Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but the diamonds that just sold at Sotheby’s Geneva for $4.7 million prove they can also be historic, iconic, and scandalous. The mysterious 300-carat diamond necklace, auctioned at the electrifying Geneva sale, was worn at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 and carries a connection to Marie Antoinette, the wife of French King Louis XVI and France’s final queen. Some believe the stunning sautoir contains diamonds linked to the infamous 1785 Affair of the Diamond Necklace, a scandal that contributed to the French Revolution.
That’s history, drama, and beauty intertwined, though the intrigue shouldn’t overshadow the sheer magnificence of this triple-row diamond tassel necklace. Estimated to fetch $1.8–2.8 million at Sotheby’s Royal and Noble Jewels sale, the 18th-century masterpiece far surpassed expectations.
The ecstatic buyer, bidding over the phone, paid three times the estimate and couldn’t have been happier. “She was ready to fight, and she did,” shared Andres White Correal, chair of Sotheby’s jewelry department, in an interview with AFP. “There is obviously a niche in the market for historical jewels with fabulous provenance. People are not only buying the object, but they’re buying all the history that is attached to it,” he added.
Originally, the controversial necklace comprised nearly 650 diamonds weighing 2,800 carats but was later sold in parts. According to Sotheby’s head of magnificent jewels, “It’s likely or possible that some of these diamonds may have come from the famous diamond necklace that led to the downfall of Marie Antoinette.”
A timeless style statement, the necklace can also be worn as a scarf and features diamonds from the legendary Golconda mines of India. “The fortunate buyer has walked away with a spectacular piece of history,” said Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds. “Exceptional-quality diamonds from the now-extinct Golconda mines, a possible link to Marie Antoinette, and the distinction of being worn to two coronations make this 18th-century necklace truly extraordinary.”
