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Tuesday evening’s much discussed auction of some of Elizabeth Taylor’s most famous gems garnered even more attention once the bids were tallied. Several of the famous, opulent pieces in Taylor’s collection shattered world records for jewelry prices, including the top lot, “La Peregrina.” Below, a complete list of the most notable lots, and the record breakers, but first – the Christie’s Auction by the numbers:
86 – the number of Christie’s staff manning the phones (in evening wear)
80 – the total number of jewels sold
24 – the number of jewels that sold for $1 million +
6 – the jewels that realized more than $5 million.
7 – the amount of world records set: price per carat for a colorless diamond and for a ruby; a pair of natural pearl ear pendants; a pearl jewel; an Indian jewel and an emerald jewel.
The Lot: La Peregrina, a 16th century natural pearl pendant on a diamond, ruby and pearl necklace.
Added to Taylor’s collection for: $37,000
The estimated highest price: $3 million
Actual winning bid: $11,842,500
Break any records lately?: World auction record for a pearl jewel.
The Lot: The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, a 33.19ct, d color, “potentially” (probably) internally flawless Asscher cut. Formerly the Krupp Diamond.
Added to Taylor’s collection for: $305,000
The estimated highest price: $3.5 million
Actual winning bid: $8.8 million
Break any records lately?: The per-carat price for a colorless diamond
The Lot: The Taj Mahal diamond, on a gold and ruby chain by Cartier
Added to Taylor’s collection for: about £350,000 ($504,000)
The estimated highest price: $500,000
Actual winning bid: $8.8 million
Break any records lately?: world auction record for an Indian jewel
The Lot: Gold and multigem charm bracelet
Added to Taylor’s collection for: unknown
The estimated highest price: $35,000
Actual winning bid: $270,000
Break any records lately?: No, but the actual price is over 10 times the low estimate of $25k
The Lot: The Richard Burton Ruby – A 8.24-carat Van Cleef & Arpels ruby-and-diamond ring
Added to Taylor’s collection for: unknown
The estimated highest price: $1.5 million
Actual winning bid: $4.2 million
Break any records lately?: The per-carat price for a ruby.
In all, the auction more than doubled the last record (set by Taylor’s friend, The Duchess of Windsor’s jewel auction in Geneva). Ringing in a total of $115,932,000, the auction secured the record for the most valuable private collection of jewels sold at auction. You know Liz would greatly, greatly approve.
“I never, never thought of my jewellery as trophies. I’m here to take care of them and to love them. When I die and they go off to auction I hope whoever buys them gives them a really good home.” – Elizabeth Taylor
To read the complete details of the auction, click here to read Christie’s official press release.
Liz for Raymond Lee Jewelers, your trusted source for industry news and estate jewelry.
Related articles
- The Taylor Burton Diamond, Liz Taylor’s Collection Surpass Auction Expectations (raymondleejewelersblog.com)
- Elizabeth Taylor Auction Shatters Records, Fetches Nearly $116 Million (forbes.com)
- Elizabeth Taylor’s Jewelry Collection Sold For More Money Than Anyone Imagined [Rag Trade] (jezebel.com)
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