[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”1. What is the estimated value of the necklace?” answer-0=”The necklace is expected to fetch up to $2.8 million when it makes its auction debut. It is considered one of the most magnificent and intact Georgian jewels currently in private hands.” image-0=”” count=”1″ html=”false” css_class=””]CNN- A diamond necklace that has been worn at two British coronations, and is thought to have stones from the infamous necklace at the heart of a Marie-Antoinette scandal, is expected to fetch up to $2.8 million at auction.
Weighing approximately 300 carats, the 18th-century piece, likely created a decade before the French Revolution, is on public display for the first time in 50 years and will make its auction debut on November 11, according to Sotheby’s, which is handling the sale.
The jewel is being exhibited at Sotheby’s in London until Wednesday, before it sets off on the rest of its global exhibition tour. It will then head to Geneva, Switzerland, to be the highlight of Sotheby’s Royal and Noble sale, the auction house said in a press release Monday.
Despite the exact origins of the necklace not being recorded, the auction house believes the antique piece could only have been made for royalty or a high-ranking aristocrat.
In the early 20th century, it belonged to the Marquesses of Anglesey, a leading aristocratic family in the UK with close ties to the British royal family, Sotheby’s said.
Marjorie Paget, marchioness of Anglesey, wore the necklace to the coronation of King George VI in 1937. Her daughter-in-law then wore the same jewel to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, according to the release.
After the family parted with the diamond piece in the 1960s, it was exhibited in the American Museum of Natural History before being acquired by a private collector.
“This rare and important diamond jewel is a sublime survivor from the opulent court life of the Georgian era, defined by its unrivalled pomp and splendour; it is arguably one of the most magnificent and intact Georgian jewels in private hands,” said Andres White Correal, chairman of Sotheby’s jewellery Europe and Middle East and head of noble jewels, in the release.
“When compared to other surviving Imperial and Royal jewels from the same period, this necklace stands head and shoulders above these examples; it is a fortune in diamonds, and also a masterclass in exquisite design, workmanship and technical innovation for the period,” he added.
The piece consists of three rows of diamonds that trail on either side into a diamond tassel.
Each diamond is of an old mine brilliant cut and weighs between one and one-and-a-half carats, according to Sotheby’s, which said the diamonds were likely sourced from India’s legendary Golconda mines, where the Hope Diamond was discovered.
Jewels from that time period were often known for their luxury and versatility, with one piece having the potential to be worn as a necklace or as an ornament sewn into a piece of clothing, according to the release.
This particular piece can be worn around the neck with the tassels hanging down on either side, or with the piece tied in a simple knot.
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Frequently Asked Questions: The Historic 300-Carat Diamond Necklace
Here are five key questions and answers about this extraordinary 18th-century jewel heading to auction at Sotheby’s.
1. What is the estimated value of the necklace?
The necklace is expected to fetch up to $2.8 million when it makes its auction debut. It is considered one of the most magnificent and intact Georgian jewels currently in private hands.
2. What is the connection to Marie-Antoinette?
While its exact origins aren’t recorded, the necklace is thought to contain stones from the infamous diamond piece at the center of the “Affair of the Diamond Necklace,” a scandal that severely tarnished Marie-Antoinette’s reputation shortly before the French Revolution.
3. Which historical events has this necklace been a part of?
The jewel has been worn at two British coronations:
1937: Worn by Marjorie Paget, Marchioness of Anglesey, for the coronation of King George VI.
1953: Worn by her daughter-in-law for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
4. What are the technical specifications of the diamonds?
The piece weighs approximately 300 carats in total. It features three rows of diamonds terminating in tassels. Each individual stone is an “old mine brilliant cut” weighing between 1 and 1.5 carats. Experts believe the diamonds were likely sourced from the legendary Golconda mines in India.
5. When and where will the auction take place?
The necklace will be sold on November 11 in Geneva, Switzerland. It will serve as the highlight of Sotheby’s “Royal and Noble” sale after completing a global exhibition tour that began in London.