Watch as Edahn Golan, Sherry Smith and Avi Levy join Michelle Graff to talk pricing and trends in this controversial corner of the market.
Marie Antoinette’s Pearl and Diamond Pendant Sells for $36M
It was part of Sotheby’s “Royal Jewels from the Bourbon-Parma Family” jewelry auction, a white-glove sale that exceeded expectations.

Geneva—Not surprisingly, the recent auction of jewelry and other items from the collection of the Bourbon-Parma family proved to be quite a hit.
“Royal Jewels from the Bourbon-Parma Family,” held Wednesday at Sotheby’s Geneva, featured lots once owned by Queen Marie Antoinette, King Charles X of France, the archdukes of Austria and the dukes of Parma.
The sale totaled $53.1 million, which was more than seven times the pre-sale high estimate of $7 million and a record for any sale of royal jewels, according to Sotheby’s. It topped the $50.3 million garnered when Sotheby’s sold Duchess of Windsor’s jewelry in 1987.
The 100-lot jewelry auction was also a white-glove sale, meaning not a single lot went unsold.
Many, in fact, blew away their pre-sale estimates, including the highlight: Marie Antoinette’s pearl and diamond pendant.
The piece went for $36.2 million, smashing its pre-sale estimate of $1-$2 million and setting a new auction record for a natural pearl.
The pendant was one of 10 pieces in the sale that once belonged to Marie Antoinette.
Armed with a fascinating backstory, the French queen’s jewels went for a combined $42.7 million, about 15 times the highest pre-sale estimate of $2.9 million.
Before she was taken into captivity, Marie Antoinette wrapped her pearls, diamonds and rubies in cotton, placed them in a wooden chest and sent them to Brussels.
From there, they were taken to Vienna to go into the safekeeping of her nephew, the Austrian Emperor, and were given to Marie Antoinette’s daughter, Madame Royale, following her release in 1795.
The jewels were then passed on to the Bourbon-Parma family, where they remained for the next two centuries.
Other highlights from the queen’s jewelry collection included the three-strand necklace strung with pearls from her personal collection seen below, which Sotheby’s said saw “intense bidding” before going for $2.3 million (pre-sale estimate was $200,000 to $300,000).
There also was a diamond brooch with a yellow diamond that garnered $2.1 million, and a monogrammed diamond ring bearing the initials “MA” and containing a lock of her hair that sold for more than 50 times its pre-sale estimate when it garnered $443,786 Wednesday.
The collection also included jewels belonging to later generations of the Bourbon-Parma family with connections to the royal families of France, Italy, Spain and Austria.
Highlights included a diamond tiara made by Austrian jeweler Hübner for Maria Anna of Austria in 1912 that went for

Jeweled badges of the Order of the Holy Spirit and the Order of the Golden Fleece, both owned by the Duke of Angoulême and the latter of which is seen below, sold for $1.6 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, a diamond parure set with old-cut diamonds with a detachable pendant made for Louise of France and including five diamonds that belonged to Marie Antoinette’s daughter sold for $848,853, and a pair of diamond girandole earrings once belonging to the Duchess of Parma sold for almost three times their highest pre-sale estimate, garnering $729,715.
There also was a ring set with a 2.44-carat fancy orangey-pink diamond that sold for $574,837.
For a full list of results, visit Sothebys.com.
The Latest

The two companies initially partnered during the pandemic and had just signed a 10-year sales agreement in November 2022.

A classic diamond tennis necklace gets a whole lot cooler with a removable pendant.

Awareness is essential to proactive protection. Learn how to promote and maintain safety and security awareness in your business.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently spoke with Columbia Gem House’s Eric Braunwart about the uptick in non-traditional gemstone cuts.


“Pre-Owned Luxury by Rocksbox” offers secondhand jewelry from Kay, Zales, and Jared to members and non-members.

The museum is asking for the public’s help in finding thousands of pieces of ancient gold jewelry and gemstones stolen from a storeroom.

Do you always want the right diamonds at the right price in your store? Introducing Dialog, the world’s first diamond subscription service.

The company was recognized for one of its private-label, consumer-focused jewelry care lines.

The plea comes against a backdrop of declining demand and falling prices.

Shoppers also expressed concern about rising prices, higher interest rates, and political uncertainty.

Participants from the first round of grants saw up to a 900 percent increase in their platinum sales.

According to the watchmaker, it features the first light-powered atomic timekeeping moon phase movement.

The former teacher, described as “a pioneer for women-owned businesses,” opened her own jewelry store in 1980.

The contest is now open for submissions until Oct. 10.

The annual event will return to Rosemont, Illinois next August.

According to SpendingPulse, retail sales will increase in November and December but not necessarily for jewelers.

Police say Douglas Wayne Gamble also swapped natural diamonds for synthetic stones and failed to return customers’ repairs.

The designer just launched a new bridal range at Kay Jewelers.

Yunjo Lee has also worked on collections for Tiffany & Co. with Paloma Picasso and Frank Gehry.

Steve Levine joins the family-owned company, while his brother Gary has a new position.

The company has filed complaints against Royal Chain and Samuel B.

The two-stone style benefits from two-toned metal.

The event is moving just outside of Denver.

The company just rolled out “Timex Rewound,” a new takeback and resale program.

The lab confirmed it did not send the message.

The second installment of “To Treasure Now and Forever” is intended to emphasize diamonds’ versatility.