A diamond necklace, thought to be linked to the scandal that marred the reign of French Queen Marie Antoinette, fetched $4.81 million (£3.8 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva on Wednesday.
The final sale price nearly doubled its pre-auction estimate, underscoring the allure of historic jewels with storied pasts.
The Georgian-era necklace, adorned with approximately 500 diamonds, captivated bidders and concluded in a dramatic sale that left the unnamed female buyer “ecstatic,” according to Andres White Correal, a jewellery specialist at Sotheby’s.
“It was an electric night,” White Correal remarked, adding that the new owner expressed deep reverence for the piece. “She said something beautiful to me: ‘I’m exceptionally happy that I won this lot; but I don’t own it. I’m merely the custodian until the next person will come along.’”
Historical Significance
The necklace’s allure is not only in its brilliance but also in its controversial history. It is believed to contain diamonds that were part of the infamous “Affair of the Diamond Necklace,” a scandal that engulfed the French monarchy in the 1780s.
Jeanne de la Motte, a noblewoman fallen on hard times, impersonated Queen Marie Antoinette and duped a cardinal into acquiring the lavish necklace without paying.
When Marie Antoinette, who had no knowledge of the transaction, was approached about the missing payment, a public scandal ensued. Although the queen was exonerated, her reputation was irreparably damaged, intensifying public resentment that contributed to her downfall.
Marie Antoinette and her husband, King Louis XVI, were executed by guillotine in 1793 during the French Revolution.
Jewels with a Royal Journey
The original necklace, reportedly set with 650 diamonds and weighing 2,800 carats, was disassembled, with its jewels sold piecemeal on the black market.
A London jeweller on Bond Street is said to have purchased more than half of the original diamonds for £10,000 in the late 18th century.
Experts believe the age and quality of the diamonds in the necklace sold on Wednesday may trace back to the original piece.
The necklace has also enjoyed modern royal connections, having been worn by the Marquess of Anglesey during Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, and previously at the crowning of King George VI in 1937.
It remained with the Anglesey family for nearly a century before being sold to a private Asian collector in the 1960s.
Market for Historic Jewels
White Correal noted a growing demand for jewellery with historical significance. “People are not only buying the object; they are buying all the history that is attached to it,” he said.
This sale follows the auction of Marie Antoinette’s diamond bracelets, which garnered $8 million in 2021, underscoring the fascination with royal artefacts linked to the ill-fated queen.
The necklace’s sale, a testament to its enduring mystique, has further cemented its place in history, bridging a connection between France’s turbulent 18th century and the present-day fascination with royal legacies.