Re -Train Your Brain To Happiness: Elizabeth Taylor's famous pearl sells for $11.84m at NYC auction

December 14, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor's famous pearl sells for $11.84m at NYC auction

An update on this story.

An amazing piece and an amazing price!

A HUGE pearl once worn by kings and queens and last owned by Hollywood siren Elizabeth Taylor sold for a record $11.84 million at auction in New York today.

"La Peregrina", pictured above, depicted in artworks over the centuries and coveted by crowned heads of Europe, was bought for Taylor by her husband Richard Burton in 1969.
The pearl, suspended from a Cartier necklace, had been estimated to sell by Christie's for $2-3 million but the figure shot up in fierce bidding, reaching the highest price for any pearl jewellery at auction.

Christie's was selling Taylor's legendary jewellery and fashion collections, the so-called "Crown Jewels of Hollywood".

The actress, who died in March at the age of 79, had seven husbands during her glamorous life, countless admirers and a passion for jewellery.

The Herald Sun. And lots more here.

Further Update:
ELIZABETH Taylor's jewellery collection fetched a record-setting $115.32 million - including more than $US11.8 million for a pearl necklace and more than $US8.8 million for a diamond ring given to her by Richard Burton - at an auction of gems and other memorabilia amassed by the late actress.

The 33.19-carat diamond ring given to Taylor by the actor she married twice, sold for $US8.8 million.

The pearl, diamond and ruby necklace, known as "La Peregrina", purchased at auction for $US37,000 in 1969 by Burton for Taylor reached the world record price of $US11,842,500.

It was estimated to sell for $US2 million to $US3 million.

The price surpassed the previous auction record for a pearl, set in 2007 at Christie's auction house in New York City with the sale of The Baroda Pearls for $US7,096,000.

The ring, estimated to sell for $US2.5 million to $US3.5 million, was included in a collection of Taylor's necklaces, earrings, pendants and rings and other gems that went on sale Tuesday night at Christie's in New York. The ring was purchased by a private buyer from Asia, according to a Christie's spokesman.

Taylor, a screen goddess who also starred in classics such as Giant, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, died in Los Angeles in March at age 79.

A jewellery lover, she had pieces from some of the most famous names in the jewelry world, including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Chopard, in her collection.

Other sales of Taylor's art, clothing and memorabilia will be held later in the week. An online-only sale of some items runs until Saturday.

Part of the proceeds will go to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which she established in 1991 to help people living with AIDS.

Taylor's collection of impressionist and modern art is scheduled to go on sale at Christie's in London in February.