The center of the star of the Order of St Catherine converted into a brooch
Rose and old-cut diamonds, red translucent guilloché enamel over wavy engine-turning, 18k yellow gold and silver (customs mark)
The red guilloché enamelled medallion is set with the motto of the Order in Russian 'For Love and Fatherland', surmounted by the Imperial crown.

Diamond bracelet:
Old-cut diamonds, 18k yellow and white gold (customs mark)
Diamonds: with a total approximate weight of 5.50-6.00 carats

Diamond tie pin:
Old-cut diamonds, gilded silver (customs mark)

Size/Dimensions: transformable brooch of the Imperial Russian Order of St Catherine: diameter 3.6 cm ; diamond bracelet: 17.3 x 0.2 to 0.4 cm; diamond tie pin: 7.2 x 1.7 cm
Total gross weight: 36.3 grams

The jewels came to the court of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach as part of the rich dowry of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, sister of Tsar Alexander, and probably came from the workshop of the St Petersburg court jeweller Duval.

The tsar's mother, Maria Fyodorovna, provided each of her five daughters with an identical precious trousseau, including Anna Pavlovna, Queen of the Netherlands - "Pense à Maman".

Through the marriage of Anna's daughter Sophie to Carl Alexander of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, further pieces from this source came to Weimar via the Netherlands.

The Order of St Catherine

The Order of St Catherine came in two classes and was established in 1713 by Peter the Great to commemorate the heroic deeds of his consort, the future Empress Catherine I. All female members of the Russian Imperial family were awarded the Grand Cross of the Order, as were members of foreign Royal families.

The center star of the Imperial Russian Order of St Catherine was wrought in outstanding jeweler's quality. Diamond-set orders were traditionally produced by St. Petersburg's most distinguished jewelers, such as Bolin, Fabergé, Hahn, W. Keibel, Säfftigen etc. and usually not hallmarked as they were supplied directly to the Tsars. The center of the star presented here was later remounted into a gold brooch.