The 34.98-carat Beau Sancy diamond, the signature gem of the Prussian crown jewels, has made it through the last three turbulent centuries firmly in the hands of the House of Hohenzollern, the ruling dynasty of Prussia and, later, imperial Germany.

WSJ: The Beau Sancy Diamond at Sotheby's: From Prussia, With Love

Of course, these are only three of countless jewels in the inaugural speeches to date, but they are arguably the most memorable.

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Those seeking movie star provenance will be interested in the jewels formerly owned by Lana Turner , Lauren Bacall and Gloria Swanson , and the set of three wedding bands from Brigitte Bardot 's first marriage, to director Roger Vadim .

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