UK: Jewels belonging to Christina Onassis are estimated to fetch up to a total of 8 million pound sterling at auction in London

Record ID: 432916

  • Title: UK: Jewels belonging to Christina Onassis are estimated to fetch up to a total of 8 million pound sterling at auction in London
  • Date: 16th June 2008
  • Summary: LEFKAS ISLAND, GREECE (MARCH 18, 1975) (REUTERS) CHRISTINA ONASSIS AT ARISTOTLE ONASSIS' FUNERAL PROCESSION TO SKORPIOS ISLAND
  • Embargoed: 1st July 2008 13:00
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  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA781GW9NH9YNY0XRURZY7963YI
  • Story Text: Jewels that belonged to Christina Onassis, the daughter of Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis will be auctioned off at Christie's auction house on Wednesday (June 11).
    A collection of jewellery belonging to Christina Onassis, the daughter of Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, will go under the hammer at Christie's auction house in London on Wednesday (June 11). More than 40 pieces make up the collection, the highlight of which is a pear-shaped, 38-carat potentially flawless diamond which Onassis wore on a diamond pendant necklace.

    "It is 38 carats and 'D' colour - which is the best, whitest, purest you can find - and it is 'VVS2', which means very very slight inclusion, but this is just minor knocks on the edges and these can be erased so you'll end up with a flawless diamond. So a D flawless of this calibre has never been sold in London before, so it will be a first." Raymond Sancroft-Baker, Christie's Senior Director of Jewellery told Reuters.
    The piece is expected to fetch between 1.8 and 2.2 million pounds.
    Another important piece in the collection is a rare bowenite Buddha designed by Carl Faberge estimated to be worth between 250 to 350,000 pounds, which was kept on Aristotle Onassis' famous luxury yacht, 'The Christina', named after his daughter.

    "The Buddha is an extremely rare creation by Faberge in about 1903. He made three of them, this is in Bowenite, and the wonderful thing is the hands and the tongue and the head move. So when Onassis had it on his boat, 'The Christina', it took a private place in his office and he used to take everybody around, but of course with the motion of the boat you had the hands and the tongue and the head moving all the time," Sancroft-Baker said.
    A sapphire and diamond necklace by Harry Winston estimated at 120-150,000 pounds. The necklace is accompanied by a 14.79 carat diamond ring of Onassis', also designed by Harry Winston and is expected to fetch up to 700,000.
    Several other significant pieces, which are not a part of the Onassis collection, will also go under the hammer on Wednesday.
    Those include a heart shaped 15.02 carat diamond pendant estimated at 650,000 pounds and a diamond riviere made up of 55 graduated stones, totalling around 120 carats.

    "The significance of the necklace is that it consists of 55 numbered collets and each one is detachable," Sancroft-Baker explained.
    "So you could have the necklace at this length, which is full length, or you could have it two thirds, or a half, or a choker. And then with the other pieces you could make bracelets - at least two or three - and then even ear pendants so it's fully versatile. But it's the first time I've ever seen one of this length having been kept together, because jewellery evolves and is adapted throughout the years and this is a prime candidate for alteration to be made into rings or shorter necklaces, but to have survived is unique, 150 years like it is."
    Christina Onassis struggled to find happiness despite her family's wealth. She saw her father, brother and mother die in a period of just 24 months. She died aged 37 after a history of depression, drug abuse and weight problems.
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