On June 3 1997, the late Princess Diana made one of her last public appearances before her untimely passing. It’s suggested, perhaps apocryphally, that her attendance at the English National Ballet’s performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall was more widely photographed than her own wedding day.
For the occasion, the former Princess of Wales sported a pair of culturally-significant South Sea pearl and diamond earrings and necklaces, designed by her loyal jeweller, Garrard.
The demi-couture jewelry luxuriate, who were the original Crown jewelrs, designed the two-piece collection based on Princess Diana’s own design, employing seven pearls and over 178 diamonds on the necklace alone, totaling at 51 carats. It was the first and last time Diana ever wore this high jewelry suite, which since became fondly referred to as the “Swan Lake” jewels.
Now, the Princess-approved pieces are up for auction.
As per Guernsey’s, the auctioneers responsible for the sale of the “Swan Lake” suite, this collection bears its own history. In 1999, the pieces became the only high jewelry worn by Diana ever to be sold, and now the proceeds from the auction will be dedicated to the rebuilding efforts of Ukraine after the Russian invasion. The seller is cited to be a “prominent family from Ukraine.”
Guernsey’s president Arlan Ettinger revealing to the press that he estimates the necklace and earrings to fetch $3 million to $5 million. “I’m not in the betting business,” he also remarked. A possible hint that this piece of culturally significant jewels could be purchased for upwards of that price? In 2021 the pieces were put up for sale for $12.1 million, however, there were no bidders.
For those wanting to own a piece of royal history, the auction will take place on June 27 at New York’s luxurious 5th Avenue haunt, the Pierre Hotel. Be careful to not let the sun in Cancer have any sway over your purchasing decision, but with the auction taking place five days before the late-Princesses birthday, the occasion is set to be a solemn and emotive one.
Guernsey’s hasn’t disclosed any potential bidders, or whether there is considerable interest for the pieces to sell pre-auction, but if there is one person we know who shows an interest in owning rare and iconic pieces formerly owned by people of significance, it’s Kim Kardashian.
Last year, the reality star and businesswoman purchased the amethyst and diamond Attallah cross worn by Princess Diana in 1987 for $197,453. Given that the “Swan Lake” set is also designed by the same jeweler who crafted the Attallah cross, could Kardashian be getting her checkbook ready as we write this?
