Necklaces and pendants have been an essential part of human adornment for thousands of years. Throughout history, they have been worn for various reasons, including to denote status, as a symbol of religious or spiritual significance, or simply to enhance one's appearance. Some of the most famous necklaces and pendants in history have captured the world's imagination and sparked intrigue and fascination for their beauty, history, and mystery. In this post, we will explore the most famous necklaces and pendants in history, including their origins, history, and significance.

The Heart of the Ocean

The Heart of the Ocean necklace is one of the most famous pieces of jewelry in history, thanks to its prominent role in the film Titanic. The necklace is a blue diamond surrounded by smaller white diamonds, set in a platinum necklace. In the movie, the necklace was portrayed as a priceless jewel that was lost in the sinking of the Titanic.

The necklace was created specifically for the movie and did not actually exist before it. However, the design was inspired by the Hope Diamond, which is a real and famous diamond that shares some similarities with the Heart of the Ocean. The Hope Diamond is a deep blue diamond that has been associated with a curse due to the misfortune of some of its previous owners.

The Hope Diamond

The Hope Diamond is one of the most famous diamonds in the world, thanks to its unique and beautiful deep blue color and its association with a curse. The diamond is estimated to be around 400 years old and has been owned by many famous people throughout history.

The Hope Diamond's origins are not entirely clear, but it is believed to have been found in India in the 1600s. The diamond has passed through many hands over the centuries, including several French kings and other European aristocrats. In the early 20th century, the diamond was purchased by an American heiress named Evalyn Walsh McLean, who wore it as a necklace and believed that it brought her good luck. However, she also experienced many tragedies in her life, leading some to believe that the diamond was cursed.

The Marie Antoinette Necklace

The Marie Antoinette necklace is one of the most famous and controversial pieces of jewelry in history. The necklace was commissioned by Louis XV of France for his mistress, Madame du Barry, but was later sold to Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, who never actually received the necklace or paid for it.

The scandal surrounding the necklace involved a con artist named Jeanne de la Motte, who convinced Cardinal Louis de Rohan that Marie Antoinette wanted to purchase the necklace. The cardinal fell for the con and purchased the necklace on behalf of the queen, but when he delivered it to her, he was arrested for his involvement in the scheme. The necklace was eventually broken up and sold off, and the creators of the necklace faced financial ruin.

The Pearls of Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor was known for her love of jewelry, and her pearl collection was one of the most significant and admired in the world. Her collection included several pearl necklaces, including the famous La Peregrina pearl, which was once owned by Queen Mary I of England.

Each pearl in Taylor's collection had a story and a history, and she often wore them on the red carpet and in her films. Her collection inspired many designers and jewelers, and she was known for her exquisite taste in jewelry.

The Pendant of the Rosetta Stone

The Pendant of the Rosetta Stone is a small but significant piece of jewelry that has played a pivotal role in the study of ancient languages. The pendant features a small, inscribed piece of black basalt that is believed to date back to the Ptolemaic dynasty of ancient Egypt. The inscription on the stone is written in three different scripts: hieroglyphs, Demotic, and ancient Greek. It is thanks to the Rosetta Stone that scholars were able to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and unlock the secrets of this fascinating civilization.

The Rosetta Stone itself was discovered by a French soldier named Pierre-Francois Bouchard in 1799 during the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt. The stone was found in the Egyptian town of Rosetta (modern-day Rashid), and soon captured the attention of scholars and linguists who recognized its significance. However, it was not until the pendant was discovered in the 19th century that the true importance of the Rosetta Stone was fully understood.

The pendant was discovered in 1801 by a young Englishman named George Light, who was serving in the British army in Egypt. He found the pendant while exploring the ruins of an ancient temple near the town of el-Rashid, not far from where the Rosetta Stone had been found.

Heart of the Ocean

The Heart of the Ocean is one of the most famous necklaces in history, largely thanks to its portrayal in the 1997 film Titanic. In the movie, the necklace is a blue diamond pendant worn by the character Rose, played by Kate Winslet. The necklace's design was inspired by the famous Hope Diamond, it was created by London-based jeweler Harry Winston.

The necklace's origins, however, are a bit more complex than the movie portrays. There are several theories about the true inspiration behind the Heart of the Ocean. Some say it was based on the Hope Diamond, while others believe it was modeled after the blue sapphire and diamond necklace owned by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

The Heart of the Ocean necklace used in the movie was actually a prop created specifically for the film, but Harry Winston did create a similar necklace in 1998 using a 15-carat blue diamond. The necklace was auctioned off in 1999 for a staggering $20 million.

Despite its popularity, the Heart of the Ocean has been the subject of controversy over the years, with some people claiming that the necklace is fake. This claim has been largely debunked, however, and the necklace remains one of the most famous and beloved pieces of jewelry in history.

The Hope Diamond Necklace

Another famous diamond, the Hope Diamond has a long and storied history dating back to the 17th century. The diamond is said to be cursed, with legends claiming that those who possess it will suffer a terrible fate. The diamond has changed hands many times over the years, with owners including French royalty and American heiresses.

The Hope Diamond is a large, deep blue diamond that weighs over 45 carats. Its origins are somewhat mysterious, with some reports claiming that it was discovered in India and others saying that it was originally owned by King Louis XVI of France.

The diamond's most famous owner was American socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean, who purchased it in 1911. McLean was a controversial figure and was rumored to have worn the diamond around her neck while doing household chores. Despite the diamond's supposed curse, McLean lived a long and eventful life.

Today, the Hope Diamond is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

The Marie Antoinette Necklace

The Marie Antoinette necklace is another famous piece of jewelry with a scandalous history. The necklace was commissioned by Louis XV for his mistress, Madame du Barry, but was never paid for or delivered. The jewelers who had created the necklace were left with an enormous debt and a piece of jewelry that was too expensive to sell.

The necklace eventually fell into the hands of Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy, a con artist who convinced her associates that she was a close friend of Marie Antoinette's and that the queen had promised to purchase the necklace. Valois-Saint-Rémy then sold the necklace piece by piece to various jewelers and collectors, eventually landing herself in prison.

The scandal surrounding the Marie Antoinette necklace helped fuel the growing anger toward the royal family in the years leading up to the French Revolution. Today, the necklace is lost, with its individual components scattered across the world.

The Pearls of Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor was a legendary actress and one of the most iconic figures in Hollywood history. She was also a collector of exquisite jewelry, including a stunning collection of pearl necklaces.

Taylor's pearl collection included a number of famous pieces, including the La Peregrina pearl, which was once owned by Queen Mary I of England. Taylor's husband, Richard Burton, purchased the pearl for her as a Valentine's Day gift in 1969.