Marie Thérèse Pink: Diamond fetches 13.98 million dollars at Christie's

Marie Thérèse Pink: Diamond fetches 13.98 million dollars at Christie's

The pink diamond, once owned by Queen Marie Antoinette and named "Marie Thérèse Pink" after her daughter and subsequent owner, has finally been auctioned – and has far exceeded its original appraisal. No wonder, given its special historical legacy. The GIA has examined the pink diamond.

The Marie Thérèse Pink: more sought-after than expected

The pink-violet diamond auctioned at Christie's this week truly encompasses a special thread of history, having passed through the hands of many European aristocrats since the 18th century. Although it can be traced back to the French Queen Marie-Antoinette, the kite-cut diamond was not named after her, but rather after her daughter, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte of France. Its last aristocratic owner was Marie-Therese of Austria-Este, the last Queen of Bavaria. 

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

The "Marie Thérèse Pink" was originally valued at between $3 million and $5 million by Christie's, but this was raised to $5 million and $7 million before the auction. The pink diamond's final auction price, however, was considerably higher: $13.98 million, the diamond of the European queens. Not only its color and rarity, but also its special story, helped it capture the hearts of collectors and fetch such a high price—the diamond weighs 10.38 carats.

Diamond evaluation by the GIA: a special contemporary witness

Prior to the auction, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) examined and evaluated the "Marie Thérèse Pink" in detail. The fancy purple-pink diamond, with a modified brilliant cut known as the "kite cut," likely originated in India and was cut into its shape in the mid-17th century. 

According to the Diamond Institute, colored diamonds are increasingly gaining international attention – historical fancy color diamonds such as the “Marie Thérèse Pink” serve researchers as important witnesses to the times, documenting the diamonds that history and nature have produced over the centuries.

Christie's most successful collectible jewelry auction

The Christie's auction was a complete success overall, bringing in a total of $87.7 million for the auction house. This makes the June 17 auction the most financially successful auction featuring objects formerly owned by various celebrities, a testament to the strong demand for jewelry with a special history, emotional significance, and outstanding craftsmanship. 

Source: Christie's, Gemological Institute of America, Journal of Jewelry