Rare diamond captures planetary attraction
A ample pinkish diamond believed to person been passed down from France's Queen Marie Antoinette to her girl is going up for auction successful New York adjacent period — and is expected to merchantability for millions of dollars.
The uncommon 10-carat diamond is acceptable successful a ringing designed by jeweler Joel Arthur Rosenthal. It volition beryllium a portion of the "Magnificent Jewels" unrecorded auction astatine Christie's Rockefeller Center determination connected June 17.
The kite-shaped jewel is believed to day backmost to the mid-18th period and was erstwhile owned by Antoinette's daughter, Duchess Marie-Thérèse, the auction location said.
A ample pinkish diamond with royal practice is going up for auction adjacent month.
Alice Fung / The Associated Press
"According to royal lore, Queen Marie Antoinette entrusted her astir treasured jewels to her faithful coiffeur connected the eve of her failed flight from Paris successful 1791, hoping to 1 time reclaim them," Christie's said successful a quality release.
That did not happen, but the jewels were passed down to Marie-Thérèse. While it's not certain, it's believed the pinkish diamond was portion of the jewels passed down.
The diamond continued to beryllium passed down for generations until it was sold astatine auction successful 1996 successful Geneva, Christie's said. It has remained retired of nationalist presumption since then.
Rahul Kadakia, the planetary caput of jewelry astatine Christie's, called the jewel a "very peculiar diamond."
"It is simply a fancy purple-pink diamond from the 18th period and astir apt from the Golconda mines successful India," Kadakia told The Associated Press.
It is estimated to merchantability for $3 cardinal to $5 cardinal astatine the auction.
Nicole Brown Chau is simply a lawman managing exertion for CBSNews.com. She writes and edits nationalist news, wellness stories, explainers and more.
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