The Marie Antoinette Diamond Earrings

The Marie Antoinette Diamond Earrings

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In 1853, as a wedding gift, Napoleon III gave Empress Eugenie a pair of earrings with large pear-shaped diamonds, that are believed to have belonged to Marie Antoinette.

In 1887, all of the Crown Jewels of France were sold, and Empress Eugenie sold her personal jewels after she was exiled to England.

They were then acquired by the Grand Duchess Tatiana Yousupoff of Russia.

Pierre Cartier purchased the diamond earrings in 1928, their authenticity was attested to, in an affidavit by Russian Princess Zenaide Yousupoff, stating that they originally belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette, and had never been reset in the years that they were in the family.

Marjorie Merriweather Post acquired the earrings from Pierre Cartier in October 1928.

At the time of the sale, Cartier described the settings as original.

The large diamond drops were surrounded by bands of silver that had gold linkages and were decorated with old mine cut diamonds in scroll work.

Later, at Mrs. Posts behest, Cartier replaced the tops of the earrings with triangular diamonds set in platinum.

In 1959, Mrs Post had Harry Winston, mount the diamonds into platinum and diamond replicas of the “original” silver settings.

In November 1964, Mrs. Post’s daughter, Mrs. Eleanor Barzin, donated the earrings, along with the original settings, to the Smithsonian Institution.

The magnificent Marie Antoinette Diamond Earrings are on display in the Gem Gallery at the National Museum of Natural History.

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https://naturalhistory.si.edu/.../geogallery/10002695....

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