Princess Grace’s Cartier Diamond Necklace

Happy Birthday to Charlotte Casiraghi, who turns 40 today! The Socialite, Philosopher, Equestrian and Philosopher is the niece of the Prince of Monaco and the eldest granddaughter of the iconic Princess Grace, and once wore her iconic Cartier Diamond Necklace!

Composed of 64 brilliant and baguette diamonds set in a modern three-strand design, the Necklace was made by Cartier in 1953, and bought by Prince Rainier III of Monaco as a wedding gift for American Actress Grace Kelly in 1956.

Princess Grace debuted her Cartier Diamond Necklace at her Wedding Gala at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in Monaco, paired with her Bains de Mer Tiara, on the eve of the Religious Wedding Ceremony.

The Cartier Diamond Necklace was frequently worn by Princess Grace over the following decades, on State Visits and a series of Banquets, Balls and Galas of varying degrees of formality, as well as several official portraits.

Princess Grace continued to wear her Cartier Diamond Necklace into the latter years of her life, with it being paired with her Bains de Mer Tiara and Diamond Tiara on numerous occasions until her untimely death in a car accident in 1982.

After Princess Grace’s death, the Cartier Diamond Necklace passed into the ‘Palais Princier Collection’, and has been frequently exhibited around the world.

Several decades later, Princess Caroline notably wore Princess Grace’s Cartier Diamond Necklace for the Monaco National Day Gala in 2006.

Most recently, Princess Grace’s Cartier Diamond Necklace was worn by Charlotte Casiraghi for her Wedding Reception at the Villa La Vigie, following her Civil Ceremony at the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. Let’s hope we see it worn again soon!