300-Carat Diamond Necklace With Links To Fall Of Queen Marie Antoinette Sells For Rs 40 Crore At Auction

Who would have thought that a scandalous little jewel would auction for millions of dollars? A diamond-studded necklace, believed to be connected to a scandal that played a role in the downfall of Queen Marie Antoinette, has been sold for a staggering $4.81 million at an auction in Geneva.As per Sotheby's, seven would-be buyers entered a fierce bidding battle over the necklace, that lasted over seven tensed minutes. The necklace is now in possession of an anonymous winning bidder, fetching over double what was expected. This spectacular antique jewel is an incredible survivor of history and dates back to the Georgian era. It boasts 500 diamonds, weighing over 300 carats of likely Golconda diamonds from the legendary Golconda mines in India. The stunning piece of jewellery is composed of three rows of diamonds finished with a diamond tassel at each end.

The necklace is believed to hold historical significance linked to a notorious incident from the 18th century. The necklace is thought to have been part of the infamous Diamond Necklace Affair of 1785, a scandal that tarnished the reputation of Marie Antoinette and contributed to the public unrest leading up to the French Revolution.Although the diamonds from the original necklace were sold off in pieces and are no longer traceable, experts believe the quality and age of the diamonds in this newly sold piece could potentially link it to the original necklace.The design of the necklace, which can be worn as a loose scarf or knotted at the front, has an elegant yet glamorous appeal. Its storied history includes previous owner being Britain’s Marquess of Anglesey, and a family member is even said to have worn it at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.