Duchess of Windsor’s costume jewellery to be sold at auction

The British monarchy was rocked to the core by the constitutional crisis when the King turned his back on the Crown, choosing love for the American divorcee over his royal duty in December 1936.

The couple married the following year, and spent most of the rest of their lives in exile in France as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Costume jewellery is jewellery manufactured as ornamentation to complement a particular fashionable costume or outfit and the duchess, asked once what she thought of it, said: “I hate to admit it but I am absolutely fascinated by fake jewellery at the moment; I think it is so good.”

Now, 25 years after her death, five pieces of costume jewellery or body sculpture are to be sold by Dreweatts and Bloomsbury Auctions.

They were created for the duchess by American designer, Alexis Kirk. Now his family is selling the items.

Kirk designed bold, elegant “statement” jewellery for the international elite of the 1960s and 70s and his studio at 55 Park Avenue became the place to shop. The items are expected to fetch from £1,500 to £3,000.