Marie Antoinette, Queen of France and wife of Louis XVI, was often surrounded by rumors, scandals, and mysteries. Among them, the Affair of the Diamond Necklace remains one of the most intriguing and controversial events of her reign. This scandal shook the court of Versailles and fueled public hatred toward the queen. However, a lesser-known aspect of this story concerns the disappearance of the infamous necklace itself. What really happened? What elements make this disappearance so mysterious ?

A Legendary Jewel

The necklace in question was a unique piece created by Parisian jewelers Boehmer and Bassenge. Of extraordinary value, this piece consisted of hundreds of diamonds of exceptional purity. Originally designed for Madame du Barry, the favorite of Louis XV, it remained unsold after the king’s death. When the jewelers offered it to Marie Antoinette, she declined, deeming the expense excessive during a period of economic crisis.

Jeanne de La Motte’s Fraud

The affair began in 1784 when a scheming adventuress, Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy, Countess de La Motte, devised an audacious plan to deceive Cardinal de Rohan. Exploiting the cardinal’s desire to regain the queen’s favor, she convinced him that Marie Antoinette secretly wished to acquire the necklace and needed his help to purchase it discreetly. Eager to restore his standing at court, Rohan fell into the trap and retrieved the jewel from the jewelers, believing he was acting on behalf of the queen.

The necklace was then handed over to an accomplice, Rétaux de Villette, who promptly dismantled it and sold the diamonds abroad. This fact is well documented, but one question remains: Was the entire necklace ever recovered?

The Mystery of the Missing Diamonds

While several diamonds were traced to London, Amsterdam, and Brussels, part of the necklace seems to have vanished without a trace. Several theories exist regarding their fate:

1. A Secret Sale in the East

Some historians suggest that Jeanne de La Motte sent part of the necklace to the Ottoman Empire, where the diamonds were allegedly sold to high-ranking dignitaries. Rumors mention a jewel collection belonging to Sultan Abdul Hamid I that contained diamonds resembling those from the Boehmer and Bassenge necklace.

2. A Hidden Treasure?

Others believe that Jeanne kept some of the diamonds and hid them before her arrest. Known for her cunning and manipulative skills, she may have stashed the gems somewhere in France, waiting to be discovered. Some speculate that these lost diamonds remain buried in an undisclosed location.

3. A Royal Involvement?

A bolder theory suggests that some of the diamonds were secretly returned to the French crown. Certain archival records hint at confidential transactions involving gemstone merchants and members of the royal family, raising suspicions of discreet royal intervention.

An Unsolved Mystery

While the Affair of the Necklace was a scandal that damaged Marie Antoinette’s reputation, the disappearance of the jewel itself remains an enigma. Were the missing diamonds scattered worldwide, hidden away, or acquired by private collectors?

Decades after Marie Antoinette’s execution, diamonds resembling those from the necklace appeared in London auctions, but no definitive proof linked them to the original piece. Even today, researchers and historians continue to investigate the fate of these lost jewels.

The Affair of the Necklace and the vanishing of its diamonds remain one of the greatest mysteries of the 18th century, fueling legends and wild theories. Perhaps one day, in an antique shop or a forgotten safe, a sparkling diamond will finally reveal part of the truth behind this historical enigma.