Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire, Diamond and Gold Parure, 1980

This elegant sapphire and diamond suite was once the property of Lady Raine Spencer (1929-2016), wife of Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl of Spencer. Raine was the only child of romance novelist Barbara Cartland and army officer Alexander McCorquodale, heir to a printing fortune. She made her debut in London society in 1947 and was named debutante of the year. She married into the aristocracy three times acquiring the titles Countess of Dartmouth, Countess Spencer and Comtesse de Chambrun, returning to the title of Lady Spencer after her third marriage ended. She was a prominent socialite who was involved in local British politics. Lady Spencer was Princess Diana’s stepmother. Diana initially despised her, but eventually Lady Spencer became a close confidant of the Princess.

When Estelle Arpels married Alfred Van Cleef in 1895, their marriage created a jewelry dynasty — Estelle’s father was a gem dealer and Alfred’s father was a lapidary. In 1906 the family launched the Maison of Van Cleef & Arpels across the street from the Ritz Hotel at 22 Place Vendome, Paris, where it remains today. Their innovative jewelry, such as this suite, has adorned many notable women through the decades.