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Summary The 33.19-carat diamond ring given to Taylor by the actor she married twice, sold for $8,818,500.
Elizabeth Taylors jewelry collection fetched a record-setting $115 million (€87 million) including more than $11.8 million (€8.95 million) for a pearl necklace and more than $8.8 million (€6.68 million) for a diamond ring given to her by Richard Burton at an auction of gems and other memorabilia amassed by the late actress.The 33.19-carat diamond ring given to Taylor by the actor she married twice, sold for $8,818,500.The pearl, diamond and ruby necklace, known as La Peregrina, purchased at auction for $37,000 in 1969 by Burton for Taylor reached the world record price of $11,842,500. It was estimated to sell for $2 million to $3 million. The price surpassed the previous auction record for a pearl, set in 2007 at Christies auction house in New York City with the sale of The Baroda Pearls for $7,096,000.The ring, estimated to sell for $2.5 million to $3.5 million, was included in a collection of Taylors necklaces, earrings, pendants and rings and other gems that went on sale Tuesday night at Christies in New York. The ring was purchased by a private buyer from Asia, according to a Christies spokesman.Among the other high-profile items was a diamond bracelet given to the National Velvet and Cleopatra actress by singer Michael Jackson, with an estimated sale price of $30,000 to $50,000. It sold for $194,500. All prices include the buyers premium.Taylor, a screen goddess who also starred in classics such as Giant, Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, died in Los Angeles in March at age 79. A jewelry lover, she had pieces from some of the most famous names in the jewelry world, including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Chopard, in her collection.Other sales of Taylors art, clothing and memorabilia will be held later in the week. An online-only sale of some items runs until Saturday. Part of the proceeds will go to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which she established in 1991 to help people living with AIDS.Taylors collection of impressionist and modern art is scheduled to go on sale at Christies in London in February.
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