Rago Auctions

Born in Russia, Olga Tritt (1886-1968) made a name for herself in the American jewelry market. At the young age of eleven, Tritt apprenticed with a watchmaker in pre-Revolution Russia. This instilled a wonder for how things were crafted that informed her later career. Along with her siblings, they immigrated to America in 1910 where Tritt started selling jewelry. By 1922 Tritt had managed to grow in popularity so much, that she was able to file a patent for her own brand. Her style can be defined by the elegant use of large gemstones, enhanced by fine diamonds. Tritt’s jewels caught the eye of many high society women, as she was often featured in the pages of Vogue. Most notably, the Duchess of Windsor and Helen Bennett were among her clients. An avid traveler, Tritt sought out the gemstones for her beautiful creations in India, South America, and Brazil. In 1939, the Brazilian government commissioned her to design a collection of jewelry for the New York World’s Fair, to display the dazzling gemstones mined from their country. Upon her passing, her husband and daughter continued to run a Palm beach location of her store until the end of the 20th Century.

Basra pearls are a type of natural pearl found in the Persian Gulf. They are named Basra because they were mostly traded in the city of Basra, Iraq. They have been prized for their beauty since 300 BC. Often entire garments created for royalty were embroidered with these exceptional natural pearls. Often they come in odd shapes, but round pearls can occasionally found and command a premium price. Basra pearls are known for their silvery white color and beautiful iridescence. Since the countries in the Persian Gulf have shifted its focus toward oil production, the oyster's ecosystem has been disrupted making these beautiful pearls even more rare and sought after.