Words by Jessica Davis
The royal famously wore it to a gala in 1987
Kim Kardashian has added a piece of royal history to her jewellery collection, after purchasing the Attallah Cross that once belonged to the late Princess Diana. The reality star and businesswoman bought the jewel during Sotheby’s London’s royal and Noble auction for £163,800.
The pendant was initially created in the 1920s by court jewellers Garrard; and Diana famously wore it over 60 years later, with a Catherine Walker dress, to a Birthright charity gala in October 1987.
The Attallah Cross is bold and colourful, crafted from square-cut amethysts and circular-cut diamonds to form its distinct flowery details.
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The necklace was purchased by businessman Naim Attallah in the 1980s, and he would regularly loan pieces to Princess Diana to wear as they were good friends. The Attallah Cross was only ever worn by the princess, and after her death, it was never seen in public again, until this Sotheby’s auction.
“This is a bold piece of jewellery by its size, colour and style which cannot fail to make a vibrant statement, whether it be of faith or fashion – or indeed both,” explained Kristian Spofforth, head of jewellery at Sotheby’s London. “We are delighted that this piece has found a new lease of life within the hands of another globally famous name.”
This particular piece represents a pivotal point in Diana’s life, as she became more confident and expressive with her own personal style.
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“Jewellery owned or worn by the late Princess Diana very rarely comes on to the market, especially a piece such as The Attallah cross, which is so colourful, bold and distinctive,” explains Spofforth. “To some extent, this unusual pendant is symbolic of the princess’ growing self-assurance in her sartorial and jewellery choices, at that particular moment in her life.”
It’s not the first time Kardashian has shown her love for fashion history. In 2020, for the Academy Awards afterparty, she wore one of the most iconic gowns ever created, Alexander McQueen’s Oyster dress, which had been gifted to her by then-husband Kanye West. And last year, she walked the red carpet at the Met Gala wearing Marilyn Monroe’s Jean-Louis crystal gown, which the actress has famously worn to sing ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ to John F Kennedy in 1962.
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This article originally appeared in harpersbazaar.com
