New Orleans–based fine art, antiques, and jewelry dealer M.S. Rau is now offering a one-of-a-kind Bulgari bib necklace with some serious stone power—273.63 carats of it, to be exact—for $1.75 million.
“We recently acquired a truly extraordinary piece, a Bulgari necklace from around 2009 that just takes your breath away,” Bill Rau, the third-generation owner of M.S. Rau, tells JCK. “The craftsmanship is something else entirely—it’s like wearing a piece of history.”
More than 173 of the piece’s total carats are in multicolor sapphires. The necklace also has nearly 62 carats of diamonds, plus emeralds and garnets.
“Bulgari has always been known for its incredible gemstones, and this necklace doesn’t disappoint,” says Rau. “The combination of sapphires, emeralds, and gorgeous garnets is simply mesmerizing. And the way they’ve all been set together in this delicate lacelike design, it’s a true work of art.”
The necklace features 70 fancy colored pear-shape sapphires (154.75 cts. t.w.), along with a dozen rose-cut pink sapphires weighing a total of 18.9 carats. It also has 20 spessartite garnets, 29 circular and pear-shape emeralds, and 372 circular-cut diamonds. Carat weight per type of gem is 61.9 for diamonds, 22.06 for garnets, and 16.02 in emeralds.
More impressive yet is the arrangement of the stones—expertly placed with supreme attention to detail to craft Bulgari’s signature bib with floral designs throughout.
“You can tell the minute you hold it that countless hours of meticulous work went into this necklace,” says Rau. “It’s a testament to the incredible skill of Bulgari’s artisans.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have this Bulgari masterpiece in our collection. It’s a rare find that embodies everything the brand represents: quality, innovation, and timeless glamour.”
(Photos courtesy of M.S. Rau)
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