Rare 18th Century Diamond Necklace Linked to Marie Antoinette Set to Auction at Sotheby's

A stunning 18th-century necklace, adorned with approximately 500 diamonds, some of which are believed to have originated from the piece that played a role in the downfall of French Queen Marie Antoinette, is set to be auctioned in November, according to Sotheby's. The necklace, belonging to a private collection in Asia, will be up for bidding in Geneva on November 11, with online bidding commencing on October 25 at the auction house's website.

18th-Century Necklace from Private Collection

The necklace, featuring three rows of diamonds finished with a diamond tassel at each end, is expected to fetch between $1.8 and $2.8 million. Despite being out of the public eye for half a century, this piece of exquisite craftsmanship is anticipated to attract significant interest from collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Significance of the Necklace

According to Andres White Correal, chairman of the Sotheby's jewelry department, the necklace is deemed a remarkable find due to its intact 18th-century design. He stated, “It’s a wonderful find because, normally, jewelry in the 18th century was broken up in order to be repurposed… so to have an intact piece of the Georgian period of this importance, this amount of caratis absolutely fabulous.”The necklace's storied past includes its association with the Marquesses of Anglesey since the early 20th century, who reportedly wore the jewel on two notable occasions: the 1937 coronation of King George VI and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.