What cost of living crisis? Here’s your chance to own a diamond-encrusted tiara
An early 20th Century diamond-encrusted tiara will be up for grabs at Webb’s auction house today, the first the company has ever seen.
‘‘It’s pretty exceptional,’’ said Christine Power, head of fine jewels at Webb’s.
‘‘The story behind it is that [the owner’s] father purchased it for her before her wedding and she wore it on her wedding day.’’
The auction includes leather bags for Herme`s, Chanel and
Louis Vuitton as well as a large collection of vintage jewellery.
The centre diamond piece of the tiara is detachable and – along with a
9-carat gold pin – can be worn as a brooch.
Power said it was fairly common for tiaras to have a dual purpose.
‘‘It dates back to regal times when [tiaras were] really only worn by royalty. If you weren’t royalty you were allowed to wear a tiara if you were getting married,’’ she said.
‘‘That’s why, to give it some extra use, they usually have the brooch capability in the middle as well, so that they weren’t such a restrictive piece of jewels.’’
The tiara, manufactured in the 1920s and bought in the 1960s, made its way to New Zealand from the United
Kingdom five years ago.
Power – who has been ‘‘working in diamonds’’ for the past 26 years – said it’s the first tiara she’s ever seen.
‘‘I’m absolutely excited. I always admired [tiaras], and I’d never seen one in person. It’s something that attracts me.
‘‘When I first started at Webb’s, the first thing that I put out there is that I wanted a tiara. And we got one!’’
The tiara is valued between $20,000 to $27,000.
Power said the sale will also include ‘‘the most Herme`s we have ever offered in one auction’’.
‘‘It’s the biggest range we’ve ever had. That covers pieces from a Pourceht to a Kelly to Birkin,’’ she said.
The live auction will be held 2.30pm today at 33a Normanby Road, Mt Eden, Auckland.
Bidding will also be available online.