British coronation diamond necklace

Left to right, Lord and Lady Woolton, and the Marquess and Marchioness of Anglesey, at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, London, in 1953.

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Believed to have been crafted in the decade leading up to the French Revolution, the jewel’s grandeur suggests it was made exclusively for a high-ranking aristocrat or European royalty, possibly at the French or English court of the Ancien Régime. Adding an almost mythical layer to its history is the sensational theory put forth by Sotheby’s that some of the Golconda diamonds within this piece may have originated from the notorious necklace at the heart of the infamous “Affair of the Necklace” scandal involving Marie Antoinette. Though the French Queen was innocent, the fraud surrounding the original jewel severely damaged her reputation and became a catalyst for the revolution.

The necklace’s definitive link to the British elite began when it became the property of the Marquesses of Anglesey, a leading aristocratic family with established ties to the Royal family. This connection cemented its place in British ceremonial history. The first confirmed royal occasion for the British coronation diamond necklace was in 1937, when Marjorie Paget, Marchioness of Anglesey, wore the stunning jewel to the coronation of King George VI. Her daughter-in-law later continued this tradition, wearing the very same opulent piece to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, forever tying the necklace to two pivotal moments in modern British history.

Making its public debut after five decades in a private collection, the British coronation diamond necklace has been described by Sotheby’s as a “sublime survivor” and a rare masterpiece of the Georgian era. Following an exhibition at Sotheby’s in London, the British coronation diamond necklace embarks on an important global tour before heading to Geneva, Switzerland. There, it will be the undisputed highlight of the prestigious Sotheby’s Royal and Noble sale on November 11, offering collectors a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a piece of European aristocratic and British royal history. The sale of this particular British coronation diamond necklace underscores the enduring value placed on jewels with verifiable historical provenance and a compelling story.

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,the British coronation diamond necklacestands 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.

Each diamond weighs between one and one-and-a-half carats, according to Sotheby’s.

Sotheby’s

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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