A diamond necklace, once worn at the coronations of both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, is set to be auctioned, with estimates suggesting it could fetch up to $2.8 million. The extraordinary piece, steeped in royal history, is also thought to contain stones from a notorious scandal involving French Queen Marie-Antoinette.
A Glimpse Into Royal History
Weighing approximately 300 carats, the 18th-century necklace is being displayed publicly for the first time in 50 years. Likely crafted a decade before the French Revolution, the piece will make its debut at auction on November 11, 2024, under the care of Sotheby’s. The prestigious auction house announced that the historic jewel is currently on display in London before embarking on a global exhibition tour, culminating in Geneva, Switzerland, where it will headline Sotheby’s Royal and Noble sale.
Despite its origins remaining unclear, experts at Sotheby’s believe the necklace was commissioned for royalty or a high-ranking aristocrat. The auction house noted its exquisite design and craftsmanship as unrivaled, showcasing the opulence of Georgian-era court life.
Royal Provenance
By the early 20th century, the necklace belonged to the Marquesses of Anglesey, a prominent aristocratic family with close ties to the British royal family. It was first worn at a coronation by Marjorie Paget, the Marchioness of Anglesey, during King George VI’s coronation in 1937. The necklace once again graced Westminster Abbey in 1953, when her daughter-in-law wore it for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.
After the family parted with the piece in the 1960s, it spent time exhibited in the American Museum of Natural History before being acquired by a private collector. The piece is now set to re-enter the public eye as one of the most magnificent and intact Georgian jewels in private hands.
A Rare Gem of Technical Mastery
Sotheby’s described the necklace as a “sublime survivor” from an era defined by extravagance, noting that it outshines other surviving Imperial and Royal jewels from the same period. Andres White Correal, chairman of Sotheby’s jewellery Europe and Middle East, praised the necklace’s technical innovation and masterful design, calling it “a fortune in diamonds.”
Each diamond, estimated to weigh between one and one-and-a-half carats, is of an old mine brilliant cut. The diamonds are believed to have originated from India’s famed Golconda mines, the same source as the legendary Hope Diamond. The necklace’s versatility—common in 18th-century jewelry—allowed it to be worn as a necklace or sewn into clothing. With its three rows of diamonds trailing into delicate tassels, it can be worn in multiple ways, including tied into a simple knot.
Links to Marie-Antoinette Scandal
Sotheby’s suggests that some of the diamonds in the necklace could have once been part of the infamous “Affair of the Diamond Necklace”—a scandal that rocked the French court in 1785. The affair revolved around a cardinal who sought to regain the favor of Marie-Antoinette by acquiring a necklace on behalf of someone posing as the Queen.
The deceit was exposed when the jewelers, who had not received payment, sought compensation from Marie-Antoinette, who denied ever receiving the necklace. By that time, the necklace had already been dismantled and sold in London. This scandal, which falsely implicated the Queen, contributed to the discrediting of the French monarchy ahead of the French Revolution.
An Auction of Historic Splendor
As the diamond necklace prepares to make its auction debut in Geneva, jewelry collectors and historians alike are eager to witness the sale of this rare and historically significant jewel. With its royal provenance and links to one of the most notorious scandals in European history, the necklace stands as a glittering symbol of both opulence and intrigue.
This extraordinary piece, steeped in centuries of history, is expected to capture the attention of collectors worldwide when it goes under the hammer on November 11.
