Two diamond bracelets that belonged to Marie Antoinette who entrusted them to a friend for safekeeping before her execution are tipped to sell for £3million.
The stunning jewels, which contain 112 diamonds, were among her few surviving possessions sent from France before she and her husband, King Louis XIV, were captured during the French Revolution.
After the royal couple were executed in 1793 the jewellery ended up with their eldest daughter, Marie-Therese, who was exiled to Britain.
She died in 1851 and her jewellery collection was divided among her three nieces and nephews, the Count and Countess of Chambord and the Duchess of Parma.
The two matching bracelets have been presented to Christie's auctioneers by a mystery member of European royalty who is selling them almost 250 years later.
Two diamond bracelets that belonged to Marie Antoinette who entrusted them to a friend for safekeeping before her execution are tipped to sell for £3million
François Curiel, chairman at Christie's in Europe, said: 'It is a privilege to be able to offer these exceptional and unique bracelets which will attract bidding from collectors globally.
'As seen in recent sales, the market for jewels of noble provenance continues to perform extremely well.
'Of the pieces of jewellery with a traceable provenance back to the Queen of France, these extraordinary bracelets are the only example to include diamonds belonging to her.
'While it is possible that the bracelets might have been re-mounted at a later stage, no changes were made to the overall composition.'
Marie Antionette bought the bracelets for 250,000 livres in 1776, paying for them partly with gemstones from her personal collection and with funds provided by her husband.
The king's personal papers dated at the time state: 'To the queen: down payment of 29,000 livres for the diamond bracelets she bought in Boehmer.'
Marie Antionette bought the bracelets for 250,000 livres in 1776, paying for them partly with gemstones from her personal collection and with funds provided by her husband, King Louis XIV
The stunning jewels, which contain 112 diamonds, were among her few surviving possessions sent from France before she and her husband, King Louis XIV, were captured during the French Revolution
The two matching bracelets have been presented to Christie's auctioneers by a mystery member of European royalty who is selling them almost 250 years after Marie-Therese's death
As the French Revolution gathered pace, the queen placed the bracelets in a wooden chest which she sent to Austrian ambassador and personal friend, Count Mercy-Argenteau, in Brussels in 1791.
He kept the box safe and unopened until Marie Antoinette was tried for treason and guillotined on October 16, 1793 following the abolition of the royal family.
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