15-5-2019
Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) has verified the age of Ana Maria Pearl which will be auctioned at Christie’s on 15 May in Geneva was between the 16th and mid-17th century becoming the first historic natural pearl offered at auction.
The pearl verification was done by first-ever radiocarbon age-dating, a technology SSEF in collaboration with the Federal Institute of Technology. Once owned by Ana María de Sevilla y Villanueva, XIV Marquise of Camarasa (1828-1861), the pearl is presumed to have been discovered during the Spanish conquest of the Americas in the 16th century.
The pearl is a slightly baroque drop-shaped natural saltwater pearl of 30.24 carats, set as a detachable drop of a carved emerald and diamond brooch, which contains an Audemars Piguet time indicator on the other side.
← Back