Most expensive jewelry auctions are known to feature colorless or colored diamonds, modern and period jewelry and varied precious stones. Jewelry that usually symbolizes love and gratitude has transformed into a symbol of money and luxury. If you are a connoisseur of refined and elegant jewelry, you must be knowing that today you can find a variety of expensive pieces designed to meet a wide range of tastes. Today not only the celebs are seen wearing such extravagant jewelry at the red carpet, but the uber rich and elites who flock the auctions spend hugely to fill their bags with precious stones and gorgeous jewelry. The jewelry, usually, includes a range of necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and anklets. With the most expensive auctions displaying the jewelry ranges, buying and gifting a diamond to your beloved has become old fashioned. Bidding every single cent to chase the highest auction amount for that precious jewel is the latest fashion amongst the elites, to show their love. Let’s check out some of those most expensive jewelry sold at auction.
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
1. Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $30,00,0000
At Christie’s
Elizabeth Taylor still mesmerizes the world with her everlasting beauty and could give a tough competition to the present day celebrities. Not only her elegance but also the collection of jewelry that she had was enviable. Her jewelry collection was one of the best parts of her lavish way of living and this collection is up for sale at the well known auction house Christie’s that will take place on December 13-14 this year in New York. The collection that includes around 269 items such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls, tiaras, rings, necklaces will be put on display for sale and is expected to fetch around $30 million. Amongst her beautiful jewelry are La Peregrina necklace Ruby necklace, Diamond Tiara and Taj Mahal diamond pendant.
2. Wallis Simpson bracelet
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $12,417,369
At Sotheby’s
This bracelet has a royal connection. Wallis Spencer, who became Duchess of Windsor when she got married to Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor automatically became the owner of all the royal jewels of that kingdom. Amongst the stunning jewelry, there was this Cartier-designed diamond panther bracelet that broke all the auction records as it was sold for $12,417,369 at Sotheby’s. This uniquely-designed bracelet is adorned with ruby, sapphire, diamond and emerald.
3. Emerald and Diamond Tiara
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $12.76million
At Sotheby’s
This gorgeous tiara belonged to Swedish princess, and the Countess Consort Princess Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck who was known for her rule Ostfriesland as Regent. The tiara was sold at the Sotheby’s jewelry sale and broke all the records as it also fetched 90% of the profit out of 479 lots. The tiara that weighs 11 carats was sold at $12.76 million.
4. Vivid Pink diamond ring
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $11.7million
At Christie’s
Colored diamonds fetch more attention than the regular white diamonds, therefore this rare pink diamond ring has set a record of selling at $11.7 million at the Christie’s autumn sales of Asian and Chinese art in Hong Kong. This diamond is called Vivid Pink that weighs 5 Carat and was mined from South Africa mines.
5. Flawless blue diamond ring
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $9,69million
At Sotheby’s
This piece was the centerpiece at the Sotheby’s semi-annual sale in Geneva in 2009. Collectors were stunned to see this amazing blue diamond ring that was sold at the hefty price of $ 9.69 million at the auction. The rectangular-shaped blue diamond alone weighs 7.03 carats which is set in a platinum ring. This diamond is smaller than a coin and was discovered last year in Cullinan mine in South Africa.
6. Golconda diamond earrings
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $9.3million
At Christie’s Hong Kong
This year in May, Christie’s Hong-Kong Magnificent Jewels Spring Sale sold one brilliant pair of diamond earrings which are originally from the Golconda mines, India. The earrings are named as the Imperial Cushions because of the cushion-shaped diamonds studded in the pair. Weighing around 23.11 Carats, the pair was sold at a whopping $9.3 million to an anonymous buyer.
7. Pear-Shaped Golconda Diamond Ring
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $6.5million
At Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s is keeping its image intact of being world’s fourth oldest auction house as it is selling magnificent jewelry pieces in Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Autumn Sale 2011 as well. The auction is featuring Pear-Shaped Golconda Diamond Ring which is expected to fetch 6.5 million. The diamond that weighs 30.31-Karat D-color uncut diamond is certified by GIA to be of Excellent Polish and Symmetry.
8. Green diamond ring
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $3.08million
At Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s sale of Magnificent Jewels has always offered unique and elegant jewelries. One such extravagant piece of jewelry was on sale at the Sotheby’s sale of Magnificent Jewels in 2009. Natural colored diamonds are rare and always fetch good amount at any auction, hence this green diamond ring fetched $3.08 million in the sale at Geneva. This rare 2.52 Carat vivid green diamond is the largest green diamond ever sold at any auction.
9. Red diamond ring
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $2.6million
At Christie’s
Since the time, Madame du Barry’s jewels went on for sale at Christie’s in 1795, the auction house had been the hub of such exquisite jewelry collection. Yet again the famous action house has set a record for selling a stunning ring, with an exceptional maroon diamond for an astonishing $2.6 million. The diamond is cut in an octagonal shape which is very rare. This diamond weighs 2.26 carats. This beautiful ring has been bought by English jeweler, Laurence Graff, at the Christie’s jewelry auction in 2007.
10. Rare blue diamond ring
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $ 2.9million
At Bonhams
Fine Jewellery Sale at Bonhams recently auctioned a rare blue diamond ring by Bulgari and fetched whopping $ 2.9 million which is much more than expected price of $965,000-1,287,000. This eye-catching blue diamond ring was custom-made from Bulgari in 1960s by a private European collector who gifted it to his wife. This ring was never sold at any auction before. The blue diamond used in the ring has been rated as uppermost grading for a colored diamond that weighs 3.72 and SI2 clarity. The white diamond weighs 3.93 carats, D color and is certified as VS2 clarity.
11. Mismatched Earrings
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $1.38million
At Christie’s
This rare and the only mismatched pair of diamond earrings has been sold at Christie’s at the latest Christie’s jewelry auction in Hong Kong. The pair of earrings are designed by Indian designer Nirav Modi and sold for $1.38 Million. The pair has two basic colors blue and pink centered at both the earrings. The diamonds used are oval-shaped 2.22-carat, set within a diamond frame and matched with a pear-shaped Golconda white diamond at its top.
12. Diamond Necklace
Most expensive jewelry sold at auction
Price: $4,50,000
At Sotheby’s Australia
Although the current economic condition of Australia doesn’t seem to be good, it hardly matters to the jewelry lovers. Recently, a diamond necklace that weighs 8.19-carat and has a heart-shaped diamond as a centerpiece was sold at the Sotheby’s Australia jewelry auction for $450,000. The necklace was adorned with 24 carat marquise-cut diamond line. The jewelry was bought by an anonymous buyer and was amongst 244 other lots that were sold at that auction.
