A pearl owned by Dame Elizabeth Taylor sold for $15.6 million at auction recently.
The 50.6 carat jewel – named La Peregrina which was suspended from a necklace featuring diamonds and rubies by Cartier – was expected to make $3-4 million at the auction at Christie’s in New York, but ended up going for four times the estimate.
The pearl belonged to eight Spanish kings from 1582 until 1808, and was purchased for the late Cleopatra star by her husband Richard Burton in 1969.
other items belonging to the actress – who died of congestive heart failure in March 2011 at the age of 79 – were also at the auction including an emerald and diamond necklace by Bulgari which sold for $8 million, and a Van Cleef Arpels diamond ring which went for $3 million.
Brooches, earrings and other items were also bid on, as were designer dresses from Chanel, Dior and Versace, handbags and kaftans owned by Elizabeth.
Marc Porter, chairman of Christie’s Americas, said: “It is by far the greatest jewellery collection to be offered in a century.”
Sales are set to continue, with items including the dress she wore to her first marriage to Conrad Hilton among the items available.
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