A MAGNIFICENT AND HISTORIC SAPPHIRE PENDANT, BY CARTIER Property of a noble Family. Sold 19 november 2003-Geneva
"The sapphire drop suspended on the diamond necklace, was purchased by King Ferdinand of Romania. His beautiful consort Queen Marie (1875-1938)" ....
"The Coronation of King Ferdinand took place on 15 October 1922 and as part of her jewels, Queen Marie wore her splendid necklace perfectly complementing the extraordinary sapphire tiara she had bought from Grand Duchess Vladimir when she fled from Russia. These were also the two jewels that the Queen wore for her portrait by Philip de Laszlo in 1924.
The sapphire was sold, possibly in 1947 when King Michael (grandson of Queen Marie) left Romania and was acquired by Harry Winston. The last pictures of the diamond necklace without the sapphire were taken at the wedding of exiled King Michael of Romania to Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma in 1948. It was subsequently dismantled." ....
"Queen Marie of Romania's sapphire is the largest sapphire ever presented at auction and with its genuine beauty and fascinating history becomes what can indisputably be termed a unique jewel."
BIJOUX de REINES Vincent Meylan - Assouline p 187-188-201
"Quelques années plus tard on retrouve (pendant saphir) dans le coffret à bijoux .... de la reine Frederika de Grèce. Si l'on en croit Hans Nadelhoffer dans son livre consacré à Cartier, c'est un milliardaire grec qui se porte acquéreur du saphir, lorsque le roi de Roumanie s'en sépare en 1948. Quelques temps plus tard, il l'offre à sa souveraine, Frederika, épouse de roi Paul 1° de Grèce. ......"
H. Nadelhoffer, Cartier, Jewelers Extraordinary, Harry N. Abrams, 1984, p. 234
V. Meylan, Queens' Jewels, Assouline, 2002, p. 186-188
not confused with other sapphire sautoir, Princess Elisabeth of Romania Qn consort of Greek