According to the Telegraph UK, a diamond and pearl necklace and earring set that was allegedly gifted to the late Princess of Wales, Princess Diana, by Dodi Al-Fayed, will be put up for auction next month and might bring in up to £10 million.
Diana wore the necklace at the Royal Albert Hall gala performance of Swan Lake, her final public appearance before her death in 1997.
According to The Telegraph, a Ukrainian family has owned the set since 2008.
This is reportedly the first public auction for Diana’s privately held jewelry. When she was a member of the royal family, the Crown lent her much of the jewelry she wore.
Before the jewelry is auctioned off in New York next month, it will be on display in London.
‘While many outstanding individuals fade from view, Princess Diana is as lively today as she was when she was in fact the most admired lady on the planet,’ said Arlan Ettinger, president of Guernsey’s Auctioneers.
She was designed specifically for The Swan Lake Suite. She participated in the creation process.
‘It is of extraordinary importance because it is believed to be the only piece of jewelry she ever had that was sold.
Although many have called it priceless, we have only given it a very rough estimate.
Jim McIngvale, an American businessman, paid just under $1 million for the jewelry in 1999, but after the 2008 financial crisis, he sold it to a Ukrainian family who are ardent supporters of the royal family.
Ettinger continued:
They decided to sell the Swan Lake Suite at this time due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Although they have had them for 14 years, given the current situation, their focus is mostly on reconstructing their country.
Five identical 12mm South Sea pearls and 178 diamonds totaling 51 carats were used to create the necklace.
