Her very active role in charitable work, mainly in support of mental health, children, and the most disadvantaged, made Fabiola of Belgium especially beloved by both Belgians and Spaniards.
Born in Madrid in 1928, her elegance also captivated the public, and her style legacy is unquestionable. After her death in 2014, her jewelry collection was dispersed, with some pieces ending up, for example, in the hands of Queen Mathilde.
However, many long-missing items have resurfaced at international auctions. This is the case with her engagement ring, which will go on sale in Madrid next January 23 through the auction house Ansorena, as has just been confirmed.
A ring with emerald and diamonds:
This jewel was the gift that King Baudouin I gave to his future wife, whom he would marry on December 15, 1960, at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels.
The 18-carat yellow gold ring features a central mixed oval-cut emerald with an estimated weight of 13.36 carats, mounted in prongs and flanked by two trillion-cut diamonds with an approximate total weight of 2.1 carats.
The auction house Ansorena has set a starting price of €19,800 (roughly $23,100 – $23,230 USD) for bidding. The origin and history of this ring, worn by Fabiola of Belgium before her wedding are, however, unknown.
The jewels of Fabiola of Belgium:
The engagement ring joins a group of jewels belonging to Fabiola of Belgium that were announced earlier this month as also going under the hammer on January 23.
This includes her aquamarine demi-parure. This set, worn on numerous occasions by the Spanish-born queen and accompanying her look at the wedding of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, includes a necklace (sautoir) made of platinum, with a geometric structure of open links decorated with brilliant-cut diamonds, Dutch cuts, and 8/8 cuts.
This convertible design can be paired with a natural briolette-cut aquamarine pendant weighing 120 carats. Added to these pieces in the same sale are a pair of long earrings in yellow gold and platinum, decorated with onyx cabochons, diamonds, pentagonal-cut sapphires, and briolette-cut aquamarines with an approximate total weight of 24 carats.