The stunning necklace linked to Marie Antoinette was auctioned for an astonishing $4.81 million (£3.8 million), almost double the estimate. Sold in Geneva, the Georgian piece features about 500 diamonds. Sotheby’s jewelry expert, Andres White Correal, noted that the buyer expressed joy in winning the historical lot, claiming to be merely a "custodian" of its rich legacy. Marie Antoinette’s legacy is marred by a notorious scandal in the 1780s, when a noblewoman tricked a cardinal into parting with a similar diamond necklace, costing the queen her reputation. While the necklace's exact history remains debated, its age and quality suggest a connection to the originals. The necklace had previously belonged to the Marquess of Anglesey and was worn at royal coronations. This sale underscores the rising market demand for jewelry with illustrious stories.