This exceptional jadeite bead necklace remains the most valuable jadeite jewel ever sold at auction, composed of 27 old-mine imperial jadeite beads
from the late Qing Dynasty. Each bead is of extraordinary translucency and vivid emerald-green hue, meeting the highest standards of jadeite quality. The largest bead measures 19.2 mm in diameter, while the smallest is 15.4 mm — a rare size range for old-mine jadeite, making the creation of such a perfectly matched necklace extraordinarily difficult, often requiring three times as many jadeite beads to select a complete strand.
The necklace’s most famous owner was American socialite Barbara Hutton (1912–1979). In 1934, her father commissioned Cartier to redesign the necklace with a new clasp as a wedding gift for her marriage to Prince Alexis Mdivani of Georgia. The circular clasp — crafted in the Art Deco style — is set with diamonds, rubies, and jadeite, creating a striking contrast between the red and green tones.
The necklace remained in the Mdivani family for generations. Barbara Hutton later gifted it to her close friend Louise van Alen, who also married into the Mdivani lineage. In 1988, the legendary piece resurfaced at a Geneva auction as part of Princess Nina Mdivani’s collection, and has since appeared in several high-profile sales. Today, it continues to be recognized as one of the most important and valuable jadeite jewels in existence.
