A necklace that belonged to Princess Diana has been acquired by Kim Kardashian.
Wednesday’s Royal and Noble Sale at Sotheby’s in London included the auctioning off of the Attallah Cross.
The US reality TV star won the auction after a five-minute bidding war between four participants.
Princess Diana frequently wore the amethyst cross pendant by opulent jewelry designer Garrard in the 1920s.
The princess most notably wore it in October 1987 to the London charity banquet for Birthright, an organization defending the human rights of pregnant and postpartum women.
Large amethyst stones are set in the cross-shaped pendant, which is encircled by 5.2-carat diamonds.
It was initially purchased by businessman Naim Attallah in the 1980s, and because of his acquaintance with Diana, he frequently lent it to her over a long period of time. The item was auctioned off by his estate.
In contrast to Sotheby’s pre-sale estimate of £80,000 to £120,000, reality TV star Kardashian paid a total of £163,800 for the cross.
IMAGE SOURCE,SOTHEBY’S Image caption, The Sotheby’s pre-sale estimate for the piece was £80,000 to £120,000
It was first bought by businessman Naim Attallah in the 1980s who, as a result of his friendship with Diana, loaned it to her several times over many years. It was his estate that put the item up for auction.
Reality TV star Kardashian paid a total of £163,800 for the cross, far higher than Sotheby’s pre-sale estimate of £80,000 to £120,000.
Head of jewellery at Sotheby’s London Kristian Spofforth said: “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.
“To some extent, this unusual pendant is symbolic of the princess’s growing self-assurance in her sartorial and jewellery choices, at that particular moment in her life.”
It is not the first historic fashion item Kardashian has shown an interest in.
At last year’s Met Gala, she wore a Marilyn Monroe gown that was loaned to her from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum.
The dress was worn by Monroe during her performance of Happy Birthday to US president John F Kennedy in 1962.