Corinna Larsen has definitively put an end to her "close friendship" with King Juan Carlos. The former German princess broke up with him over a decade ago, but now has taken a further step and has also parted ways with the objects that remind her of him, specifically the jewelry that the former King gifted her during their time together. Corinna sold on Thursday, June 11, at the prestigious English auction house Bonhams seven lots of jewelry from her relationship with King Felipe VI's father. Five gifts from Don Juan Carlos and two sets gifted by the Sultan of Oman, whom she met through the former King, as they were close friends.
This was reported by La Razón over the weekend through the jewelry expert and investigator David Rato, author of the Instagram account Spanish Royal Jewels. The controversial lover of the monarch reportedly raised almost a million euros (921,000) for a set of pieces that were previously estimated by the press to be worth over two million. This sale seems to indicate that Corinna either needs cash, which is hard to believe after the famous 65 million commission gifted by Don Juan Carlos that led them both to court, or that she has decided to turn the page on that tumultuous relationship.
The jewels she sold at the Bonhams Auction House, founded in London in 1793, are as follows.
This is the famous diamond bracelet from the Madrid jewelry Aldao that Corinna wore for that controversial cover of ¡Hola! where she openly talked about her friendship with the former King. A beautiful design with 11 baguette-cut stones of different sizes accompanied by two considerable-sized earrings. It was sold for 177,000 euros.
Matching Aldao earrings with the bracelet worn in ¡Hola!.Bonhams
She also sold the matching earrings, which reached 147,320 euros.
The other piece that hinted at the "distinguished European lady" behind the sale of this lot is this spectacular ring, also from Aldao, with a diamond of over eight and a half carats that was auctioned for 118,000 euros.
This ring is the one that Corinna, as reported to the press, was gifted by Don Juan Carlos to propose to her, and supposedly has an inscription on the back, a detail not mentioned in the auction house's description.
It seemed that the baguette diamond set was her most impressive jewelry, but the piece that fetched the highest price at auction is this ring, also from Aldao, which was finally sold for 279,000 euros. It features a Burmese sapphire of over 14 carats surrounded by diamonds.
While Ansorena is often mentioned as the official jeweler of the Spanish Royal Family, Don Juan Carlos always trusted Aldao for gifts to his lovers. In fact, he has always been a close friend of its owner, Juan Carlos García-Lubén Fernández-Aldao. In 2011, it was reported that two emeralds valued at 250,000 euros, which the King had bought to persuade Corinna to reconcile after one of their breakups, went missing in Antwerp, as stated in the book King Corp, the untold empire of King Juan Carlos.
"Aldao is a historic jewelry store in Madrid, founded in 1911, which has created numerous pieces for various members of the Spanish Royal Family," explains David Rato, citing examples such as "the diamond earrings gifted by Kings Juan Carlos and Sofía to Queen Letizia on the occasion of her marriage to the then Prince of Asturias; the diamond and aquamarine earrings gifted by King Felipe for the birth of Leonor; and diamond and ruby earrings commissioned by Queen Sofía for Letizia when she was still engaged to her son."
Corinna also auctioned this cabochon-cut sugarloaf type emerald of 14.39 carats, set in a contour of baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds, with shoulders decorated with staggered baguette-cut diamonds, which finally reached a price of 89,000 euros.
The Sultan of Oman's Sets
The last lots include two sets "gift from His Majesty Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman" to Corinna, accompanied by a note dated February 5, 2012, supposedly after she had already broken up with Don Juan Carlos, although some sources claim it was actually in 2015. Bonhams describes it as a design of "colorful peacock feather, entirely set with circular-cut garnets and brilliant-cut diamonds; decorated on the front with pear-shaped amethysts and yellow sapphires, enhanced with black diamonds and variously colored circular-cut sapphires. The set includes a necklace, bracelet, earrings, and matching ring. This lot, with a starting price between 70,000 and 90,000 euros, is yet to be awarded.
It is worth noting that the late Sultan, a close friend of Don Juan Carlos, gifted the former King a luxurious penthouse in London valued at 62 million euros, a property that was later sold through an instrumental company, as reported by La Sexta Columna in 2024. It is also noteworthy that Corinna did not auction the emerald necklace that belonged to the Countess of Romanones and acquired at Sotheby's auction house in 2012 for 275,000 euros.
And here is another set presented to Corinna by the Sultan in 2012. "A star-shaped central motif set with brilliant-cut diamonds, surrounded by a radial halo of pavé-set brilliant-cut diamonds and brown-tinted diamonds of the same cut, framed by a twisted rope-style border. The pendant is suspended from a chain formed of faceted beads of treated black diamonds. The earrings feature a radial motif of brilliant-cut diamonds at the top, enhanced with brown diamonds. Hanging from this are crescent-shaped motifs set with brilliant-cut diamonds, situated beneath a triangular plate decorated with floral motifs and diamonds. The brown-toned diamonds have not been analysed to determine whether their colour or origin is natural. The pendants on the earrings are detachable. This set has been sold for ¤7,400.
Finally, we come to this Bulgari Serpenti watch, which sold for ¤23,700. "A design shaped like a stylised snake, featuring a mother-of-pearl dial and hour markers set with round-cut diamonds. The bracelet, featuring a flexible design with a spring mechanism, alternates polished links with pavé links set with brilliant-cut diamonds. Crafted in 18-carat gold, it was purchased in the US but manufactured in Italy."
In total, the seven lots amount to approximately ¤921,000.