Catherine the Great’s Five Strand Pearl Necklace

In Catherine the Great’s personal jewelry collection, there was a five-strand, natural pearl necklace containing 389 pearls. The entire necklace weighed about 1,076 carats and had an enamel clasp as well as two diamond alternate clasps. The pearls are believed to be almost spherical and nearly perfectly matched, however the exact size of the pearls are unknown.

Dodge Pearls

The necklace was apparently sold by an aristocratic family during the revolution and made its way to France. Cartier bought this necklace and sent it to the Cartier New York headquarters.

In 1920 this beautiful five-strand necklace was sold to Horace Dodge, founder of the Dodge auto company, for $825,000. The necklace is now also referred to as The Dodge necklace. It stayed within the family until 2008 when the remainder of this necklace, which was now three-strand and 224 pearls, was sold at an auction.

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