18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M
Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.
The necklace, the crown jewel of Sotheby’s “Royal and Noble Jewels” sale held Wednesday in Geneva, sold for $4.8 million to the woman, identified only as an “international private collector.”
Its pre-sale estimate was $1.8 million to $2.8 million.
The necklace, which contains more than 500 collet-set old cushion-shaped and circular-cut diamonds, was made sometime in the decade before the French Revolution—so, between the years 1779 and 1789—Sotheby’s has estimated.
The exact origin of the diamonds, which total more than 300 carats, is unknown.
They are believed to be Golconda diamonds from the famed mines in India of the same name.
They also could be diamonds from the “Affair of the Necklace” necklace, the piece that caused a scandal and further damaged Marie-Antoinette’s reputation and the standing of the French monarchy in the eyes of the public.
The famed “Affair” necklace was broken up and sold in London, and its diamonds would have been on the market around the time this approximately 300-carat necklace was made, likely for royalty or a high-ranking aristocrat of either the French or English court.
The diamond necklace has been worn to at least two British coronations.
Marjorie Paget, Marchioness of Anglesey, donned the piece for the coronation of King George VI in 1937, pairing it with the Anglesey tiara.

Less than two decades later, in 1953, her daughter-in-law, the seventh Marquess of Anglesey, wore the same suite of jewels to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Sotheby’s said the seventh Marquess of Anglesey parted with the piece sometime in the 1960s.
It went on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York in 1976 as part of the museum’s Bicentennial Exhibition before being acquired by a private collector in Asia, who has owned it until now.
When Sotheby’s announced earlier this fall that it would be offering the 18th-century necklace at auction, it marked the first time the piece had been seen in public in 50 years.
Sotheby’s “Royal and Noble Jewels” auction was a “white-glove sale,” meaning all the lots were sold, and 83 percent of the lots exceeded their high estimates.
The auction house held the sale in conjunction with “Magnificent Jewels” Wednesday in Geneva, with both sales totaling $30.7 million.
Sotheby’s said this “Royal and Noble Jewels” sale was the first in the auction category to include lots from various owners.
The offering of the 18th-century necklace took place alongside the single-owner sale “A Tsar’s Treasure: Ferdinand of Bulgaria (1861-1948).”
More details about the results of that sale will be covered in a separate article.
“The extraordinary results of today’s sale represent Sotheby’s ‘Royal and Noble Jewels’ sales at their apex. With yet another white-glove auction, these sales demonstrate the lasting power of provenance,” said Andres White Correal, Sotheby’s chairman of jewelry in Europe and the Middle East and head of Noble Jewels.
He continued, “Meticulously collected over generations, ‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ provided an intimate glimpse into one of Central Europe’s most important royal families, and one of the greatest jewelry collectors of the 19th and 20th centuries.
“While there were innumerable results worth celebrating, as a career highlight, the Anglesey jewel stands sans pareil. From the moment we laid eyes on it, our entire team was transfixed by its beauty, its history, and its timelessness. The electricity in the sales room was palpable, and it will be one of my fondest memories to have been on the phone, helping to find its new home.”
The Latest

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

The catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.

The company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.


The jewelry and accessories retailer plans to close 18 stores as part of the proceedings.

Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

Designer Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.

She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.

Omar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.

The New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.

Lilian Raji explains why joining an affiliate network is essential for brands seeking placements in U.S. consumer publications.

The organization has awarded a total of $42,000 through its scholarship programs this year.

The winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.

As summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.

Moshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.

Xavier Dibbrell brings more than a decade of experience to the role.

The addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.

The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.

The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.

The necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.

The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.

Jewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.

Tratner succeeds Andie Weinman, who will begin stepping back from the buying group’s day-to-day operations.

The president made the announcement via Truth Social Wednesday, adding that India also will face a penalty for its dealings with Russia.

The luxury titan’s star brand Gucci continued to struggle amid a "tough" environment.