Christie’s auction house has set a staggering world record for a private jewelry collection, with the first part of the Elizabeth Taylor sale fetching nearly $116 million. While estimates initially placed the evening’s value at $30 million, the final hammer price reached an incredible $115,932,000 (£74,196,480), according to The Telegraph.
Among the most notable sales were:
- The La Peregrina necklace: A diamond, ruby, and pearl rope featuring a sixteenth-century pear-shaped pearl pendant—one of the finest in the world—which sold for $11,842,500.
- The Taj Mahal ruby and gold chain by Cartier: Sold for $8,818,500, setting a new world record for an Indian jewel.
- The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond: A 33.29-carat Asscher-cut ring gifted to her by Richard Burton in 1968, which also fetched $8,818,500.
- The Prince of Wales brooch: Formerly owned by the Duchess of Windsor, selling for $1,314,500.
A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which she established in 1991.
