The Attallah Cross worn by Princess Diana when she was alive has been purchased by Kim Kardashian after it was put up for auction at Sotheby’s London.
The Attallah Cross, a 1920s pendant by renowned jeweler Garrard that Diana wore on multiple occasions, sold on Wednesday at the Sotheby’s Royal and Noble Sale for £163,800 (€186,455).
Four bidders reportedly contended for the amethyst cross in the last five minutes of the Sotheby’s auction, but a representative for Kardashian, 42, ultimately won the price, the auction house revealed.
The necklace, which Diana most notably wore at a charity dinner in London in October 1987, went for more than twice its pre-auction estimate.
The princess wore the pendant and a Catherine Walker gown to the gala in favor of Birthright, a nonprofit organization that works to safeguard people’s rights throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
Businessman Naim Attallah initially purchased the cross from Garrard in the 1980s, and thanks to his acquaintance with Diana, Attallah was able to loan it to her multiple times for years.
The cross-shaped pendant is a striking and vibrant piece set with square-cut amethysts and enhanced by circular-cut diamonds. It is believed to be a one-of-a-kind private commission by Garrard.
The cross has about 5.25 carats of diamonds in total.
Diana wore several Garrard pieces during her life, including the now-famous Swan Lake necklace, a diamond and South Sea pearl necklace that the jewelry store created in conjunction with her, for her final public appearance.
“Jewellery owned or worn by the late Princess Diana very rarely comes on to the market, especially a piece such as the Attallah cross, which is so colourful, bold and distinctive.,” Head of jewellery at Sotheby’s London Kristian Spofforth stated this about the Attallah cross before its sale.
“To some extent, this unusual pendant is symbolic of the princess’s growing self-assurance in her sartorial and jewellery choices, at that particular moment in her life.”
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Kardashian has previously expressed interest in vintage clothing, including a Marilyn Monroe outfit that she wore to the Met Gala the year before.
To fit into the “iconic” gown, which was a loan from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum, Kardashian revealed in May 2022 that she had shed 16 pounds.
Monroe first wore it in 1962 when she famously performed “Happy Birthday” to US president John F. Kennedy.
Oh…wow! What a priceless jewel!