NEED TO KNOW
- Kim Kardashian arrived to a Paris courthouse in a $1.5 million necklace
- The reality star will testify at the trial of those suspected of being involved in her 2016 robbery
- Kardashian also wore a slew of other diamond jewelry, including an $8k ear cuff
Kim Kardashian’s jewelry is making a statement.
On Tuesday, May 13, the reality star and mogul, 44, arrived at the Palais de Justice court in Paris where she will testify at the trial of those suspected of being involved in her 2016 robbery. The star appeared wearing a black blazer and matching long skirt with a slit up the back, plus a smattering of diamond jewelry.
Most notably, Kardashian sported a jaw-dropping $1.5 million diamond necklace by Samer Halimeh New York. Per a press release, the piece is crafted in 18K white gold, weighs 57 grams and features a total of 80 diamonds, culminating in a 10.13-carat pear-shaped center stone. The necklace contains a total of 52.17 carats.
“Known for dressing royalty, heads of state, and red-carpet icons, Samer Halimeh New York is internationally renowned for its unrivaled diamonds, ethically sourced stones and impeccable artistry,” states the press release. “Kim Kardashian’s choice to wear the brand on such a public and high-stakes occasion only underscores its place at the pinnacle of luxury jewelry design.”
Kardashian added even more bling with the Briony Raymond Sloan Pave Diamond Ear Cuff for the trial. The 18k gold piece contains 1.75 carats and is priced at $8,100. The star rounded out her look with a selection of jewelry pieces by Repossi.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Laura Taylor, jewelry expert at Lorel Diamonds, says Kardashian’s jewelry choice “feels very intentional.”
“This isn’t just another public appearance, it’s the first time she has come face to face with the people who tied her up, held her at gunpoint, and stole millions worth of jewelry,” Taylor, who is not associated with Kardashian, says. “She knew the cameras would be there, the images would be shared globally, and in typical Kim fashion, she made sure she was in control of how she was seen.”
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Taylor added, “Jewelry has always been part of her public image, but that changed after the robbery. Choosing to wear so much jewelry today, while facing the accused and revisiting the events of that night, will likely hold deeply emotional significance for her. It’s not about status or showing off, it’s about closure, control, and showing that fear no longer decides how she presents herself.”
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In court, Kardashian was joined by her mother, Kris Jenner, 69, who wore a patterned black and white suit jacket and sunglasses.
Kardashian is set to testify in the trial of 10 people who are being tried on charges related to the 2016 burglary of the Kardashians star, according to The New York Times, NBC News and ABC News. Half of the suspects are considered alleged accomplices. The group has been dubbed the “Grandpa robbers” by French media due to their older ages and previous criminal history.
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According to the BBC, at one point during her testimony on May 13, Kardashian was asked if she thought she was going to die during the robbery, to which she replied, “I absolutely did think I was gonna die.” She also said she was wearing nothing but a robe during the incident, adding that it came open when one of the men pulled her toward him “exposing everything on my body.”
“I was sure that I was going to be raped,” she testified, according to NBC News. However, her legs were tied together instead.
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Ahead of the trial, a source told PEOPLE that the SKIMS founder was ready to testify against the suspects involved in the 2016 Paris robbery.
“Kim’s a bit nervous, but she always said that she wanted to testify in person,” the insider said. “This is her choice. She was terrified for her life during the robbery. She wants the people involved convicted.”
While Kardashian was attending Paris Fashion Week in October 2016, five armed men broke into her room at the No Address Hotel in the middle of the night. She was tied up at gunpoint and locked in a bathroom as the thieves stole millions of dollars worth of jewelry.
The reality star has said the robbers took two diamond Cartier bracelets, a gold and diamond Jacob necklace, Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings, a gold Rolex and other items during the heist, according to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche. A $4 million ring gifted to her by then-husband Kanye West was also among the items stolen.
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