Sotheby’s will offer the Queen Maria-José ruby ring at its Nov. 11 Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction in Geneva.

The piece, estimated to sell for $6 million–$9 million, is from the collection of the last queen of Italy, Queen Maria-José. It was a gift from the scholar Tammaro de Marinis in celebration of her marriage to Umberto II in 1930.

“The Queen Maria-José ruby ring is a magnificent jewel of exceptional quality with truly outstanding royal provenance,” said David Bennett, world chairman of Sotheby’s international jewellery division. “Its pigeon’s blood color is sumptuous—the perfect jewel for a queen—and the jewel’s history, coming from the jewelry collection of Queen Maria-José, of course, adds enormously to its romantic appeal.” 

(Photo courtesy Sotheby’s)

JCK