It looks like Kim Kardashian‘s jewelry collection just got a lot more royal! The SKIMS mogul, 42, just made a major purchase at Sotheby’s annual Royal & Noble auction and snagged a diamond-encrusted amethyst Attallah cross pendant, famously worn by none other than Princess Diana.
Sources close to Kim say she was determined to get her hands on this one-of-a-kind piece, which features square-cut amethysts accented by circular-cut diamonds, weighing in at a whopping 5.25 carats and ended up winning it for an impressive $197,453. Sotheby’s notes that this was “double its pre-auction estimate.”
Kim Kardashian Adds Famous Princess Diana Amethyst Cross Pendant Priced At $197,453 To Her Collection
Kim is said to be honored to own a piece of jewelry once worn by the late princess and plans to add it to her growing collection of jewelry, pieces that were once worn or owned by strong, iconic women who have inspired her.
The late Princess of Wales was seen wearing the pendant on multiple occasions, most notably at Birthright’s 1987 London charity gala supporting the organization’s humanitarian work for those in pregnancy and childbirth. She wore the bejeweled, floral-detailed pendant on a long pearl chain and with a royal purple Victorian velvet gown by Catherine Walker.
According to Sotheby’s, the Attallah cross pendant has a rich history, starting with court jeweler Garrard, who designed the one-off piece in the 1920s. It was eventually purchased by the late Naim Attallah CBE, the former group chief executive of Asprey & Garrard, who frequently loaned the unique jewel to Princess Diana in the 1980s.
The pendant was only ever worn by the Princess, and it hasn’t been seen in public since her death, until today. Not only was this piece a major win for Kim, but it also holds a special significance, as the organization notes that Princess Diana had a close relationship with the jeweler, a bond so strong that she selected her engagement ring from the house in 1981. But, let’s be real, Kim is no stranger to making headlines for rewearing pop culture artifacts.
Remember last May when she broke the internet after stepping out at the 2022 Met Gala in the same crystal-embellished Jean Louis gown worn by Marilyn Monroe when serenading then-president John F. Kennedy on his birthday in 1962? Borrowed from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum in Orlando, Florida, the iconic champagne-colored silk soufflé dress featured a curve-hugging silhouette and a scoop neckline.
Kim went to great lengths to embody the Hollywood icon, bleaching her hair platinum blonde for “14 hours straight” and partaking in a no-carb, no-sugar diet. Though she received backlash for her weight loss and for wearing the iconic, delicate garment in the first place, Kim compared the transformation to an actor preparing for an on-screen role, telling the New York Times: “To me it was like, ‘OK, Christian Bale can do it for a movie role and that is acceptable.’
Even Renée Zellweger gained weight for a role. It’s all the same to me.” We can’t wait to see what other iconic pieces Kim will add to her collection in the future! Will it be another piece from the late Princess Diana’s jewelry box, or will she be interested in another iconic figure? Only time will tell.