Christie's auctions Queen Marie-Antoinette's pink diamond

On 17 June, Christie's is holding an auction in New York, in which mainly high jewellery pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels will go under the hammer - but a rare pink diamond in a modified kite cut is also among the items. It was once owned by Europe's most famous queen, Marie-Antoinette.

Left: The pink diamond in a ring by Parisian jeweller Joel Arthur Rosenthal. © Christie's

A diamond with a special history

The auction house Christie's is holding the "Magnificent Jewels" auction in New York on 17 June. Among the items on offer is a 10.38-carat pink-violet diamond that once passed through the hands of Europe's most noble ladies. 

According to Christie's, the diamond, which has been worked into a modified kite cut or delta cut, was once owned by France's Queen Marie-Antoinette. What makes the diamond special is the fact that it survived the French Revolution - unlike its wearer, who fell victim to the guillotine in 1793 at the age of just 37. 

The pink-violet diamond went to her eldest and first-born daughter, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte of France, in 1778. She remained without descendants and died in 1851.

According to Christie's, the next traceable owner of the pink diamond was also a Maria Theresa. Duchess Maria Theresa Beatrice Gaëtane of Austria-Este (1817 to 1886) to be precise. The last known owner of the gemstone was Archduchess Marie Therese of Austria-Este, who was also the last Queen of Bavaria. 

Auction after 30 years under lock and key

Apparently, the pink diamond was sold in 1996 by an anonymous descendant of a European aristocratic family and thus came into the possession of Christie's auction house.

The precious stone, which has not seen the light of day for almost 30 years, was set in a blackened platinum setting and accentuated with white diamonds by Parisian jeweller Joel Arthur Rosenthal. The setting of the ring is reminiscent of a French lily, which could be a reference to the aristocratic previous owners.

The ring is being auctioned together with a velvet box, which also comes with a gold and silver hairpin. According to Christies, the hairpin was probably commissioned by Maria Theresa of Austria-Este. It bears the imperial seal of Austria. The starting bid for the historic diamond is between 3 and 5 million US dollars.