Up to 18.3 Billion KRW... Jewelry Set of British Princess Diana to be Auctioned

Jewelry Set with 178 Diamonds
Estimated Value from 6.6 Billion to 18.3 Billion KRW

A jewelry set belonging to the late British Princess Diana, who passed away in 1997, is going up for auction. The estimated winning bid is between ?4 million and ?11 million (approximately 6.6 billion to 18.3 billion KRW).

According to the UK Telegraph on the 10th (local time), a Ukrainian family facing financial difficulties following Russia's invasion has decided to put Princess Diana's jewelry set up for auction. It is reported that they plan to donate part of the proceeds to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts.

The jewelry set consists of a necklace and earrings made with a total of 178 diamonds weighing 51 carats and five 12mm South Sea pearls. The necklace is said to have been a gift from Dodi Al Fayed, the second-generation billionaire whom Princess Diana dated after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996.

This jewelry set is also known as the "Swan Lake Set" because Princess Diana wore the necklace at the Swan Lake Gala in June 1997, which was the last official event where she appeared publicly.

The jewelry set "Swan Lake" of British Princess Diana, who passed away in 1997.
[Image source=Ganges website]

The earrings were made after the necklace was created. After the gala, the necklace was entrusted to a jeweler to make matching earrings, but the set lost its owner when Princess Diana died in a car accident in August of the same year.

In 1999, American businessman Jim McIngvale purchased the necklace and earrings from Princess Diana's family for about $1 million. However, during the global financial crisis in 2008, a Ukrainian family who were fans of the British royal family became the new owners of the set.

The jewelry set will be displayed in London, UK, before being auctioned in New York on the 27th of next month. Experts from Guernsey's, the New York auction house, have estimated the winning bid to be between ?4 million and ?11 million (approximately 6.6 billion to 18.3 billion KRW).

Guernsey's representative Allan Ettinger explained, "The decisive reason they (the owners) want to sell the 'Swan Lake Set' now is because of the war in Ukraine," adding, "Given the current situation, they are thinking a lot about Ukraine's reconstruction."

He continued, "Princess Diana was the most beloved woman on earth then and remains vibrant today," emphasizing, "'The Swan Lake Set' was made exclusively for Princess Diana, and she is essentially part of its design."

Meanwhile, it is reported that this is the first time jewelry personally owned by Princess Diana has been put up for auction. Most of the jewelry she wore during her reign was owned by the royal family.

Born in 1961, Princess Diana died in the early hours of August 31, 1997, in a car accident while fleeing paparazzi at high speed, following her divorce from Prince Charles the previous year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.