Taylor collection breaks records at Christie’s

She will be remembered for her performances on screen now her most treasured jewellery will live on too.

The world-renowned jewels of actress Elizabeth Taylor fetched a record 89 million euros during an auction at Christie’s.

Rahul Kadakia, Head of the Jewellery department at Christie’s said: “But in my wildest dreams I did not think that we would outsell the estimate by five times.

“So that was a great surprise and the participation of clients on the telephone and in the room and the zeal and the strength with which they participated was a great surprise.”

It began when the historic pearl, diamond and ruby necklace, which ex-husband Richard Burton bought for Taylor in 1969, sold for nine million euros.

Just half way into the four-hour sale, the items broke the record of over 39 million euros set by the Duchess of Windsor in 1987.

Taylor, whose films included Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Cleopatra, owned pieces from some of the world’s most famous names including Choppard and Cartier.

She died in Los Angeles in March aged 79.

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