A dazzling diamond necklace with ties to one of history's most infamous scandals and the fall of France’s last queen, Marie Antoinette, sold for a staggering $4.81 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva on November 13. The Georgian-era piece, featuring approximately 300 carats of diamonds, exceeded its pre-sale estimate by nearly double.
The auction, described as "electric" by Andres White Correal, a Sotheby’s jewelry specialist, ended with an anonymous female bidder acquiring the necklace. She expressed her delight in winning the piece. "I'm exceptionally happy that I won this lot," she reportedly told Correal. "But I don't own it; I'm merely the custodian until the next person will come along."
This sentiment reflects the mindset of collectors who value the rich histories behind such treasures as much as the jewels themselves. "People are not only buying the object," Correal observed, "they are buying all the history that is attached to it."
Marie Antoinette and the Scandal of the Diamond Necklace
Marie Antoinette, born in Austria in 1755 and sent to France as the young bride of Louis XVI, remains a symbol of opulence and tragedy. Her life ended on the guillotine in 1793, during the tumultuous French Revolution. Yet her name is also forever associated with the "affair of the diamond necklace," a scandal that tarnished her reputation and may have accelerated her downfall.
The affair unfolded in the 1780s when Jeanne de la Motte, a noblewoman fallen on hard times, orchestrated an elaborate scheme. De la Motte posed as the queen and tricked Cardinal Rohan into purchasing an extravagant diamond necklace on "her" behalf, with promises of payment that never materialized. When the jewelers sought payment, Marie Antoinette—unaware of the transaction— found herself at the center of a public uproar.
Thouh Cardinal Rohan was arrested, he was ultimately acquitted. Jeanne de la Motte, however, faced harsher consequences. She was branded with a "V" for voleuse (thief) using a hot iron. Despite being found innocent of any wrongdoing, the queen's reputation suffered irreparable damage. The scandal painted her as frivolous and wasteful, fueling public resentment.
The original necklace, reportedly set with 650 diamonds and weighing about 2,800 carats, was later dismantled and sold on the black market. A jeweler from London’s Bond Street allegedly purchased a significant portion of the gemstones for £10,000 shortly after their disappearance.
A Necklace Through the Ages
Some experts believe the diamonds in the necklace sold at Sotheby’s may trace their origins to the original. The piece also boasts a fascinating modern history. For over a century, it was part of the Anglesey family collection. It graced the Marquess of Anglesey at the coronations of both King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. In the 1960s, the necklace was sold to a private Asian collector.
From the court of Versailles to the Sotheby’s auction block in Geneva, this necklace has witnessed centuries of change. Carrying tales of history, glamour, and scandal, its sale underscores the enduring fascination with royal jewels. These treasures preserve the legacy of the past while continuing to captivate the present. It will be exciting to see where this necklace’s journey takes it next!
Photo Credits: Sothebys
