Kim Kardashian buys an amethyst cross pendant worn by Princess Diana at auction

A diamond cross pendant once worn by Princess Diana is now owned by Kim Kardashian after the reality star and business mogul outbid others at a Sotheby’s auction. The amethyst pendant was expected to cost between £80,000 and £120,000. Kardashian bought it for £163,800 – or $202,492.18.

The cross was formerly part of the collection of the late Naim Attallah, CBE, a Palestinian-British businessman and writer. The pendant, which dates back to 1920, was made by the Garrard jewelery manufacturer. According to Sotheby’s, it was auctioned along with other valuables from Attallah’s home in Mayfair, London.

Garrard loaned the pendant to Princess Diana in 1987. She wore it with a purple and black velvet dress to a fundraiser by Garrad for Birthright, a charity that Sotheby’s says aims to protect human rights during pregnancy and childbirth.

The Princess of Wales’ engagement ring – a sapphire and diamond design – was also made by Garrard.

Attallah, who died in 2021, was group chief executive of Asprey & Garrard, later renamed Garrard & Co. The company served as the crown jeweler of the royal family, meaning that it kept the family’s prized jewels until 2007.

Attallah’s son Ramsay Attallah said Diana wore the amethyst pendant several times. Attallah, who was good friends with Diana, earned the cross when she died in 1997. It has not been worn since then.

According to BBC News, Kardashian allegedly outbid four other people in a five-minute bidding war. Kardashian, who owns beauty and fashion brands, is known for wearing lavish jewelry — and has the fortune to support the expensive passion. According to Forbes, she’s worth an estimated $1.8 billion.

In 2011, she bought three jade diamond bracelets that once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor. The late star’s jewelry collection was sold at a Christie’s auction. The bangles, created by Lorraine Schwartz, were estimated at $8,000 and Kardashian paid $64,900. The entire collection fetched $137 million at auction.

In addition to being a close friend of Kardashian, Schwartz was also friends with Taylor.