Agatha Christie’s 19th-century diamond brooch and diamond three-stone ring set for auction at Bonhams in October as part of its diamond auction. Image courtesy of Bonhams.

ART AUCTION: Bonhams diamond auction includes Agatha Christie’s Secret Diamond Jewels found in a locked strongbox bought by a fan for £100. The fascinating story of the discovery could only have come from the brilliant mind of the famous writer herself.

BY ARTCENTRON

LONDON— Bonhams Auction House is set to solve the mystery behind Agatha Christie’s secret treasures found in a locked strongbox. On October 8,  the hidden treasures from the home of the famous author will come to light at Bonhams Knightsbridge Jewelry auction in London. The diamond auction includes rare gold coins, a diamond brooch, and a diamond ring. 

The discovery of Agatha Christie’s hidden Jewelry could only have come from the brilliant mind of the writer herself. It all began in 2006. During a house contents sale at Agatha Christie’s Greenway estate, a die-hard fan bought an old traveling trunk that belonged to Agatha Christie’s mother for £100. Inside the trunk was a locked strongbox. The owner set it aside because she did have the long-lost keys.

Fascinating Story Behind Agatha Christie’s Hidden Diamond Treasures

For four years, the owner did not bother about opening the box until she was having building work done. She got a crowbar and began to wrench open the box. Little did she know that inside the box lay £10,000 worth of Christie family jewels. Inside she discovered a purse of gold coins, a diamond brooch, and a three-stone diamond ring. She knew she had found the hidden jewels.

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These Agatha Christie’s jewels are special in so many ways and will be the highlight at Bonhams auction house jewelry sale in London. They have a long history and appear in Christie’s books. The jewels are mentioned in Agatha Christie’s biography as pieces that were earmarked for Agatha and her sister Madge to inherit from their mother’s collection. Christie writes: “My mother’s valuable jewelry consisted of ‘my diamond buckle’, ‘my diamond crescent’ and ‘my diamond engagement ring’…Madge was to have the diamond crescent, I was to have the diamond buckle…” She continues “My mother sorted amongst an array of odds and ends…all these required hours of sorting before they were packed in the trays in the various trunks.”

She got a crowbar and began to wrench open the box. Little did she know that inside the box lay £10,000 worth of Christie family jewels.

Bonhams auction house will auction the Agatha Christie treasures as part of its Bonhams Knightsbridge Jewelry auction in London. The auction includes a 19th-century brooch estimated at £6,000-8,000. Also in the diamond auction is a three-stone ring with an estimate of £3,000-5,000.

There have been expectations from collectors of Agatha Christie’s treasures since the discoveries came to light. There are speculations that young writers are top on the list of collectors who want the diamond jewels. If a young writer buys the diamonds, perhaps, it may spin a new mystery that will captivate the world just like the secret treasures.

What do you tink about the discovery of the Agatha Christie treasures and the diamond auction. Share your thoughts. Leave a comment.