Nikolai Putilov and his descendants were a Russian family of industrialists, bankers and government officials. Aleksei Putilov (1866–1940), Nikolai's grandnephew – according to Christie's »a man of great wealth and resources [...] a great admirer of jewellery and a known client of Fabergé« – and his family fled Russia for Paris in 1918, after his possessions had been confiscated. He was able to smuggle a large pearl brooch which was then passed down through the family and eventually to his grandson, who emigrated to America in the 1950's.

The brooch was first auctioned in 2014, when the family sold it to provide for eldercare bills. Rago Arts and Auction described the pearl as the largest near-round natural saltwater pearl discovered to date, »a pearl the size of a quail egg on a cracker of diamonds« and claimed »the piece was probably once part of the Russian crown jewels.« The brooch sold for $813,750. The new owner was English, of Russian descent, as the director of the jewelry and silver department at Rago was quoted in a newspaper article at that time.

Two years later the brooch was on offer again, this time at Christie's »Magnificent Jewels« auction in Geneva on 15 Nov 2016, without any reference to the Russian crown jewels.

Lot 221: A mid-19th century exceptional natural pearl and diamond brooch centering a button-shaped natural pearl, measuring approximately 18.75–19.05 x 16.15 mm, within an openwork foliate diamond-set frame, to the old-cut diamond surround, 1860s, 5.0 cm, mounted in silver and gold.

The test report calculated the pearl's weight at approximately 40 ct (160 grains) and described its colour as slightly cream with rosé and green overtones. Christie's estimate for the brooch was $1,200,000–1,500,000.

The brooch is not listed among the sold lots, but has found its way into the collection of S. J. Phillips in London. It's currently advertised on the company's website among their recent acquisitions and – divergent from Christie's assessment – is dated ca. 1820. As usual S. J. Phillips only indicates the price range. The utmost category »More than £50,000« is of course not really informative in this case.