A diamond-encrusted version of Princess Diana’s favourite handbag is expected to sell for £38,490 (£30,000) at a charity auction.
The Princess of Wales personally asked her loyal friend, the South African designer Lana Marks, to create a one-off handbag for her in 1995.
Lana came up with an iconic top-handle tote design, which Diana called ‘the most beautiful handbag imaginable’.
She was so impressed that she went on to buy 15 of the bags in various colours and varieties.
Diana bought 15 of the bag that her friend Lana Marks designed exclusively for her. She was often seen with a nude version which she travelled with to Washington (left) in 1997 as she campaigned to ban landmines, and also took to Prince William’s Confirmation in 1997 (right)
Lana has created a one-of-a-kind version of Princess Diana’s favourite bag which features a heart clasp encrusted with 225 diamonds. The bag is emerald green and made of crocodile skin
Now Lana has created a one-of-a-kind version of the luxury Princess Diana bags that is encrusted with 225 3.22k white diamonds to sell off for charity.
They are set by hand on 18k yellow gold in a soft heart clasp, which sits on the is rich emerald green crocodile skin tote bag.
Lana said she designed the latest Princess Diana bag because she wanted to do ‘something special’ for her late friend, who sent the designer a handwritten note to thank her for the design when she was still alive.
Lana’s Princess Diana bags are estimated to sell at around £4,000 to £6,000, but some editions may exceed that as the bags are so exclusive that prices for the iconic design are not listed on Lana Marks’ website.
Diana with one of the Lana Marks’ ‘Princess Diana’ design handbags she adored during a visit to the Sacred Heart Hospice in Sydney in 1996 (left). She also took out the bag during a visit to open a new children’s wing at Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, in 1997 (right)
Lana Marks (left) with the one-off handbag that is to be auctioned off for charity next month. Diana loved the bags she designed for her so much that she wrote her a personal note (right) that said she was ‘looking at the most beautiful handbag imaginable’
The South African designer Lana said of the one-off bag: ‘She would love the bag and it reminds me of her.
‘The heart is particularly soft and rounded. It may appear very simple but it is not.
‘She was the princess of hearts. I want people to remember this beautiful person. She was somebody who inspired.’
Experts estimate the unique lot will fetch around $19,245 (£15,000) to $38,490 (£30,000) for the American Red Cross when it goes under the next month.
Diane D’Amato, director of luxury accessories at Heritage Auctions, said: ‘When Lana Marks and Princess Diana met they became friends instantly.
Lana Marks with the one-off handbag based on the design she gave to Princess Diana/ Diana loved it so much she ended buying 15 in the same design
‘They had a very special relationship.
‘They would call and speak to each other. It was much more than just a business relationship.
‘Now that it is 20 years ago that Princess Diana passed, she had an idea to create a one-of-a-kind bag to sell, with all the proceeds going to the American Red Cross.
‘She wanted to pick a charity that was near and dear to Princess Diana’s heart.
‘We are going to start the bidding at $10,000 but we are looking for an incredible result.
‘We have never done this before and Lana Marks has never created a bag like this before. This is honouring Diana’s memory and we are expecting a lot of interest.’
Lana Marks has designed luxury handbags for the likes of Kate Winslet, Drew Barrymore, Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Chloe Sevigny, Lucy Liu, and Jennifer Aniston.
She is also the purveyor of handbags to the most prominent royal families in the world.
The Diana bag will go under the hammer at Heritage Auctions in Beverly Hills, California on September 26, with bidding kicking off on September 5.