Christina Onassis Diamond Necklace Fetches £3.6m

Published on 12/06/08

A diamond necklace once owned by Christina Onassis has been sold for £3.6 million at Christie's in London.

Estimated to go for between £1.8 million and £2 million, the 38-carat D-colour diamond necklace was part of a 40-piece collection being auctioned by the iconic Onassis family.

Among the other items sold at Christie's was a pear-shaped diamond ring that weighed 14.79 carats, as well as a Faberge semi-precious stone Buddha, which was bought by Russian collector Alexander Ivanov for £1 3 million.

John Souglides, international director of jewellery at Christie's, told the BBC: "It's being sold because you can't keep jewels in safety deposit boxes forever.

"So it was time for other people to enjoy these items."

Christina Onassis was the stepdaughter of Jacqueline Kennedy and daughter of shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

She ran her father's shipping empire after his death, passing away herself in 1988 at the age of 37.