La Peregrina necklace was Elizabeth Taylor’s most expensive jewel in the documented December 2011 Christie’s estate sale. The ranking below uses realized auction prices from that sale, with the genuine tie between the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond and the Taj Mahal Diamond preserved. These are historical sale results—not current appraisals, insurance values or guaranteed present-day prices.
How the ranking is measured
Christie’s December 2011 auction is the clearest comparable record for Taylor’s jewelry. “Realized price” means what the buyer paid at auction, including the buyer’s premium where the published result reports it. An earlier purchase price, a presale estimate or a later inflation adjustment is not mixed into the order.
| Rank | Jewel | 2011 realized price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Peregrina necklace | $11,842,500 |
| 2 (tie) | Elizabeth Taylor Diamond (Krupp diamond) ring | $8,818,500 |
| 2 (tie) | Taj Mahal Diamond necklace | $8,818,500 |
| 4 | Bulgari emerald and diamond pendant brooch | $6,578,500 |
| 5 | Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond ring | More than $4.2 million |
The fifth figure is intentionally qualified: Forbes’ contemporary account gives a result above $4.2 million but not the exact all-in total, so no more precise number can be established from the published account.
The five highest-priced Taylor jewels
1. La Peregrina necklace
Cartier’s necklace centers on a historic pearl of about 203 grains, roughly 50 carats. Richard Burton gave it to Taylor in 1969 after buying the pearl at auction for $37,000. Christie’s identified the necklace as the sale’s top lot and said the result set records for an historic pearl and for any pearl jewel. The $37,000 purchase price is background to the story, not the 2011 ranking figure.
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2 (tie). Elizabeth Taylor Diamond ring
Later auction catalogues use Elizabeth Taylor Diamond for the stone widely known as the Krupp diamond and associated with the Taylor–Burton story. It is a D-color, 33.19-carat diamond that Burton gave Taylor in 1968. She reportedly wore the ring virtually every day. Christie’s said the sale established a record price per carat for a colorless diamond at that time.
2 (tie). Taj Mahal Diamond necklace
This necklace pairs a historic Indian diamond and jade pendant with a later Cartier chain of ruby and gold. Burton gave it to Taylor for her 40th birthday. The heart-shaped diamond is inscribed with Nur Jahan’s name; catalogue history connects it traditionally with the Mughal court. Christie’s described the result as a record price for an Indian jewel at auction.
Rank #2
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4. Bulgari emerald and diamond pendant brooch
The brooch contains a 23.46-carat rectangular-cut Colombian emerald. Burton gave it to Taylor as an engagement present in 1962. Christie’s reported both a record price per carat for an emerald and a record auction price for an emerald jewel.
5. Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond ring
Forbes’ contemporary coverage reports that this ruby-and-diamond ring sold for more than $4.2 million. The same account gives a ruby result of $421,981 per carat. Because the available report does not state the exact all-in realized total, the ranking retains the “more than” wording.
Rank #3
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What the 2011 sale achieved
| Scope reported | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Jewelry collection, 269 jewels | $137,235,575 | Guinness World Records lists this Christie’s total as the most expensive jewelry collection sold at auction. |
| First evening jewelry session, 80 lots | $115.9 million | Total summarized by Guinness World Records and Forbes. |
| Broader Taylor collection | $156,756,576 | Christie’s editorial total for jewelry, fashion, decorative arts and memorabilia—not jewelry alone. |
The auction also set category records for a pearl, an emerald, an Indian jewel, ruby price per carat and colorless-diamond price per carat. The different totals are not contradictory: they describe different portions of Christie’s 2011 sale.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why these prices do not establish today’s value
An auction result proves what a buyer paid in 2011 under that sale’s conditions. It does not provide a current appraisal, an inflation-adjusted replacement cost or a guaranteed resale price. The available public record does not give a complete, authoritative post-2011 resale history for every jewel listed here, so the current owner and present market value of each piece should not be assumed. The jewels also cannot automatically be treated as a collection that remains together.
Rank #4
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“For many, there was both the desire to share in the stories behind Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic jewels and to dream of perhaps acquiring one.”
“My mother always acknowledged that she was merely the temporary custodian of the incredible things she owned.”
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