Marie Antoinette may not have made it through the French revolution, but her jewelry sure did. And it has only gotten more valuable over time.
A set of her jewels hit the auction block yesterday in Geneva, courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Among the 100 lots—each stunning in its own right—there was one decisive star: Marie Antoinette’s natural pearl and diamond pendant. Sotheby’s had estimated to sell the item for between one and two million dollars, but a bidding war upped the price tag to a whopping $36 million.
Here are some of the highlights of the sales:
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- Fine pair of natural pearl and diamond pendants, 18th century Sold $36,410,000
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- Diamond and woven hair ring, 18 th century Sold $$443,786
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- DIAMOND TIARA, HÜBNER, 1912 Sold $967,990
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- SUPERB DIAMOND PARURE Sold $848,853
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- IMPRESSIVE FANCY ORANGY PINK DIAMOND RING, CIRCA 1909 Sold $574,837
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- FINE PAIR OF NATURAL PEARL AND DIAMOND PENDANTS, 18 TH CENTURY Sold $396,131
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- IMPRESSIVE SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND BROOCH, CIRCA 1900 Sold $551,010
