5 Most Expensive Pieces of Jewelry Ever Owned — Where Are They Now?
Written by
Laura Bogart
Edited by
Kristen Mae
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Jewelry can create a mood and inspire awe with its beauty. It gives the wearer a sense of glamour and regality. Since antiquity, certain stones and metals have been cherished as symbols of wealth and luxury, with certain pieces attaining fame — or even infamy — in popular culture. Throughout history, jewelry has also served as a way to build or flaunt wealth.
GOBankingRates took a look at some of the most expensive jewelry ever owned. These iconic pieces adorned some of the richest and most celebrated people in the world, including beloved movie stars. Each item is jaw-droppingly exquisite — and far beyond most people’s price range.
A Natural Pearl, Diamond, Ruby and Cultured Pearl Necklace, by Cartier: $11.8 Million
Elizabeth Taylor is iconic for her searing on-screen performances, her violet-eyed, Venusian beauty, and her love of fine jewelry. When key pieces from the star’s collection were auctioned off by Christie’s, prices surged into the hundreds of thousands. This necklace, co-designed by Taylor and a designer from Cartier, fetched over $11 million at auction.
It’s no surprise, considering its opulent yet elegant design, featuring layers of diamonds, pearls, and rubies arranged to dazzle.
Blue Moon of Josephine: $48.4 Million
There are daddy-daughter gifts, and then there’s the Blue Moon of Josephine. In 2014, Hong Kong billionaire Joseph Lau, a convicted felon and fugitive, bought this stunning blue diamond for his then-seven-year-old daughter, Josephine, who would become the stone’s namesake. At 12.03 carats, it cost the aspiring father-of-the-year — felon status notwithstanding — over $48 million, setting a record for the highest price per carat ever paid for a diamond of any color.
And to think, you felt special when your parents bought you a candy necklace.
The Hutton-Mdivani Jadeite Necklace: $27.4 Million
Made of 27 graduated jadeite beads with a clasp of 18-karat yellow gold, rubies, and diamonds, this necklace is a masterpiece not only because of its exceptional beauty but also due to its rare craftsmanship. High-quality jade is seldom large enough to form beads over 10 millimeters in diameter since jadeite boulders are so scarce. However, each bead in this necklace exceeds 15 millimeters in diameter, all carved from the same jadeite boulder.
If you’re thinking this seems like a gift suitable for a princess, you’re not alone. Father of American socialite and heiress Barbara Hutton bought it for her as a wedding gift when she tied the knot with Georgian prince Alexis Mdivani back in 1933. Specifically designed for Hutton, it remained in her family until her death in 1979. Today, it belongs to the Cartier Collection.
L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace: $55 Million
The centerpiece of this necklace is the largest internally flawless yellow diamond ever discovered. Ironically, it was found by a young girl sifting through a random pile of mining rubble in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Valued at $55 million, the necklace features 407.48 carats of diamonds set in 18-carat gold, making it the world’s most valuable necklace. It is currently owned by Mouawad, a Swiss and Emirati luxury goods company.
The Burton Cognac Diamond Ring: $2.3 Million
Known as the Battling Burtons, Elizabeth Taylor and her fifth husband, Richard Burton, were as famous for their fiery love as they were for their love of fine jewelry. Burton gifted Taylor numerous stunning pieces over the years, including this pear-shaped deep cognac diamond ring.
Though this ring is often copied, the original ring’s splendor is never replicated. It sold for $2.3 million at Christie’s.
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