A diamond necklace linked to the dramatic downfall of France’s Queen Marie Antoinette has sold for an astonishing $4.81 million (R92.5 million).
The historic piece contains about 500 diamonds. It far exceeded its pre-sale estimate at Sotheby’s auction house in Geneva on Wednesday night.
MARIE ANTOINETTE’S NECKLACE
The necklace, adorned with two tassels of sparkling diamonds, dazzled jewellery enthusiasts, according to BBC.
Andres White Correal, a Sotheby’s jewellery specialist, described the sale as “an electric night”.
The anonymous buyer expressed immense joy.
“She told me, ‘I don’t own it; I’m just its custodian until it passes to the next person.’ It was a beautiful sentiment,” Correal said.
The necklace’s past is as dramatic as Marie Antoinette’s life.
THE TRAGIC LIFE OF MARIE ANTOINETTE
The French queen, ill-fated and just 37, was guillotined during the French Revolution. She became entangled in the scandal known as the “affair of the diamond necklace” in the 1780s.
This controversy tainted her reputation and arguably hastened her tragic end.
Jeanne de la Motte, a disgraced noblewoman, orchestrated the scandal.
She impersonated Marie Antoinette and duped Cardinal Rohan into acquiring a necklace set with 650 diamonds, according to Reuters.
THE FRENCH SCANDAL
When payments stopped, the real queen was implicated, though she was blameless.
Jeanne was branded a thief and exiled, but the damage to the queen’s image was irreversible, according to CBS News.
French citizens already accused her of extravagance and poor influence over King Louis XVI. This scandal only deepened public resentment.
Thieves dismantled the original necklace, weighing an incredible 2,800 carats, and sold its diamonds on the black market.
Some diamonds allegedly landed in London.
MARIE ANTOINETTE AND DIAMONDS
A jeweller working on Bond Street reportedly purchased over half for £10,000 (approximately R239,000) shortly after their disappearance.
Experts believe the diamonds in the piece sold this week match those of the original.
The necklace also has a fascinating modern history.
It belonged to the Anglesey family for nearly a century. It graced royal events, including Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.
In the 1960s, a private Asian collector acquired it.
DIAMONDS IN SOUTH AFRICA
For South African jewellery lovers, this sale highlights the timeless allure of diamonds.
Africa has its own rich diamond legacy, being home to the Cullinan diamond.
The global demand for rare gems continues to rise, with collectors not just seeking sparkle but the stories behind the stones.
Correal summed it up: “People are buying more than jewels. They’re buying history.”
ROYALTY AND DRAMA
The necklace’s blend of drama, royalty, and brilliance captured the imagination of the jewellery world.
This dazzling piece of history now embarks on its next chapter, resting with a new custodian until its story continues.
For those fascinated by historical treasures, it’s a reminder that jewels are not just adornments—they’re keepers of time and tales.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER BUYING A PIECE OF HISTORICAL JEWELLERY IF YOU HAD THE MEANS?
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