The LACMA Art + Film Gala 2024 in Los Angeles was one of the starriest gatherings of the year, with Hollywood’s celebrity brigade turning up in full force, dressed in avant-garde and couture ensembles that grabbed headlines.
Reality TV star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian wore a plunging white gown by Gucci, but what truly grabbed everyone’s attention was the Attallah Cross pendant—famously worn by the late Princess Diana in 1987. The Attallah Cross, an antique amethyst piece, was prominently displayed by the Princess at a charity gala in that year. Kim completed her look with a pearl choker.
According to Sotheby’s, “Said to be one of Princess Diana’s favourite pieces, the Attallah Cross is a pendant created in the 1920s by court jewellers Garrard. She most famously wore it in October 1987, paired with a Catherine Walker dress, to a charity gala in support of Birthright, a charity working towards the protection of human rights during pregnancy and childbirth.”
The cross was originally purchased by Naim Attallah CBE from Garrard in the 1980s, and through his friendship with Princess Diana, he loaned it to her several times over the years. According to Sotheby's, it's believed that the cross was only ever worn by the late Princess of Wales, and following her death, it was never seen in public again until it went to auction.
According to The Guardian, "The cross-shaped pendant – thought to be a one-off private commission by Garrard – is a bold and colourful piece set with square-cut amethysts and accented by circular-cut diamonds. The cross has a total diamond weight of approximately 5.25 carats."
According to reports, Kim acquired the Attallah Cross after it went on sale at Sotheby’s London in early January 2023. It was sold for £163,800 as part of Sotheby’s royal and noble sale.