It so happened that American media personality and socialite Kim Kardashian was under the radar when she was spotted wearing Princess Dianna’s $200,000 cross necklace, a stunning piece of jewelry she acquired in January 2023. One user wrote- “Why is she so obsessed with wearing dead or icon celebrities stuff?” During Sotheby’s annual January Royal and Noble collection sale, US reality TV star Kim Kardashian bought the diamond and amethyst Attallah Cross necklace , previously worn by Diana, Princess of Wales. The pendant, which weighs 5.
25 carats, was sold for $197,453 (Rs 1.61 crore) – almost double the pre-auction estimate . The diamond and sapphire encrusted pendant was originally designed in the 1920s by the court jeweller, Garrard, and later became part of the collection of Naim Attallah , a Palestinian-British businessman and writer.
Attallah was the former chief executive of brands at Asprey and Garrard and a friend of Diana. The necklace’s legacy and association with Diana, have secured its place in fashion’s rich history. That it has become a part of Kardashian’s collection is a reminder of the power of celebrity in driving economic value.
How an association with the more transient celebrity of the social media age will impact the longevity of fashion memorabilia is less certain. The Attallah cross is an addition to Kim Kardashian’s growing collection of celebrity memorabilia – items representative of fashion and popular culture’s diverse history.
