La Peregrina necklace was the most expensive Elizabeth Taylor jewel in Christie’s December 2011 estate sale, selling for $11,842,500. The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond and the Taj Mahal Diamond necklace tied for second at $8,818,500 each. These are historical auction results, not current appraisals or guaranteed present-day values.
Elizabeth Taylor’s most expensive jewels by 2011 auction result
The ranking below uses reported realized auction prices from Christie’s December 2011 sale of Taylor’s estate, with a Forbes report used for the ruby ring. Christie’s realized prices include the buyer’s premium where reported. The fifth entry is stated as “more than” $4.2 million because the available Forbes account does not give an exact total.
| Rank | Jewel | 2011 result | Documented history and sale note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
La Peregrina necklace |
$11,842,500 | Christie’s described the Cartier necklace as the sale’s top lot. Its centerpiece is a 16th-century pearl weighing about 203 grains, or roughly 50 carats. Richard Burton gave it to Taylor in 1969 after buying the pearl at auction for $37,000. The 2011 sale set records for an historic pearl and for a pearl jewel. |
| 2 (tie) |
The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond ring, also known as the Krupp diamond |
$8,818,500 | Burton gave Taylor this D-color, 33.19-carat diamond in 1968. Christie’s said she wore it virtually every day and that its 2011 result set a record price per carat for a colorless diamond at the time. |
| 2 (tie) |
Taj Mahal Diamond necklace |
$8,818,500 | Burton gave Taylor the necklace for her 40th birthday. It pairs a historic Indian diamond and jade pendant with a later Cartier chain of ruby and gold. Christie’s said the result set a record for an Indian jewel at auction. Its catalogue describes the heart-shaped diamond as inscribed with Nur Jahan’s name and relates its traditional history to the Mughal court. |
| 4 |
Bulgari emerald and diamond pendant brooch |
$6,578,500 | Burton gave Taylor the brooch as an engagement gift in 1962. It contains a 23.46-carat rectangular-cut Colombian emerald. Christie’s said the result set records for an emerald jewel at auction and for an emerald price per carat. |
| 5 |
Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond ring |
More than $4.2 million | Forbes’ contemporary account reported the sale at more than $4.2 million and a ruby result of $421,981 per carat. The exact all-in realized price is not established in that account. |
Why the two second-place jewels are tied
Christie’s official results give both the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond and the Taj Mahal Diamond necklace a realized price of $8,818,500. They therefore share second place; ranking one ahead of the other would require a different metric than the documented sale price.
How the individual results fit into the 2011 sale
The totals describe different scopes of the December 2011 auctions, so they should not be treated as competing prices for the same group of objects:
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- $137,235,575: the total for the 269-jewel sale, recorded by Guinness World Records as the most expensive jewelry collection sold at auction.
- $115.9 million: proceeds from 80 lots in the first evening jewelry session, as summarized by Guinness World Records and Forbes.
- $156,756,576: Christie’s total for Taylor’s broader collection of jewelry, fashion, decorative arts, and memorabilia.
Across the sale, Christie’s and contemporary reporting noted records involving pearls, emeralds, Indian jewels, rubies by price per carat, and colorless diamonds by price per carat. Those records refer to the auction results at the time; they do not establish current market rankings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What these auction prices do—and do not—tell you
A realized price records what buyers paid at a particular auction in 2011. It is not an insurance valuation, a current appraisal, or a promise of what the same jewel would sell for today. This ranking keeps to that one comparable measure rather than mixing auction results with older purchase prices or estimates.
Rank #2
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The sale documents the jewels’ results and several pieces’ histories as Taylor’s gifts from Burton. It does not establish each jewel’s present owner or present value. The available accounts do not provide a complete authoritative resale history for every item in the ranking.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
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Rank #4
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