Affair of the Diamond Necklace: The Most Elaborate Con, Ever

The Scene

This story is set against the opulent backdrop of 18th century France. A time when King Louis XV's royal court at Versailles wasn't just the political hub; it was the beating heart of extravagance. Appearance is everything, and the reality of the common people was a distant whisper, which made the events surrounding this necklace all the more scandalous.

This necklace most definitely the hastened the eventual revolution, right along with the infamous apocryphal quote:

"Let them eat cake"

The Making of the Necklace - 1772

King Louis XV commissioned the diamond necklace for Madame Du Barry, his mistress, as a token of his love and affection. It wasn't just any diamond necklace, though, it was a 2800 carat marvel to be created by royal Parisian jewelers Böhmer and Bassenge. The necklace was to hold a total of 540 diamonds!

I know..

Böhmer and Bassenge got work, sourcing stones and setting them one by one, it was a years long process. By 1774 the necklace was far from finished, but that was to be expected.

What was not expected?

King Louis XV's death.

His grandson, King Louis XVI, ascended to the throne along with Marie Antoinette as his Queen. This left the fate of this necklace in limbo. Böhmer and Bassenge offered to sell the necklace to the new queen, but she refused despite her opulent tastes, viewing it as a emblem of the old king's court. This left the jewelers in financial peril, burdened with an unsellable, unfinished masterpiece.

The Beginning of Deception - 1781

The diamond necklace was now completed, but with not haste as there weren't any buyers in sight after Marie Antoinette's refusal to purchase it. Still, they were actively searching for a buyer.

The necklace was a topic of interest and gossip due to its immense value and the scandal surrounding its unsold status.

Enter Jeanne De La Motte, a woman of ambition and cunning, a social climber with a lineage she claimed linked her to the French royalty. Though she didn't have any personal relationships with the the royals, she was very much a part of aristocratic circles and got word of this controversial necklace.

So she decided to take advantage.

Jeanne de la Motte's Scheme - 1785

Jeanne de la Motte planned to get a hold of this diamond necklace without spending a single livre. To do that she had to use Cardinal de Rohan. The once influential Cardinal fell out of favor in the French court, mostly due to Marie Antoinette's personal dislike towards him after offending her mother, Empress Maria Theresa, and opposing her marriage to Louis XVI in 1770, prior to her wedding.

This left Cardinal de Rohan desperate to regain status and favor, which made him the perfect target for Jeanne de la Motte.

Jeanne de la Motte's plan was to present herself as a mediator. She deceived the Cardinal into believing Marie Antoinette secretly desired the necklace, but could not publicly buy it due to her already extravagant image. A pretty believable story, considering tales of Marie's indulgent lifestyle were the talk of France. The story was even easier to believe because the Cardinal was eager to win back Marie's favor.

Jeanne leveraged her fabricated relationship with the Queen to gain the Cardinal's trust. She used a combination of forged letters, purportedly from the queen, and false promises of compensation once the Cardinal hands her the necklace.

Cardinal de Rohan was completely duped.

The Fraud Unfolds - 1785

The Cardinal acquired the necklace from Böhmer and Bassenge and facilitated the transfer to who he thought was a representative of the Queen, but was in fact, an accomplice of Jeanne.

As soon as the necklace was in their possession, it was quickly disassembled, and its stones were sold in clandestine markets across Paris and beyond.

Marie knew nothing of what was happening until Böhmer and Bassenge demanded payment. But at this point, it was much too late. The Queen was met with public scorn and derision, and this episode only exacerbated the growing chasm between the monarchy and the public.

This news only fueled the narrative of an out-of-touch and corrupt elite, a sentiment that was rapidly spreading among the populace. The necklace was a stark contrast against the dire economic conditions of the the common people, so Marie's claims of innocence were not believed.

Trial - 1786

Cardinal de Rohan, Jeanne de la Motte, and her accomplices were tried for the fraud. The Cardinal was acquitted of all charges and lost his influence, and Jeanne de la Motte was found guilty and thrown in prison (she then escaped, but that's a story for another day).

Although Jeanne was punished, it's hard to call it justice as Marie Antoinette was left with a severely tarnished reputation. Böhmer and Bassenge also never completely recouped their loss.

In some accounts, it's mentioned that King Louis XVI was understanding of their dire situation and compensated them partially. This served to also somewhat mitigate the damage done to the monarchy's image.

This event was arguably a major catalyst for the French Revolution that commenced in 1789. That damned diamond necklace!

The Diamond Necklace

Here is a replica of the necklace~

It's one of the most beautiful necklaces I've ever laid eyes on! Böhmer and Bassenge might've been conned, but their amazing creation will be forever cemented in history.

I wonder if any of those diamonds are still floating around today..