Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A sapphire and diamond brooch, late 19th / early 20th century, the openwork brooch of scrolled design, set throughout with circular-cut sapphires and graduated old brilliant-cut diamonds, mounted in silver and gold, numbered ‘5478’, fitted case by Garrard & Co. with ‘T’ to underside, diameter 39mm. £500-£700

The radiant colour and transparency of these sapphires is indicative of the Montana material discovered at Yogo Gulch in the late 19th century. In 1895, the eminent gemmologist at Tiffany & Co., Dr. George F. Kunz, declared the sapphires to be "the finest precious gemstones ever found in the United States”. Montana sapphires were used in many of the jewels created by Louis Comfort Tiffany, and became firmly associated with the company during the late 19th and early 20th century.