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Christmas Gift to Wallis Simpson | Duchess of Windsor'........I think Xmas is an awful beating, everyone
trying to be gay and eating too much and wondering how they'll pay for
the presents they have been given'. she told her aunt. For his part the Prince if Wales appeared just as melancholy
when he wrote to Mrs Simpson on Boxing Day from Sandringham, This highly impressive and elegant bracelet was given to Wallis by
Edward for Christmas 1935, In return her Christmas present to him was
a gold and jewel encrusted cigarette case by Cartier. Engraved with
a map of Europe and North Africa, routes of their various cruises together
were applied in enamel and a gemstone was set at each meaningful location.
Shortly after Christmas, on 20th January 1936, the King died and Edward's
life was to change dramatically: by 10th December 1936 Edward, as King,
delivered his abdication speech and left England to be with the woman
he loved. These jewels are unique, which had not only been chosen by a King to
give to the woman he loved, and for whom he gave up his throne, but
included, in their own right, some of the masterpieces of 20th century
jeweller's art and many fine and glorious gemstones. Edward and Wallis
had a shared passion for jewellery which is evident throughout her collection
and led to them commissioning some magnificent creations from the finest
European and American jewellers of their times. Designed as three step-cut emeralds with cut-corners, each collet engraved with the weights: 6.59 carats, 8.14 carats and 6.29 carats respectively, alternating with three step-cut diamonds, and connected by sections of five baguette diamonds,accompanied by a later birds eye maple fitted case with the monogram WE; and a silver and birds eye maple photograph frame measuring 27 x 22mm by Garrard & Co Ltd., silver marks for London 1989. The tongue piece inscribed and dated: w - 25.xii.35 - d Before her death in 1986 the Duchess had given instructions that all her jewels should be sold and the proceeds given to the Pasteur Institute in Paris. France was where she and the Duke had resided for most of their married lives and they always felt a great debt of gratitude for the kindness and warmth shown to them by the French. When the jewels were offered for auction at Sotheby's in Geneva in 1987 not only did the world see an extraordinary collection of jewels, but as many of the pieces were inscribed and dated, it was highly important historical evidence of one of the most dramatic and fascinating love stories of one of all times. source: Sothebys Previously sold as Lot 76 in the Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor, Thursday 2nd April 1987. ::::: `
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