can’t easily carry a million dollars worth of gold bars, but you can slip a million-dollar diamond into your pocket and walk across a border. It’s the ultimate insurance policy, a tiny, glittering store of wealth for the world’s worst-case scenarios.
The Most Important High Jewellery Events on the Global Calendar (Biennale, etc.).
Where the Brands Show Off Their Masterpieces
For the high jewellery world, there are a few key events that are like the Oscars and the Olympics combined. The most prestigious used to be the Paris Biennale des Antiquaires. Today, the main events are the presentations during Paris Haute Couture week in January and July. Brands like Chanel, Dior, and Bulgari unveil their new, one-of-a-kind collections to their top clients and the press. Another key event is TEFAF in Maastricht, where dealers showcase the world’s rarest antique jewels. These are the stages where the most important pieces in the world make their debut.
A Look at the Patrons and Philanthropists of the Jewellery World.
Using Gems to Do Good
While the world of high jewellery can seem purely materialistic, there is a strong tradition of philanthropy. Famous jewellers like Graff and brands like Chopard have foundations that support education and health in the African communities where they source their gems. Wealthy collectors often donate their historic collections to museums for the public to enjoy. And special charity auctions, like the one where Elizabeth Taylor sold her jewels for charity, raise millions for causes like AIDS research. For many, great wealth comes with a responsibility to give back, and jewels can be a powerful tool for doing so.
The Secret Society of Female High Jewellery Collectors.
The Women Who Buy for Themselves
For centuries, high jewellery was something men bought for women. That has changed. There is a powerful, discreet network of self-made women—CEOs, tech entrepreneurs, finance titans—who are now among the world’s most important collectors. I heard a story about a group of them who fly together to the Paris shows. They don’t buy jewellery as a gift or a status symbol for a man. They buy it for themselves, as a celebration of their own success and as a tangible art form that they love. They are rewriting the rules of a once male-dominated world.
The Journey of a High Jewellery Piece from Concept to Gala.
The Year-Long Life of a Necklace
The journey of a high jewellery necklace is epic. It starts with a single, magnificent gemstone that a designer might hold onto for years, waiting for inspiration. Then comes the sketch, a watercolor painting that captures the piece’s soul. Next, a team of engineers and artisans creates a 3D model and spends thousands of hours building it by hand. Once finished, it’s photographed for the archives, then presented to top clients. Finally, a year after it began, it might make its public debut on the neck of a movie star at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Most Expensive Piece of Jewellery You Can Buy “Off the Shelf” Right Now.
The $55 Million Mouawad L’Incomparable
While most high jewellery is one-of-a-kind, some pieces are available “off the shelf”—if you have the right-sized shelf. Currently, one of the most expensive is the Mouawad L’Incomparable diamond necklace. It’s certified by Guinness World Records as the most valuable necklace in the world, priced at $55 million. It features the world’s largest internally flawless diamond, a stunning yellow gem of over 407 carats, suspended from a vine of white diamonds. It’s less a piece of jewellery and more a national treasure that happens to be for sale.
What Happens to High Jewellery When Its Owner Dies?
The Three D’s: Division, Donation, or Deconstruction
When a major collector with a vault full of priceless jewels passes away, her collection typically faces one of three fates. The first is division among heirs, which can often lead to bitter family disputes. The second is donation, where the entire collection is gifted to a museum to be preserved intact, like the an art collection. The third, and most common, is deconstruction. The heirs will send the collection to a major auction house like Sotheby’s or Christie’s, where it is broken up and sold off piece by piece to a new generation of collectors.
The World of Bespoke High Jewellery Boxes and Safes.
A Custom Home for a Custom Jewel
When you buy a $5 million necklace, you don’t just keep it in the box it came in. The super-rich commission bespoke jewellery boxes and safes that are masterpieces in their own right. I saw a safe from a company called Doettling that was designed to look like a vintage steamer trunk. It was covered in leather, had multiple, custom-sized drawers lined with velvet, and featured a high-tech biometric security system. These custom safes, which can cost over $200,000, are designed to be beautiful pieces of furniture that secretly house a fortune.
The Most Extravagant Wedding Jewellery in History.
When the Dowry Was Diamonds
The wedding of Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco to Prince Rainier in 1956 was a showcase of extravagant jewellery. As part of her wedding gifts, she received a staggering collection from Van Cleef & Arpels, including a diamond and pearl tiara, necklace, bracelet, and earrings. It was so significant that the brand became the “Official Supplier to the Principality of Monaco.” This wasn’t just a wedding gift; it was a diplomatic gesture, a display of the principality’s wealth and prestige, with the new princess as its most beautiful billboard.
How a Jeweller Prepares for a Meeting with a Royal Client.
The Art of the Curtsy and the Quiet Suggestion
A former director at Garrard, the official jeweller to the British crown, described the process of meeting with a royal client. It’s steeped in protocol. You never turn your back on the royal. You refer to them by their formal title. You never present prices unless asked. But the real art is in the subtle guidance. You must understand their specific role and the event the jewel is for. You might gently suggest that a certain gemstone is more appropriate for a daytime event, or that a particular tiara has a historical connection that would be meaningful.
If I Had an Unlimited Budget: The Fantasy High Jewellery Collection.
A Curated Dream Vault
If I won the lottery tomorrow, I wouldn’t just buy a mansion. I’d build a fantasy jewellery collection. I’d start with a piece of history: a vintage Art Deco Cartier brooch. Then, I’d get a piece of modern art: a sculptural cuff from Verdura. For pure power, I’d commission a five-carat “Pigeon’s Blood” ruby ring from a master like Bhagat. And for everyday “casual,” I’d have a pair of 5-carat flawless diamond studs from Harry Winston. It’s a fun game to play, curating a dream vault of the world’s most beautiful and iconic treasures.