A 300-carat necklace thought to be at the center of the infamous ‘Diamond Necklace Affair’ that contributed to the French Revolution was sold at auction in Geneva

An extremely rare diamond necklace with possible historical connections Marie Antoinette It was sold at auction for approximately $5 million.

On Wednesday, November 13, luxury auction house Sotheby’s announced A 300-carat 18th-century Georgian necklace was sold for $4.8 million, more than twice its estimated price.

According to Sotheby’s, the necklace, made from more than 500 possible Golconda diamonds mined in India, may be linked to the infamous “Affair of the Diamond Necklace” that tarnished France’s reputation as the last of the late Marie Antoinette’s reign. increased support for the queen and the French revolution.

The necklace once belonged to the British royal family, the Marquess of Anglesey, before being transferred to a private Asian collection. Sotheby’s owns this jersey for two British coronations, the coronation of King George VI in 1937 and then Queen Elizabeth II. It was worn at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, he added.

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Experts noted that the piece of jewelery “may have been created for royalty or a high-ranking aristocrat in one of the glittering palaces of the old regime – most likely at the French or British court” due to its design – a design consisting of three rows of diamonds. It has tassels on both ends, although the exact date is unknown, according to the auction house.

according to Palace of VersaillesThe “Diamond Necklace Affair” began when French jewelers created an extravagant necklace of approximately 2,800 carats that was too expensive to sell. After jewelers cut it into smaller pieces (though it was still considered too expensive), a noblewoman named Jeanne de la Motte pretended to be Marie Antoinette’s friend to purchase it, promising to pay the jewelers at a later date.

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Relating to: See the Stunning Pearl Brooch That Belonged to Marie-Antoinette Up for Auction

The Queen was scandalized when jewelers were tricked into believing she would pay for the necklace, and although she was later proven innocent, public perception plummeted further. This incident is cited as contributing to his execution in 1793.

Wednesday’s auction, hosted by Sotheby’s Royal and Noble Jewels, culminated in a fierce seven-minute bidding war, with an anonymous winner eventually taking home the necklace.

Andres White Correal, head of royal and noble jewels at Sotheby’s, said the necklace “stands far above all other documented Crown and Imperial jewels of the period.” he wrote in a statement before the auction.

“This rare and important diamond jewel is a magnificent remnant of the opulent court life of the Georgian period, defined by its splendor and splendor and its grand jewelery tradition,” he continued. “… This magnificent and extremely rare diamond necklace appeared in the last years of the 18th century and stands as one of the last surviving court jewels of that period.”

in 2018 Pearl necklace known as “Queen Marie Antoinette’s Pearl” — this time proven to belong to Marie Antoinette — sold for more than $36 million at another Sotheby’s auction.