Striking jewels worn by society beauty, the 1st Viscountess Wimborne, will be sold by Christie’s in London
24 November 2025
By Kim Parker
Another fabulous jewellery auction this month sees show-stopping jewels once owned by the artistocratic Wimborne family come up for sale, alongside a trove of other fabulous pieces.
Taking place online until 25th November, Christie’s London Jewels sale features a variety of important antique and period jewels, plus coloured gemstones, diamonds and contemporary signed jewels from renowned houses such as Bulgari and Cartier.
The highlight of the sale is a collection of precious jewels from the noble Wimborne family, especially associated with the 1st Viscountess Wimborne (1880-1948), who was a celebrated society beauty and one of the earliest and grandest subjects of photographer Cecil Beaton.
The former Hon. Alice Grosvener was the wife or Ivor Churchill Guest, a cousin of Winston Churchill. The Wimbornes, then without title, were married in 1902 when the-then Captain Ivor Guest was serving as a Conservative MP for the constituency of Plymouth. From 1915 to 1918 he served as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and on his retirement in 1918 Baron Wimborne was created first Viscount Wimborne.
Lot 155, a magnificent Art Deco ruby and diamond pendant, was worn by Viscountess Wimborne on a diamond chain (lot 161) in a portrait taken by Cecil Beaton in 1928 and published in Tatler Magazine. With an estimate of between £80,000 – £120,000 (US $104,758 – $157,138), it showcases a dazzling 8.92-carat, cushion-shaped ruby and a similarly shaped 21.02-carat pink sapphire framed by further baguette and calibré-cut rubies and old circular and single-cut diamonds.
Another later Beaton portrait from the 1930s depicts Lady Wimborne in the ballroom of Wimborne House in London (a mere stone’s throw from the current Christie’s office), wearing her Art Deco emerald, natural pearl and diamond pendant (lot 158) hung on the same diamond chain. The piece features a pair of carved Colombian emerald drops, three natural saltwater pearls and an array of old circular, sing and carré-cut diamonds and dates from around 1925. It comes with an estimate of £200,000 – £300,000 ($261,896 – $392,845).
“It’s rare to have one or two pieces from an important aristocratic collection appear at sale, so to have nine striking jewels from the Wimborne family in our London Jewels Sale is very special indeed,” says Henry Bailey, head of Christie’s jewellery department in London.
Other jewels from the Wimborne family collection in the sale include a rare Cartier bangle set with coral beads, pearls, diamonds and emeralds and a spectacular Kashmir sapphire and diamond brooch.
“It’s always exciting when jewels of this calibre come up for sale with such a great story behind them. Lady Wimborne was an established society hostess, a very astute political spouse, and a muse and great supporter of the famous composer William Walton,” continues Bailey.
“She was a remarkable character and a very glamorous lady, so to have the combination of extremely fine coloured gemstones and natural pearls set within beautiful jewellery designs with that kind provenance, seen in photos by Cecil Beaton – who is himself the subject of an exhibition currently at the National Portrait Gallery – is really the dream for any collector and appreciator of Art Deco jewels.”
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