Marie Antoinette’s world was about to collapse when she fled Paris in disguise on June 20, 1791. As revolutionaries tightened their grip, the queen allegedly entrusted precious gems — including a scintillating pink diamond — to her hairdresser before her doomed escape.
Smithsonian Magazine reports that now, centuries later, that same stone, known as the “Marie‑Thérèse Pink,” is being unveiled in a breathtaking ring. Weighing 10.38 carats and shimmering with hues of purple and pink, this treasure once passed from Marie Antoinette to her daughter Marie‑Thérèse and through generations of European royalty.
The diamond’s epic journey includes a stint in a tiara and hairpin before being reimagined as a modern masterpiece by famed jeweler Joel Arthur Rosenthal (aka JAR). The ring’s setting embraces a stylized fleur‑de‑lis of 17 additional diamonds, a nod to the Bourbon legacy.
In a statement, Christie’s head of jewelry, Rahul Kadakia, hailed the gem as “everything you could want in a piece of jewelry,” emphasizing its royal origin, unique cut, and kaleidoscopic sparkle. Estimates range from $3 million to $5 million, though objects tied to Marie Antoinette have historically shattered expectations.
Marie Antoinette’s Pink Diamond and Modern-Day Allure
The “Marie‑Thérèse Pink” carries a rich lineage, passing from Marie‑Thérèse to her niece, the Duchess of Chambord, and later to Queen Maria Theresa of Bavaria before vanishing from public view. Resurfacing in 1996 at a Sotheby’s sale, it entered a private collection, where its current ring transformation took shape.
Jewelry lovers and collectors value three qualities above all: rarity, beauty, and provenance. This gem checks all three. Its Indian Golconda origin lends historical intrigue, while its royal journey imbues it with a flip‑worthy legacy. The Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale on June 17 promises to be a glittering stage where history and haute couture collide, and this dazzling pink diamond reminds us why jewels are living stories.
Keep your eyes locked on Christie’s catalog and official site for more details and glorious photos of this royal relic in its new ring form.
