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The Attallah Cross worn by Princess Diana is up for auction!

In the photos here, Diana is wearing the Attallah Cross to a charity ball in aid of Birthright, the women’s health charity of which she became patron in 1984. The event was held at former crown jeweler Garrard’s premises on Regent Street, and as usual, Diana was the belle of the ball. It was a particularly appropriate choice on this occasion, since the cross is believed to have been created in the early 20th century by Garrard itself. Little is known about the Renaissance-style design, but it was likely a special commission—perhaps even a replica of a historical piece. 

The elaborate gold, silver, amethyst, and diamond pendant will come up for auction next month at Sotheby’s London as part of its upcoming Royal and Noble sale, making it one of the few jewels worn by the Princess to ever be sold at auction. “It’s a standout piece in its own right, but with Princess Diana having worn it, it truly becomes an iconic piece of jewelry,” says Kristian Spofforth, head of jewelry at Sotheby’s in London. Bidding for the piece opens on 6 January, with a guide price of £80,000 to £120,000. But Spofforth suspects, given its provenance, it could potentially fetch far more. “Twenty-five years after her death, people still talk about Princess Diana all the time,” he says, adding that at Sotheby’s tiara exhibition earlier this year, many visitors were moved to tears by the display of the rarely seen Spencer Tiara, which Diana wore on her wedding day.

excerpted from Vogue article: https://www.vogue.com/article/princess-diana-jewelry-attallah-cross/amp