Queen Elizabeth

Turns out we probably were not worthy.

Damn Elizabeth Taylor's life long collection of jewels went on the auction block at Christies in New York City, Wednesday night. The generous pre game estimate of the value of the collection was 30 million dollars, which was met before half of the catalog was brought to the block. All records for a jewelery auction were smashed as Mrs. Taylor's estate raised 116+ million dollars for AIDS research.

a few of the highlights

From Forbes : "The big winner of the night was the “La Peregrina,” the 16th Century pearl on a necklace designed by Cartier for Taylor, sold for $11.8 million, setting the world record for a pearl jewel. The pre-auction estimate was $2 million to $3 million. Applause and nervous laughter came from the bidders as the price of the [necklace] hit the $10 million mark. It was the only 12th lot sold on a day that already started incredibly strong."

The Taj Mahal Diamond, a gift from Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor for her 40th birthday sold for $8.8 million. The heart-shaped diamond is believed to have been owned by emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666). He presented the diamond to his favorite and most beloved wife, Mumtaz-i-Mahal. The emperor’s grief at her death just four years later inspired him to commission the majestic Taj Mahal in her memory. The estimate was $300,000 – $500,000.

The Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, which made some of the women weak in the knees, sold for $4.2 million, totally smashing its estimate $60,000 to $80,000 estimate.

I'm looking around everywhere to find out who bought the Duchess of Windsors, Price of Wales Feathers. We can hope that it will somehow get to the Duchess of Cambridge, or at least Madonna.

A Bulgari 18.26-carat emerald and diamond pendant brooch sold for $6.5 million, spectacularly above the $500,000 to $700,000 estimate.

The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. The 33.19-carat Asscher-cut D color potentially flawless diamond set on a ring that Taylor wore nearly everyday, sold for $8.8 million, well above its $2.5 million to $3.5 million estimate.

Some passing shots of more from the collection.