History of Famous Jewels and Collections: Re: Countess Mona Bismarck

She did very well husband wise.

Interestingly whilst extensive her collection for the major pieces is very traditional. Apart from mainly pins and brooches she seems to have opted for very classic styles.

I’ll add a couple of caveats here.

As she had a child and step children we can’t assume what was auctioned was her entire collection. So maybe many of her 20/30’s pices were family retained. She may also have had to sell those pieces after the crash. She may have also sold them herself as she got older deciding the classic look really suited her age.

She certainly had a very impressive collection.

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Harrison Williams her third husband was said to be worth 920 million dollars prior the Wall Street crash.

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What a great topic MarcA! This collection was totally unknown to me. I hope we can all pool some knowledge. I wish I could see the catalogue with her jewels which were sold in 1986.

I see that she donated what is now referred to as the Bismarck sapphire to the Smithsonian in 1961. The Cartier necklace was made in 1935 using a sapphire which she and her then husband purchased on their honeymoon. The sapphire is a staggering 98.57 carats.

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bismarck_Sapphire_Necklace

This eye catching Jadeite Cartier brooch was auctioned last year. http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2017/magnificent-jewels-and-noble-jewels-eve-ge1709/lot.362.html I think that the photo below does greater justice to the sapphire. Photo by Dane Penland. Photo credit: Famous Diamonds.
I found the photo here https://eragem.com/news/mona-strader-bismarcks-signature-necklace-the-bismarck-sapphire/ which has some information about Mona Bismarck and this gem.. I see it mentions that she had South Sea pearls -- I must have a hunt for those.