Diamond necklace linked to Marie Antoinette sells for $4.8 million

A diamond-studded necklace thought to be linked to a scandal that hastened the downfall of the doomed 18th century queen of France, Marie Antoinette, sold at auction in Geneva on Wednesday for 4.26 million Swiss francs ($4.81 million). Put up for sale by an Asian private collector, the Georgian-era piece containing 300 carats of diamonds fetched more than expected after a lengthy bidding battle, having been valued beforehand at up to 2 million francs, according to Sotheby’s.