The necklace is comprised of 20 large, old, brilliant-cut diamonds in silver-topped gold collets (settings that hold the gems in place) with two extension lengths and a pair of earrings. Probably originating from the mines of Golconda in India – which produced the finest diamonds of the 17th and 18th centuries – the necklace’s central stone weighs approximately 15 carats.
The jewels are an extraordinary survival – a magnificent, historic collection of diamonds that have been worn at multiple coronations and adapted and reworked over time to suit changing fashions. Were it not for their grandeur, heritage and alleged link with Marie Antoinette, they may have been broken up years ago.
Tradition links the diamonds to the scandal that contributed to the downfall of Marie Antoinette – the so-called ‘Affair of the Diamond Necklace’. The French queen was implicated in this, one of the grandest jewellery scams in history and, although innocent, her reputation never truly recovered. The connection is unproven, but the size, beauty, and role these diamonds played in royal and aristocratic life in Britain place them among the most remarkable surviving noble jewels.
Find out more about the exhibition Marie Antoinette Style.
Explore more of our Jewellery Collection.
