A mysterious diamond necklace from the French Revolution went under the hammer in Geneva. It is believed to be linked to a major scandal that contributed to the downfall of Marie Antoinette. The decoration was sold for 4.8 million dollars (472.1 million rubles – Note ed.At Sotheby’s Royal and Noble Jewels auction, The Guardian reported.
The 18th-century work attracted the attention of an unknown buyer who bid by phone. According to Andres White-Correal, head of jewelry at Sotheby’s, there is a place in the market for historic jewelry with legendary origins, and “people are buying not just the item itself, but the whole story that goes with it.”
Some of the diamonds adorning the piece are believed to come from the gemstone at the center of the Diamond Necklace Affair, a scandal in the 1780s that further damaged the reputation of Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, and increased support for the impending French Revolution.
The auction house said the necklace had been “miraculously preserved” from an Asian private collection and was on public display for the first time in 50 years. Jewelry was passed from family to family.
It was previously known that the handwritten lyrics of John Lydon, the lead singer of the legendary punk band Sex Pistols, will be sold at RR Auctions. Read about it here.
Source: People Talk
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
