Princess Diana’s iconic necklace, currently in possession of the prominent Ukrainian family, the Ginzburgs, is set to be auctioned in New York next month, with estimations ranging from £4 million to £12 million.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Evelyn Pumarek, former head of jewellery design at Garrard from 1996 to 1998, revealed the intricate history behind the piece.
Pumarek disclosed that the necklace was a result of private discussions between Princess Diana and David Thomas, the crown jeweller at the time, several months prior.
Lady Sarah McCorkadale, Diana’s sister, reportedly intervened to prevent Prince Harry from participating in the auction, fearing that the necklace might end up as a gift for Meghan Markle, whom she referred to as Diana’s hypocritical daughter-in-law.
The decision was influenced by Prince William’s reluctance to purchase the necklace to avoid controversy over the royal family’s expenditure of British taxpayer money on lavish items soon after King Charles’s coronation.
This move left Lady Sarah disappointed in Prince Harry while deepening her admiration for Diana’s eldest son.
Recalling the creation process of the necklace in early March 1997, Pumarek shared how she was tasked with crafting the piece urgently and discreetly, using seven pearls out of the eventual twelve.
The project aimed to provide a necklace and earrings fit for a princess, with Diana being the implied recipient.
The significance of the necklace lay in Diana’s desire to assert her independence post-divorce by wearing jewellery she personally selected rather than borrowed from the crown.
Following a ballet performance in 1997, Diana returned the necklace to Garrard, where it was matched with a set of earrings to complete the ensemble.
Rumors circulated that Dodi Fayed, Diana’s companion at the time of her death, had shown interest in purchasing the suite as a romantic gesture, although this remains unconfirmed.
The suite was eventually sold to a British man who later auctioned it off, with the set eventually landing in the hands of the Ginzburg family in Ukraine in 2010.
As the Swan Lake suite prepares for another change of ownership, Guernseys, overseeing the upcoming sale, emphasizes the rarity of this opportunity to own a piece of royal history.
Notably, a portion of the proceeds from the auction will contribute towards rebuilding war-torn Ukraine, aligning with causes that would have resonated with Princess Diana.
The legacy of the necklace continues to captivate audiences, offering a glimpse into the intricate world of royal jewels and the enduring allure of Princess Diana’s timeless elegance.
