Elizabeth Taylor’s storied jewelry up for auction

NEW YORK - Actress Elizabeth Taylor’s world-renowned collection of jewelry will be auctioned off in December at a two-day sale expected to realize more than $30 million, Christie’s said on Wednesday.

The Dec. 13-14 sale will follow a global three-month tour that will also include Taylor’s couture, fine art and memorabilia, and will be the first of a series of auctions from the estate of the legendary film star who died in March.

Some 269 diamonds, pearls, rubies, rings, necklaces and even a tiara will be sold, with several of the most valuable, and storied pieces tied to Taylor’s lengthy relationship with Richard Burton, whom she married twice and divorced twice.

“This is without a doubt the greatest private collection of jewelry ever assembled in one place,” said Christie’s Americas chairman and president Marc Porter. The collection includes everything “from her most jaw-dropping diamonds, gems and one-of-a-kind historic jewels to ... never-before-seen keepsakes.”

Reuters