Top 10 Most Expensive Necklaces in the World 2024, Ranked

Welcome to my new Blog! I’m Rosie, and today we’re diving into the world of the most expensive and historical necklaces. We’ll explore their fascinating histories and current market values.

A Brief History of Necklaces

Archaeological artifacts reveal that humans have been wearing necklaces for thousands of years, even before the advent of writing. Necklaces have always been integral to human history, serving various purposes:

• Protection: Some were crafted to ward off maladies and evil spirits.
• Symbolism: Others symbolized power, wealth, or high social status.
• Beauty: Many were designed to enhance beauty and serve as tokens of affection and love.

Necklaces have been a major jewelry attraction for millennia and will likely continue to be so for many more years.

Here is the list of the 10 most expensive necklaces in the world.

Let’s check out and explore every neckless one by one.

Top 10 Most Expensive Necklaces in the World

10. The Emperor Napoleon Diamond Necklace

• Price: Estimated at 376,275 French francs (historical value)
• Brand: Knitter and Sons
• Created By: Assembled in Paris
• Material: Diamonds
• Specialty: Gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte to his second wife, Marie Louise
• Interesting Fact: The necklace is currently exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution.

First chronicled reference: Napoleon Bonaparte’s gift to his second spouse, Marie Louise of Austria, in 1811 on the introduction of their child. Built in Paris, it cost 376,275 French francs (or about what the Empress spent yearly on her household).

Marie Louise brought the necklace to Austria following Napoleon’s exile. After changing many hands, it ended up with the Smithsonian Institution and was eventually displayed there.

9. The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace

• Price: $27 million
• Brand: Cartier
• Created By: Unknown, speculated to be from the 18th century
• Material: Jadeite beads
• Specialty: Wedding gift to Barbara Hutton
• Interesting Fact: Set a world record for a jadeite jewel.

In our list of 9th most expensive necklaces is the Hutton Divini necklace. The Cartier collection has bought the famous Hutton Divinity necklace for an impressive $27 million, setting a new world record for a jade jewel and adding another spectacular piece to its prestigious collection.

The necklace was given to Barbara Hutton as a wedding gift from her father in 1933 on her marriage to Prince Alexis Mativani. The origin of the 27 perfectly carved Jedi beads in the necklace remains unknown, although it has been speculated that they were cut in the 18th century.

8. The Tiffany Yellow Diamond

• Price: Purchased for $18,800 in 1878
• Brand: Tiffany & Co.
• Created By: Discovered in South Africa’s Kimberley Mine
• Material: Yellow diamond, 128 carats
• Specialty: One of the world’s largest and finest yellow diamonds
• Interesting Fact: Worn publicly by only four women in over 140 years.

The next most expensive necklace on our list is the Tiffany Yellow Diamond, weighing in at an incredible 287.42 carats in rough form. The Tiffany Yellow Diamond was first discovered in South Africa’s Kimberley mine in 1877.

purchased by Tiffany and company founder Charles Tiffany for approximately $18,800 in 1878. The rare diamond was then cut to enhance its rich yellow color. Resulting in a cut and polished 128-carat diamond with a total of 82 facets as one of the world’s largest and finest yellow diamonds.

7. The De Grisogono Creation Necklace

• Price: $33.7 million
• Brand: De Grisogono
• Created By: Featuring a 163.41-carat emerald-cut diamond
• Material: D-color flawless diamond
• Specialty: Set a world record for the most valuable D-color flawless diamond sold at auction
• Interesting Fact: It was auctioned at the Four Seasons Hotel in Geneva.

The 163.41-carat emerald-cut diamond in this necklace made history when it set the world auction record for a D-color flawless stone, selling for $33.7 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2017. Before being auctioned in Geneva, this was displayed around the globe from Hong Kong, London, and Dubai to New York.

