They are set with 112 diamonds and are sold at an auction in Geneva

Two bracelets by Marie Antoinette shed light on the extravagance of a queen killed by a hungry people

Marie Antoinette commissioned the bracelets in Paris in 1776. AFP

Two magnificent bracelets belonging to Queen Marie Antoinette of France, studded with more than 100 diamonds, will be offered for the first time at a public auction, held by Christie's, next November, in Geneva.

"These two bracelets are distinguished, not only in terms of their origin, but also how they were made, as they are studded with a total of 112 old-cut diamonds, varying in size, the smallest of which is approximately one carat, and exceeds the largest," said Marie Cecile Sisamolo, jewelry specialist at Christie's. The center is four carats.

The two bracelets in a blue box are being auctioned as one set.

They also shed light on the extravagance of an extraordinary queen in French history, who was murdered by her starving people.

The expert explained that "their value was estimated at between two million and four million dollars, a price that does not take into account the value of the diamonds themselves, but rather the fact that the two bracelets were made for the famous Queen Marie Antoinette."

However, it is not excluded that the two historical bracelets will be sold at a much higher price than expected. In 2018, Sotheby’s sold in an auction held in Geneva, a diamond necklace belonging to Marie Antoinette also, decorated with a natural pearl of unusual size, for $36 million. Its value was estimated at between one million and two million dollars.

Each of the bracelets offered by "Christie's" for sale consists of three rows of diamonds, and the bracelets can also be combined to be used as a necklace.

Christie's reported that Marie Antoinette entrusted the manufacture of the bracelets to the goldsmith Charles-Auguste Boehmer in Paris in 1776, two years after she became Queen of France.

Sesamulu pointed out that “the total price of these two bracelets in that era was 250 thousand pounds, which was a large amount at that time.

The price was paid with (precious) stones, as well as thanks to a deposit that King Louis XVI paid to the Queen.

Although Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine after the French Revolution, her jewels remained. Before attempting to flee France with Louis XVI and their family, the Queen sent her jewels to Brussels, from where they were then transferred to her relatives in her native Austria.

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were arrested in Varennes and executed by guillotine in 1793, and their son Louis XVII died in captivity.

The only survivor of the French Revolution, their daughter, Marie-Therese, was set free in 1795. Upon her arrival in Vienna, the Emperor of Austria handed her the carefully preserved jewels of her mother.

Since she had no children, Marie-Therese, nicknamed "Madame Royal", only handed the bracelets to her cousin, the Duchess of Parma.

Sesamolo confirmed that it is "the first time that these bracelets have been offered at auction," stressing that they represent "part of the history" of France and Europe, hoping that whoever buys them will not dismantle them.