Records were broken at Young’s Auction’s Fine & Festive Sale on November 25 when a conch pearl and diamond brooch with Royal provenance sold for £71,500, including buyer’s premium.

This is the highest price yet paid for a piece of jewellery at Young’s of Farnham. 

Conch pearls only occur naturally and are found in approximately one in every 15,000 conch shells.

They cannot be commercially cultured, hence the rarity of a large pearl. 

The brooch had belonged to Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, daughter of King George V and Queen Mary.

It is believed, by family repute, that the brooch, by Marzo of Paris, was a gift from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. 

The Belle Epoque platinum brooch features a large natural conch pearl, flanked by square and rectangular, step cut diamonds, a natural iridescent grey pearl and a natural cream/white pearl, in the original blue tooled leather Marzo case. 

More items with royal provenance are anticipated in our next sale on February 17, 2024.

For jewellery consignments please contact Christopher Young at www.youngsauctions.co.uk