The Four Seasons Hotel in Geneva was part of Christie’s sale of magnificent jewels on November 14, 2017. the second-to-last lot to go under the hammer creation. One sold for $33.7 million, setting a record for any colorless diamond sold at auction. Rahul Kardakia, International head of Christie’s Jewels Over our 251-year history, Christie’s has had the privilege of handling the world’s rarest and most historic diamonds.

6. Marie Antoinette’s Pearl Necklace

• Price: $38 million
• Brand: Sotheby’s
• Created By: Unknown
• Material: Pearls and diamonds
• Specialty: Smuggled out of France by Marie Antoinette during the revolution
• Interesting Fact: Set a world record for a pearl jewel.

This necklace, as well as other jewels, was smuggled out of France by Marie Antoinette during the revolution. The piece fetched $38 million at Sotheby’s in 2018 and set a world record for any pearl jewel.

5. The Patiala Necklace

• Price: Historical value, priceless today
• Brand: Cartier
• Created By: Commissioned by the Maharaja of Patiala
• Material: 2,930 diamonds, including a 234.6-carat yellow De Beers diamond
• Specialty: Largest commission ever made by Cartier
• Interesting Fact: Partially recovered and restored by Cartier in 1998.

The necklace was commissioned by the Maharaja of Patiala in 1928 and contained 2,930 diamonds (including a unique yellow De Beers diamond weighing approximately 234.6 carats). Stolen in 1941, some of it was eventually recovered and the hotel had a replica-made part that Cartier restored in 1998.

4. The Coronation Necklace of Queen Victoria

• Price: Historical value, priceless today
• Brand: Garrard’s
• Created By: Commissioned by Queen Victoria
• Material: Diamonds, including the 22.48-carat Lahore Diamond
• Specialty: Worn at four British royal coronations
• Interesting Fact: Remains a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II.

This necklace, featuring the 22.48-carat Lahore Diamond, has had four outings at British royal coronations. Commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1858, it is still a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II today. You can also explain Most Expensive Jewelry Brands in the World.

3. The Jeanne Toussaint Necklace

• Price: Historical value, priceless today
• Brand: Cartier
• Created By: Designed in 1931
• Material: Approximately 500 carats of diamonds
• Specialty: Featured in the movie “Ocean’s 8”
• Interesting Fact: No longer exists in its original form.

The Cartier necklace seen in ‘Ocean’s 8’ is based on this design, from 1931. This included the 136.25-carat Queen of Holland Diamond, and a total of about 500 carats in diamonds was around it originally. Although it does not exist today in its original state, it is still considered a symbol of opulence and elegance.

2. A Heritage in Bloom

• Price: Estimated at $200 million
• Brand: Chow Tai Fook
• Created By: Jewelry artist Wallace Chan
• Material: 11,551 diamonds, including 24 colorless and internally flawless stones
• Specialty: Can be worn in 27 different ways
• Interesting Fact: Took 47,000 hours of work to complete.

$200 Million: Blue Moon of Josephine Necklace by Wallace Chan and Chow Tai Fook With 11,551 diamonds totaling a whopping 140 carats and including among them an impressive 24 colorless and internally flawless stones, it is styled in up to 27 different ways.

1. The McLean Necklace

• Price: Historical value, priceless today
• Brand: Cartier
• Created By: combining the Hope Diamond and the Star of the East Diamond
• Material: Diamonds
• Specialty: Signature piece of Evelyn Walsh McLean
• Interesting Fact: Purchased by jeweler Harry Winston after McLean’s death.

The McLean Necklace melds the Hope Diamond with the Star of the East Diamond in this necklace. The Hope Diamond was bought by Evelyn Walsh McLean and became her trademark in high society. Following her death, this necklace was among the jewelry collections sold to pay off debts.

These necklaces are not just pieces of jewelry; they are pieces of history, each with its own unique story and significance. Thank you for joining me on this journey through the world of the most expensive necklaces. Stay tuned for more fascinating insights.

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