After Kim Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe’s borderline sacred ‘Happy Birthday, Mr President’ gown in a bold move for last year’s MET Gala, she made one thing clear: Her fascination with icons means business.
In a recent snag, Kardashian copped one of the most precious jewelry pieces in history, and not just because of the carats.
The diamond-amethyst cross (Attallah Cross) was worn by the only other woman with whom the public’s fascination is almost as comparable to Monroe—Princess Diana.
The pendant, once dubbed the Princess’s “most unusual accessory,” was lent to Princess Diana by the Garrard jewelry company in the late 80s. According to Vogue, the crucifix attended many occasions with Diana beyond the iconic charity ball where she wore that plum velvet Catherine Walker gown that turned heads for its Elizabethan chic.
Ramsay Attallah, the son of the piece’s former owner, Naim Attallah, was quoted as saying that “few could carry this piece off, but Diana really could.”
But it was more than just an eye-catching charm. It was also an ode to Diana’s boldness in fashion—representing an era of her life where she relished in wearing the unexpected and grew in her self-assurance.
So, how did the Attallah Cross end up with Kim Kardashian?
Sotheby’s London announced its Royal and Noble sale in December last year. The exhibition, which took place from 12 to 18 January, saw a representative for Kardashian offer more than double the fetching price; $197 453 (roughly R 3 384 435), per Paper.
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Feature Image: Tim Graham/Getty