Count Alexander Amethyst & Clear Crystal Set

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We are offering for sale this fantastic demi-parure by the celebrated jeweller and costumier, COUNT ALEXANDER VON BEREGSHASY. The set comprises a necklace in white metal with amethyst and clear crystals, possibly Swarovski, and a pair of matching drop earrings for pierced ears. They are presented in their original velvet and satin lined, black gold tooled box. One of the drops bears the Count Alexander tag, as shown. What a wonderful set to wear for that special ball or even for the Venice carnival. Please see the photographs, which describe the set so much better than words.

Count Alexander von Beregshasy 1964-2010, was born in Linz in Austria, of Austro-Hungariian ancestry. His family were descended from the Von Hohenzollerns. The family jewels were lost when the Bolsheviks invaded Hungary and his grandfather was shot trying to save them. He spent his childhood touring the palaces of Europe, where he acquired his love of art and antique jewellery, particularly 18th Century French.

He moved to London when he was 19 and was apprenticed to a jeweller in Hatton Garden, who made copies of the Crown Jewels for exhibitions. He soon left and devoted himself to making antique jewellery of his own, commissioning cubic zirconia from St. Petersburg and Swarovski crystals. He made copies of many of the great jewels of the world, such as the Koh-i-Noor and the Hope Diamond. These items were sold from his bijou shop in Camden Passage.

The jewellery and costumes for films like Phantom of the Opera and Dangerous Liaisons were designed by him and he also made the Coeur de la Mer necklace for Titanic. Beyonce wore his Phantom necklace to the Oscars and Stephen Fry wore one of his tiaras to Elton John's Birthday Ball. He made replica jewels for the Queen of Sweden who disliked travelling with the real items.

The Count was 6' 6" tall and dressed in costume at all times, including at his weekly tea at the Ritz. He was one of life's true eccentrics and called himself 'The Count of Many Crystals'. He sadly died of TB or consumption, as he called it, in February 2010.

There is a volume of information and images of and about him on the web.
PriceSold. Sold prices are confidential so please don't ask. DimensionsLength of necklace 17" 43.2cm Length of earring 2 1/4" 5.7cm Category Antique and Vintage Jewellery Period 1990s Antiques Material Crystal Origin English Condition Excellent Item code as237a301 Status Sold

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