A pearl owned by Dame Elizabeth Taylor sold for $11.8 million at auction yesterday (13.12.11).
The 50.6 carat jewel – named La Peregrina which was suspended from a necklace featuring diamonds and rubies by Cartier – was expected to make $2-3 million at the auction at Christie’s in New York, but ended up going for four times the estimate.
The pearl belonged to a 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 $6.1 million, and a Van Cleef Arpels diamond ring which went for $2.3 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 through to Friday (16.12.11), with items including the dress she wore to her first marriage to Conrad Hilton among the items available.