A photo taken on November 8, 2023, shows a peacock feather ornament displayed at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, China. /CFP
A stunning array of museum-quality luxury jewelry items are currently on display at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.
Nine exquisite crowns are being showcased in the central exhibition hall of the expo, each of which is regarded as a masterpiece by jewelry masters of different eras and countries. Among them is a diamond crown featuring fleur-de-lys motifs that originally belonged to the Bourbon family, and once adorned Princess Maria Anna of Bourbon-Parma.
A photo from November 8, 2023, shows a diamond-encrusted crown featuring fleur-de-lys motifs on display at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, China. /CFP
In addition, another truly remarkable item of jewelry on display is an emerald and diamond necklace of great historical significance that features a noble lineage. In 1810, this treasure was crafted by French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s personal jeweler, Nitot. The necklace was originally owned by members of the Napoleon family and has changed hands multiple times over the years.
A photo taken on November 8, 2023, shows an emerald and diamond necklace displayed at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, China. /CFP
One of its most illustrious appearances was when Winston Churchill's wife, Clementine, attended the 1953 Nobel Prize ceremony to accept the Nobel Prize in Literature on behalf of her husband. The estimated value of this emerald diamond necklace is believed to exceed more than 100 million yuan (13.7 million US dollars).
A photo taken on November 8, 2023, shows a peacock feather ornament displayed at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, China. /CFP
Furthermore, a stand-alone exhibit of a peacock feather ornament has also been stealing the limelight. Renowned in the annals of jewelry art, this piece had previously been the star attraction at exhibits at such esteemed institutions as the Victoria and Albert Museum in the United Kingdom, the Palace Museum in China, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States. The ornament is meticulously adorned with enamel and embellished with 1,742 rose-cut diamonds, vividly capturing the radiance of a peacock feather.
The value of this "priceless" exhibition at the China International Import Expo is estimated to be worth several hundred million yuan.