Overview

A magnificent diamond necklace with historical ties to the infamous Marie Antoinette has been auctioned off for an astonishing $4.81 million (£3.8 million). This exquisite Georgian jewelry piece, adorned with approximately 500 sparkling diamonds, was sold at Sotheby’s in Geneva on Wednesday evening, nearly doubling its estimated price.

Auction Highlights

“It was an electrifying night,” recounted Andres White Correal, a jewelry expert from Sotheby’s. The thrilled and unnamed female buyer expressed her elation, stating, “I’m exceptionally happy that I won this lot; but I don’t own it—I’m merely the custodian until the next person comes along.” Such sentiments underscore the growing interest in jewelry that carries rich historical narratives.

Marie Antoinette’s Legacy

Marie Antoinette, born in Austria in 1755, became France’s last queen due to her marriage to King Louis XVI. Her tragic story culminated in her execution via guillotine during the height of the French Revolution in 1793 when she was just 37 years old.

The Scandal Behind the Necklace

Notably, this necklace is believed to contain jewels that were originally part of the notorious "affair of the diamond necklace" scandal of the 1780s, a debacle that contributed to the queen's unfortunate fate. In this scandal, a disreputable noblewoman, Jeanne de la Motte, masqueraded as the queen and deceived a cardinal into acquiring the extravagant necklace without a payment. When Marie Antoinette was erroneously implicated, her reputation suffered irreparable damage, leading to widespread public disdain as she was branded as frivolous and a bad influence on the monarchy.

Historical Significance of the Necklace

The original necklace was originally crafted with 650 diamonds and weighed around 2,800 carats. Following the scandal, many of its jewels were sold individually on the black market, with a jeweler in London reportedly acquiring more than half for a mere £10,000 shortly after their disappearance.

Expert Insights

Experts suggest that the age and quality of the diamonds present in the recently auctioned necklace coincide with those from the original piece. This particular necklace has had its share of royal history; it was worn by the Marquess of Anglesey during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and also at King George VI’s coronation in 1937. For approximately a century, it resided within the Anglesey family jewelry collection before being sold to an Asian collector in the 1960s.

Conclusion

This spectacular sale not only reflects the allure of royal history but also the intriguing stories intertwined with these magnificent jewels that continue to captivate collectors and historians alike. Stay tuned for more dazzling tales from the auction world!