The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has examined over 30 exceptional and historically important jewels ahead of Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction, scheduled for 17 June in New York. Among the standout pieces is the Marie-Thérèse Pink, a 10.38-carat Fancy Purple-Pink diamond evaluated by GIA and linked to the famed Queen Marie-Antoinette of France and her daughter, Duchess Marie-Thérèse of Angoulême.
Expected to fetch between US$3 million and US$5 million, this rare diamond ring is prized for its vivid colour, distinctive modified brilliant kite cut, and royal lineage. Thought to have originated in India—where purple-pink diamonds are exceedingly rare—the gem dates back to the mid-18th century. Its storied past suggests it was handed down from Marie-Antoinette to her daughter, and eventually to her niece, Duchess Marie-Thérèse of Chambord, making it a treasure of both gemological and historical significance.
Tom Moses, Executive Vice President and Chief Laboratory and Research Officer at GIA, noted, “Our evaluation of the Marie-Thérèse Pink provided a comprehensive gemological report confirming its natural colour and internal qualities. GIA’s role is to document and authenticate the features and heritage of such remarkable stones.”
Beyond the Marie-Thérèse Pink, GIA has analyzed more than 30 other standout pieces in the auction, including an over-60-carat unmounted diamond known for its exceptional symmetry, clarity, and brilliance, as well as a diamond pendant necklace that reflects traditional European design.
As global interest in coloured diamonds grows—especially in light of the Argyle Mine’s closure—gems like the Marie-Thérèse Pink serve as enduring legacies of nature’s rarity and human history, carefully preserved through time.