Necklace That Sent Marie Antoinette to the Guillotine Auctioned

In the 18th century, a pivotal moment for the French monarchy unfolded. The economic and social crisis that gripped the nation, coupled with the extravagant nature of Queen Marie Antoinette, culminated in the French Revolution. Central to this tumultuous regime change was a necklace, crafted with 500 diamonds, which has now been auctioned for 4.8 million dollars—4.5 million euros—more than double its estimated value.

For several minutes, seven individuals vied to acquire what was deemed the star of the Sotheby's auction of royal and noble jewels in Geneva. However, this financial battle concluded with the emergence of an anonymous buyer, who offered a sum that no one could surpass.

Although "the exact origin of this jewel is not known," as acknowledged by Sotheby's, various theories exist. One of the most widespread suggests it is a necklace acquired by Jeanne Valois De la Motta, a notorious swindler, and the Bishop of Strasbourg, Cardinal Rohan, the most naive clergy in history, on behalf of Marie Antoinette. A piece that, it seems, cost nearly 2 million pounds.

The deception orchestrated by these two individuals led to widespread outrage among the French society of the time, who could not fathom how the queen could spend such a sum on a jewel while the economic crisis ravaged the country's households. Although justice proved that the queen had not commissioned the creation of this necklace, the belief that she had already taken root in the public's mind, making it impossible to restore the reputation of the French crown.

This famous necklace was present at both the coronation of King George VI in 1937 and that of Queen Elizabeth II of England in 1953, worn by members of the Marquess of Anglesey, and was last seen at the American Museum of Natural History in New York for its bicentennial in 1976. It is "an ancient jewel so significant and historic" that "it could only have been created for royalty or a high-ranking aristocrat in one of the glittering courts of the ancien régime, most likely the French or English court," Sotheby's stated in a communiqué.