10 jewels that made history and changed the market | Christie's

10 jewels that made history and changed the market | Christie's

• La PeregrinaA natural pearl jewel with a star-studded provenance

Few jewels have a history dating back 500 years, or one that have seen them passing through the hands of royals, empresses and Hollywood stars. La Peregrina, which was found off the coast of Panama in 1576, is one such jewel.

This perfectly pear-shaped pearl weighing 202.24 grains was bought by Philip II of Spain in 1582 and soon became one of the country’s most important crown jewels. It passed through the hands of eight kings of Spain over a 200-year period before falling into the hands of Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte,  the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who became King of Naples and Sicily.