Despite the much repeated notion that this necklace belonged originally to Empress Eugenie, no one seems to have put forward any substantive evidence -- just the box. Yet, as far as I know, no one has even demonstrated that the box is genuine. It is just said constantly that a similar one exists in the Louvre.

I don't recollect seeing a necklace of this description among the jewels the Empress sold in London, but that is not proof it did not belong to her.

If someone wants to substantiate the claim that the necklace belonged to the Empress some proof has to be produced. I noticed that the auction house is not saying that it belonged to the Empress -- so obviously there is no proof.

I suspect that, where the box came from is, at this point of time, anyone's guess.