Historic Diamond Necklace Linked to Marie Antoinette Fetches $4.8 Million at Auction

Auction house Sotheby's reported that a diamond necklace believed to be connected to a scandal that contributed to the downfall of Marie Antoinette sold for $4.8 million. The piece, featuring around 500 diamonds, exceeded initial expectations, showcasing the appeal of historic jewelry with rich provenance.

A necklace believed to be associated with a scandal that ultimately led to the downfall of Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, sold at auction for an astounding $4.81 million (£3.8 million). The Georgian-era piece, adorned with approximately 500 diamonds, was auctioned by Sotheby's in Geneva on Wednesday evening. This remarkable sale significantly surpassed the initial estimates, demonstrating the strong interest in historical jewelry.

"It was an electric night," remarked Andres White Correal, a jewelry specialist at Sotheby's, who confirmed that the buyer, an unnamed woman, expressed her exhilaration after the purchase. She reportedly said, "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," emphasizing the unique appreciation of the necklace's historical significance.

Marie Antoinette, born in Austria in 1755, moved to France to marry the future King Louis XVI. Despite her royal status, the queen met a tragic fate, being guillotined in 1793 during the French Revolution at the young age of 37. The necklace sold at auction is believed to contain some of the original jewels at the center of the notorious "affair of the diamond necklace," a scandal from the 1780s that may have contributed to her negative reputation and eventual demise.

The scandal involved Jeanne de la Motte, a downtrodden noblewoman who deceived a cardinal into giving her the necklace without payment. The ensuing fallout tarnished the queen's reputation, leading to public scorn as charges of extravagance and influence against the king took hold. Although Marie Antoinette was found to have no part in the scheme, the damage to her reputation was lasting.

In the years that followed, pieces of the original necklace, which originally featured 650 diamonds totaling about 2,800 carats, were sold individually on the black market. Sotheby's noted that a jeweler in London confirmed he acquired over half of these jewels shortly after they became available. Experts believe the age and quality of the diamonds in the recently auctioned necklace align closely with the originals.

This historic necklace boasts a rich past, having also been worn by the Marquess of Anglesey during Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, as well as at King George VI's crowning in 1937. For nearly a century, it belonged to the Anglesey family before being sold to a private collector in Asia during the 1960s. The sale underscores the ongoing fascination with historical jewelry and the stories they carry, making them valuable collectibles in today’s market.