Kim Kardashian buys Princess Diana's Attallah Cross necklace for £164,000
Less than a year after wearing one of the most famous dresses of all time - Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy birthday, Mr President' dress - Kim Kardashian has got her hands on another historical fashion piece: Princess Diana's Attallah Cross.
The reality star and businesswoman paid £163,800 ($197,453) for the necklace after it went to auction at Sotheby’s London today.
The astonishing final figure reached was more than double the pre-auction estimate, the auction house has confirmed.
Read more: Princess Diana's brother shares 'deeply poignant' unseen photo of his late sister
The amethyst cross was competed for by four bidders, in the last five minutes of Sotheby's Royal and Noble sale, but ultimately was purchased by a representative for Kardashian.
The striking cross-shaped pendant features square-cut amethysts and circular-cut diamonds, comprising a total diamond weight of 5.25 carats. It's not small, measuring 136 x 95mm.
The statement jewellery piece was previously owned by the former group chief executive of Asprey & Garrard, the late Naim Attallah CBE.
The cross was bought by Attallah - a friend of Diana's - from Garrard in the 1980s. He first loaned it to her to wear with a black and purple velvet Catherine Walker dress to a charity event in 1987 and it's thought she wore it to a number more private engagements. She's presumed to be the only person to ever have worn it.
Following the royal's death in 1996, it was never seen in public again.
Read more: When and why did Charles and Diana divorce?
It wasn't the only piece of jewellery from Garrard's that Diana wore. She selected her infamous engagement ring - now worn by Kate, Princess of Wales - from them and collaborated with the brand on a number of occasions.
In fact, she was wearing a piece they made in collaboration with her during her final public appearance. The piece, a diamond and South Sea pearl necklace, has become known as the Swan Lake necklace.
