The 47.14-carat heart-shaped Fancy Intense yellow diamond, belonging Estee Lauder and Duchess of Windsor will be the highlight of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction scheduled for tomorrow, December 5 in New York. The stunning diamond featured in the necklace is estimated to sell for $1.5 million to $2 million.
Estée Lauders mammoth 47.14-carat fancy intense yellow diamond
This diamond, recently dubbed by Sotheby’s as “The Windsor Heart” has an interesting history. It was originally worn by the Duchess of Windsor as a ring, who had purchased it from Harry Winston in 1951. When the Duchess of Windsor’s collection was auctioned by Sotheby’s in Geneva in 1987, her notable yellow diamond ring was missing from the sale. It was later learned that the duchess had sold it to Estée Lauder through the duchess’ lawyer in the mid-1970s. In 1978, the diamond was set in the necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels for Estee Lauder.
Estée Lauder, who passed away in 2004, was the founder of the Estée Lauder fragrance and cosmetics company. Her daughter-in-law, Evelyn, an executive at the company for five decades, died from ovarian cancer in 2011.
Lauder collection of jewelry, which includes more than 35 pieces from the world’s fabled jewelry houses, including Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Graff and Harry Winston is estimated at more than $13 million.
All proceeds of the sale will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1993. She also was the co-creator of the Pink Ribbon, the now familiar breast cancer awareness symbol.
The Duchess of Windsor wearing the 47-carat diamond ring.
Sothebys expects the 47.14-carat Heart-shaped Yellow Diamond to fetch between $1.5 and $2 million at its Dec. 5 Magnificent Jewels auction.
