Historic Elizabeth Taylor Auction by the Numbers

Phone bidders compete with those on the auction floor at Christie's New York during the first day of the Elizabeth Taylor auction. Photo credit: Christie's

The landmark auctions of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor at Christie’s New York from December 3-17 realized a combined total of more than $156.75 million with every single item sold. Among its achievements:

* The most valuable sale of jewelry in auction history—the two-day jewelry sale along (December 13-14) fetched more than $137.2 million;

* The most valuable collection of fashion ever sold at auction--the live sale totaled more than $5.5 million;

* Christie’s first-ever “Online-Only” auction—conducted in parallel to the live auctions—generated more than 57,000 bids and took in more than $9.5 million;

* Six Items sold for more than $5 million;

* 26 items sold for more than $1 million;

The opening night jewelry sale (December 13) alone set seven world auction records; among them:

* The world auction record for a pearl jewel, “La Peregrina,” the 16th Century pearl on a necklace designed by Cartier for Taylor, sold for $11.8 million.

* The world auction record for a colorless diamond per carat, the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond (also known as the Burton-Taylor Diamond). The 33.19-carat Asscher-cut D color potentially flawless diamond sold for more than $8.8 million, or $265,697 per carat.

* The world auction record for an emerald jewel and an emerald per carat went to an emerald and diamond pendant brooch by Bulgari—more than $6.5 million or $280,000 per carat.

* The world auction record for an Indian jewel, the heart-shaped Taj Mahal Diamond, sold for more than $8.8 million.

* The world auction record for a ruby per carat, A Ruby and Diamond Ring, By Van Cleef & Arpels sold for more than $4.2 million or $421,981 per carat.

* The world auction record for a pair of natural pearl pendants, pearl and diamond pendants by Bulgari sold for nearly $2 million.



The sale drew unprecedented interest from bidders throughout the world, who gathered in Christie’s flagship Rockefeller Center saleroom to compete in person, on the phone, online and by absentee bid to win one of the Collection’s 1,778 lots of jewelry, fashion, decorative arts and film memorabilia. The total far exceeded Christie’s pre-sale expectations for the sale as a whole and for individual items, which were frequently hammered down for five, ten, or even 50 times their estimate in some cases.

As one of the most highly-anticipated sales in auction history, the collection generated intense interest from bidders throughout the world, with 36 different countries represented during the four days of live auctions.

Of the sales, Chris Wilding, son of Elizabeth Taylor and member of the Elizabeth Taylor Trust said, “My mother always acknowledged that she was merely the temporary custodian of the incredible things she owned. Today, I think she would be happy to know that her collections will continue to enrich the lives of those who have acquired pieces. My family is proud that our mother’s legacy as a celebrated actress, tireless AIDS activist, and accomplished businesswoman touched so many people’s lives that they wanted to have a part of it for themselves.”

All sales proceeds will be directed to the Elizabeth Taylor Trust. A portion of the profits generated by sales of exhibition tickets, event sponsorships and the ongoing sales of select publications will be donated to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. An estimated 58,000 visitors viewed highlights from the collection since September, when Christie’s launched an eight-city global exhibition and tour that reached Moscow, London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Paris, Geneva and Hong Kong. The grand finale of the tour was a 10-day museum-quality public display of the complete collection that drew thousands of collectors and fans to the company’s flagship galleries in Rockefeller Center.

“The exhibition and sales of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor in New York have been the crowning achievement to a very strong year at Christie’s,” said Steven P. Murphy, CEO, Christie’s International. “The success of these sales, with bidders participating from all over the world, demonstrated not only a recognition of the taste and style of Miss Taylor, but also the convening power of Christie’s. I am very proud of our whole team, from all corners of our global operation. Their achievement was successfully bringing this event to fruition in a manner that paid homage to the panache and glamour of Elizabeth Taylor herself.”

Elizabeth Taylor Auction Fetches Nearly $116 Million

Christie's employees receiving bids by phones.

NEW YORK - By any measure the first night of the Collection of Elizabeth Taylor auction on Tuesday at Christie’s New York was, as the auction houses often say, exceptional. The auction of some of Elizabeth Taylor’s most precious jewels took in nearly $116 million, a world record for a private collection of jewels.

