Kim Kardashian is the new owner of a necklace that was worn by Princess Diana.
The Attallah Cross was put up for sale at Sotheby's in London as part
of its Royal and Noble Sale on Wednesday.
Four people competed in
a bidding war, with the US reality TV star winning the auction after five
minutes.
The amethyst cross is a 1920s pendant by luxury jewellery
designer Garrard, which Princess Diana wore on many occasions.
It
was most famously worn by the princess in October 1987 at the London charity
gala for Birthright, a charity protecting the human rights of women during
pregnancy and childbirth.
The cross-shaped pendant features large
amethyst stones, framed by 5.2-carat diamonds.
The Sotheby's pre-sale estimate for the piece was £80,000 to
£120,000
It was first bought by businessman Naim Attallah in the
1980s who, as a result of his friendship with Diana, loaned it to her
several times over many years. It was his estate that put the item up for
auction.
Reality TV star Kardashian paid a total of £163,800 for
the cross, far higher than Sotheby's pre-sale estimate of £80,000 to
£120,000.
Head of jewellery at Sotheby's London Kristian Spofforth said:
"Jewellery owned or worn by the late Princess Diana very rarely comes on to
the market, especially a piece such as the Attallah Cross, which is so
colourful, bold and distinctive.
"To some extent, this unusual
pendant is symbolic of the princess's growing self-assurance in her
sartorial and jewellery choices, at that particular moment in her life."
It
is not the first historic fashion item Kardashian has shown an interest
in.
At last year's Met Gala, she wore a Marilyn Monroe gown that was
loaned to her from Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum.
The dress
was worn by Monroe during her performance of Happy Birthday to US president
John F Kennedy in 1962.
