Marie Antoinette’s Jewels Sell for $36M

A pearl and diamond pendant that was owned by Marie Antoinette, queen of France, who died in 1793, sold at auction for more than $36 million, CNN reports.

Sotheby’s had touted Marie Antoinette’s collection as “one of the most important royal jewellery collections ever to come to auction.”

The pendant had been predicted to sell for only $1 million to $2 million. The sale took place in Geneva.

The sale resulted in a new auction record for a natural pearl, according to Sotheby’s.

According to CNN, other items in the collection that sold for significant amounts included:

• A pearl and diamond necklace ($2.2 million)
• A diamond double-ribbon-bow brooch ($2.1 million).
• A “monogram ring with woven strands of Antoinette’s hair” ($440,000).

Read more at CNN