All 80 lots offered were sold and estimates were shattered then crushed throughout the auction. To the best of my knowledge only two items sold within auction estimates. The rest of the lots made the estimates look like afterthoughts as a jammed room full of bidders competed for items with telephone buyers from around the world.

The auction broke six other world records, including the price achieved for a pearl jewel, the per carat price for a colorless diamond, the price for an Indian jewel, and a ruby per carat.

View the jewels of the auction by following this link.

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 diamond hit the $10 million mark. It was the only 12th lot sold on a day that already started incredibly strong.

La Peregrina upstaged what was expected to be the top lot for the evening, 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.

Less than halfway into the auction it was estimated in the press area that the $30 million pre-auction estimate for the evening was topped. It was a marathon night where rapid, high-speed bidding was offset by long pauses as prices reached levels that few could have imagined. The auction was led by two of Christie’s jewelry experts, beginning with Francois Curiel, Christie's Asia president and longtime head of Christie’s jewelry department who came in from his post in Hong Kong; followed by Rahul Kadakia, head of Christie’s jewelry department in the Americas.

At one point Curiel said, “I don’t know where to start. Should I ask you? Maybe I’ll start at $10 million.”

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.



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

It was a big night for Bulgari. An emerald and diamond necklace sold for $6.1 million, well above its $1 million to $1.5 million estimate. This was followed by a sapphire and diamond sautoir that sold for $5.9 million, smashing the high estimate of $800,000.

Van Cleef & Arpels also had a big night. A ruby and diamond ring, a gift from Burton, sold for $4.2 million, a world record for a ruby per carat.

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.

A Bulgaria emerald and diamond bracelet sold for just over $4 million.

Cartier also had a great night. A ruby and diamond necklace from the Parisian luxury jewelry house sold for $3.7 million, smashing its $200,000 to $300,000 estimate.

At the brief press conference that followed, Curiel was asked to explain why the prices for the jewelry were so far above the actual prices. He explained that the items were priced according to their “intrinsic value” and not based on Taylor’s celebrity appeal.

“We wanted to let the market decide what premium to pay over the value of the stones or the value of the stones or the value of the jewels,” he said.

The market decided.

Elizabeth Taylor Auction Includes Pieces by Sandra Müller

The upcoming Collection of Elizabeth Taylor auction at Christie’s New York will include three pieces from a Los Angeles jewelry designer who had a personal relationship with jewelry-loving star.

“I would often go to visit Elizabeth Taylor at her house and she would say that her heart would jump a certain way when she saw a jewel that was just right for her. And these did it,” said Sandra Müller, who has a store in Beverly Hills.

The items that caught Taylor’s fancy was an 18k gold necklace and bracelet set covered with smoky quartz, citrines, corals, fresh water pearls, tiger's eye, crystal de roche and chrysophrase; And a stand-alone 18k gold bracelet with lavender overtones that uses amethyst, citrines, aquamarines, rubelite, fresh water pearls and ametrines (All pictured above). Taylor bought the pieces in 2001.

“The style is very Capri chic 1970’s,” Müller said. “My inspiration was to create something fun, colorful, charming, and full of life, using fine semi-precious gem beads and combining colors that would have suited an Emilio Pucci or Thea Porter colorful gown—very much Elizabeth’s style.”

The pieces will be placed on the block December 15 as part of the Fashions and Accessories (IV) portion of the auction. The estimate is $200 - $300. The entire Elizabeth Taylor auction will be held over a four-day period, December 13-16.

Müller said she first met Taylor at the Palace Hotel in Gstaad when she was nine years old. Taylor was having lunch with the wife and daughter of Yul Brynner and she joined them. In fact, it was at this meeting that Müller decided that she wanted to be a jewelry designer.

“I was mesmerized by her (Taylor’s) headdress, with an emerald dangling on her forehead,” Müller said. “She had an incredibly eclectic taste for jewelry. This encounter awakened in me an aspiration to become a jeweler. Little did I know that one day she would be wearing my creations.”

Müller grew up in Paris and Geneva. At eighteen, she moved to California to study gemology and jewelry manufacturing at the Gemological Institute of America. Since then, she has been creating one-of-a kind jewels and limited editions for a clientele that includes many celebrities.