Mysterious Diamond Necklace Sells IDR 76 Billion, Linked To The Fall Of Marie Antoinette's Reputation
JAKARTA - A mysterious diamond necklace that is thought to have something to do with the scandal that has reputation for Marie Antoinette, France's last queen, sold for tens of billions.
Reported by VOI from The Guardian's website on Friday, November 15, 2024, the necklace sold for USD 4.8 million or IDR 76 million in the auction of Sotheby's which took place in Geneva, Switzerland. The necklace from the 18th century was decorated with diamonds of around 300 carats, initially expected to sell between USD 1.8 - 2.8 million (IDR 28 - 44 million).
However, after the bargaining competition, the auction price jumped to USD 4 million or IDR 63 billion, with the final price after taxes and commissions recorded at USD 4.81 million or IDR 76 billion.
According to Andres White Correal, Head of the Jewelry Department in Sotheby's, an unidentified buyer made a telephone offer and was excited.
"He is ready to fight and successful," he said, describing that the night was full of tension and energy.
"Obviously there is a special market for historical jewelry with extraordinary origins. People not only buy these items, but also the entire history of attached to necklaces," he added.
The diamond in this necklace is believed to have come from jewelry involved in the "Affair of the Diamond Necklace" scandal, an event in the 1780s that further undermined the reputation of the last Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, and prompted support for the upcoming French Revolution.
The auction states that this necklace consists of three rows of diamonds with diamond bag decorations at each end. After 50 years of being stored in a private collection in Asia, this time the diamond necklace appeared and was exhibited in public.
"This spectacular antique beauty is a living witness from history," they said in a statement before the auction began.
Sotheby's described the necklace from this Georgian era as "rank and very important", and is expected to be made in the decades before the French Revolution.
"This decoration has changed hands from family and is important. We can start from the beginning of the 20th century, when this necklace became part of the Marquess of Anglesey collection," White Correal explained.
This noble family is believed to have worn the necklace twice in public. It was the first time at theappropriation of King George VI in 1937 and then at theappropriation of his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953.
Since then, little has been known about this necklace, including a intended necklace for whom and it is not yet known who the designer is. However, auction houses argue that impressive antique jewelry like this may only be ordered to the British royal family.
Sotheby's also stated that some of the diamonds in this necklace may have come from the famous necklace involved in the scandal destroying Marie Antoinette's good name, a few years before she was clamped.
The scandal involved a royal woman in debt, Jeanne de la Motte, who pretended to be a close friend of the queen, and managed to get the luxury diamond necklace in the name of Marie Antoinette with a promise of payment at a later date.
"Having an extraordinary quality diamond from the legendary Golconda mine in India which is now extinct, history may be related to Marie Antoinette, plus the fact that this necklace was once worn in twoIGN ceremonies, makes the necklace from the 18th century really special." said Sotheby..