Elizabeth Taylor - the Queen of Diamonds 

By now everyone has heard about the spectacular results in the first day of Christie’s auction of Elizabeth Taylor’s world-renowned diamond collection.

More than a few items carried seven-figure pre-sale estimates, but the bidding went above and beyond for what Christie’s Americas Chairman Mark Porter called “the greatest jewelry collection to be offered in a century.”

The Krupp diamond (All images courtesy of Christie's)

Taylor’s famous Krupp diamond ring, a 33.19-carat bauble that was especially dear to heart because (like so much of her jewelry) it was a gift from Richard Burton, was estimated at $2.5-$3.5 million, but blew way past that, finally being knocked down for over $8.8 million.

La Peregrina (detail) 

But the piece that really made headlines was a pearl – specifically, La Peregrina, a 16th-century pearl set in a diamond and ruby necklace designed by Cartier. Another gift to Taylor from Burton, the necklace was estimated to sell for $2-$3 million, but went for a whopping $11,842,500 – a world record auction price for a pearl.

The Dame earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels 

Other goodies under the hammer ranged from  legendary jewels like the Taj Mahal diamond necklace, another historical piece that was a present from Burton, to modern jewelry like a Lorraine Schwartz yellow diamond ring. A diamond watch (a gift from Taylor’s friend, pop star Michael Jackson) was among the collection auctioned, as were the Van Cleef & Arpels butterfly earrings that Taylor herself designed and wore when she was named a Dame of the British Empire.

The Taj Mahal diamond necklace

The first day of the Elizabeth Taylor jewelry sale has already set a record as the most expensive personal collection of jewels ever put up for auction.  

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