A stunning 18th-century diamond jewel, weighing approximately 300 carats, has resurfaced after five decades in a private Asian collection. Unveiled by Sotheby’s, the piece is valued between €1.7 million and €2.6 million and will lead their Royal and Noble sale at the Mandarin Oriental in Geneva on 11th November.

This spectacular jewel, believed to have been crafted for royalty or aristocrats on the eve of the French Revolution, has survived the test of time, even possibly containing diamonds from the infamous “Affair of the Necklace” scandal. Once owned by the prominent Marquesses of Anglesey, it was famously worn by Marjorie Paget, Marchioness of Anglesey, at the coronation of King George VI in 1937, and later by her daughter-in-law at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.

Characterized by opulent design, the jewel, or “négligé,” is composed of three rows of brilliant old mine-cut diamonds, sourced from the legendary Golconda mines in India. These mines, now extinct, are famed for producing some of the purest diamonds in history.

The jewel is now embarking on a global exhibition tour, with stops in London, Hong Kong, New York, Singapore, Taipei, and Dubai, before its highly anticipated auction. This rare piece offers collectors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a significant piece of jewellery history.

Online bidding opens on 25th October 2024 at sothebys.comhttps://www.sothebys.com/en/.

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Main photo source: Sothebys