Princess Diana wearing the Attallah Cross at the Birthright charity gala. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s
Kim Kardashian has linked her name to yet another iconic piece of fashion history. After wearing Marilyn Monroe’s dress to the 2022 Met Gala, the mogul has just bought the Attallah Cross belonging to Princess Diana for an eye-watering US $197,453 at Sotheby’s Royal and Noble sale. The cross is an amethyst pendant with floral design details and a total diamond weight of approximately 5.25 carats. It was sold to Kardashian at more than double its pre-auction estimate after being competed for by four bidders.
The Attallah Cross. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s
The unique piece of jewelry was created in the 1920s by court jewelers Garrard, and bought by Naim Attallah CBE, the former group chief executive of Asprey & Garrard, in the 1980s. A close friend of the late British royal, Attallah loaned the piece to the Princess of Wales on many occasions, including in October 1987, when she most famously wore it to a charity gala. Princess Diana had paired the pendant with a matching, purple Catherine Walker dress for the event supporting Birthright, a charity working towards the protection of human rights during pregnancy and childbirth.
According to Sotheby’s, it is said that the cross was only ever worn by the Princess, and following her death, it was never seen in public again until now. The royal also shared a special relationship with Garrard, who was the jeweler behind her engagement ring in 1981. Her last public appearance featured what is now known as the Swan Lake necklace, a diamond and South Sea pearl piece that Garrard made in collaboration with Princess Diana.
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