Marie Antoinette's dazzling diamonds and pearls, unseen in public for two centuries, is now on show in Taipei before going on sale next month in one of the most important royal jewellery auctions in history
The treasures were secretly whisked out of Paris in 1791 in the aftermath of the French Revolution and have been privately owned by relatives ever since.
The collection, held by the Italian royal House of Bourbon-Parma, is being sold by Sotheby's auction house in Geneva on November 14.
On show at their London headquarters, the lots include 10 pieces which belonged to Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the French Revolution. She was guillotined in Paris aged 37 in October 1793.
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"The romance, magic and universality of her name is because she represents that sophistication of l'ancien regime. She is it," Andres White Correal, Sotheby's senior director of jewellery, said.
"It is the sale of the 21st century. Because how do you top Marie Antoinette? Also, because it's so scarce. There isn't much left."
The highlight is Queen Marie Antoinette's Pearl, a natural pearl and diamond pendant valued at US$1-2 million.
A natural pearl and diamond necklace composed of three rows of more than 100 slightly graduated pearls is expected to fetch US$200,000-300,000, as are a pair of natural pearl and diamond pendant earrings.
A monogrammed ring containing a lock of her hair is valued at US$8,000-10,000.
"The ring is a small diamond ring with a lock of her hair inside, with the monogram MA set with rose diamonds," said Sotheby's jewellery specialist Benoit Repellin.
"The value of the diamonds themselves is very low but there is an emotional value and a historic value behind it."