Marie-Antoinette jewels in ‘once in a lifetime’ sale

Sotheby’s auction beats 1987 Windsor jewel sale

Aroyal treasure trove including jewels that belonged to French Queen Marie-Antoinette fetched 53.5 million Swiss francs (Dh195.40 million; $53.2 million) on Wednesday, as collectors snapped up rare historic gems fresh to the market, Sotheby’s said.

Held in private European collections for more than 200 years, 10 royal jewels that belonged to the illfated Marie Antoinette and were passed down through Italy’s royal Bourbon Parma family, featured among 100 lots that all found new owners. “The Marie Antoinette provenance is probably second to none.

It’s a record for a sale of royal jewels,” David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s international jewellery division who conducted the Geneva auction, told reporters.

The total exceeded the $50 million at its historic two-day auction of the Duchess of Windsor jewels, held in the Swiss city in 1987.