The most expensive piece of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry was La Peregrina, a pearl necklace that sold for $11.8 million at Christie’s New York in December 2011. The two-day sale brought in about $137 million in total, with the first evening alone taking $115.9 million for 80 lots.
Taylor died on March 23, 2011, and her collection went under the hammer nine months later. We ranked the lots by price realized, including the buyer’s premium.
| Rank | Piece | Price at Christie’s (2011) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Peregrina Necklace | $11.8 million |
| 2 | Taj Mahal Diamond Necklace | $8.8 million |
| 3 | The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond Ring | $8.8 million |
| 4 | Bulgari Emerald Pendant Brooch | $6.6 million |
| 5 | The 16-Emerald Necklace | $6.1 million |
| 6 | Sapphire and Diamond Sautoir Necklace | $5.9 million |
| 7 | Ruby and Diamond Ring | $4.2 million |
| 8 | Diamond Tiara | $4.2 million |
| 9 | Birthday Emerald Bracelet | $4 million |
| 10 | Ruby and Diamond Necklace | $3.8 million |
| 11 | Bulgari Emerald Ring | Around $3.3 million |
| 12 | Matching Emerald Earrings | $3.2 million |
| 13 | Bulgari Natural Pearl Ear Pendants | Just under $2 million |
| 14 | Flower Brooch from the Emerald Suite | Roughly $1.5 million (our estimate) |
| 15 | Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor Wedding Bands | About $1 million |
1. La Peregrina Necklace: $11.8 million
The pearl at the center is about 50 carats, and it is the most famous natural pearl in the world. Richard Burton bought it for Taylor in 1969 for $37,000, and the piece is a Cartier necklace that pairs the pearl with diamonds, rubies and cultured pearls.
It sold for $11,842,500, far above its pre-sale estimate and a world auction record for a pearl.
Prices realized include the buyer’s premium.
2. Taj Mahal Diamond Necklace: $8.8 million
A Mughal diamond dated to around 1627, inscribed with the name of Nur Jahan, hanging on a Cartier gold and ruby chain. Burton gave it to Taylor for her 40th birthday. At $8,818,500 it set a record for an Indian jewel.
It tied with the Taylor diamond below to the dollar.
3. The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond Ring: $8.8 million
A 33.19 carat diamond that fetched $8,818,500. It set a record price per carat for a colorless diamond, and it went to a private buyer in Asia.
4. Bulgari Emerald Pendant Brooch: $6.6 million
A Bulgari piece with a 23.46 carat emerald, which sold for $6,578,500 and set a record for an emerald jewel. It belongs to the Bulgari emerald suite, and the whole suite brought in close to $25 million.
5. The 16-Emerald Necklace: $6.1 million
Burton gave Taylor this necklace as a wedding gift in 1964. It has 16 graduated emeralds and sold for $6,130,500.
6. Sapphire and Diamond Sautoir Necklace: $5.9 million
An Art Deco gift from Burton for her 40th birthday, the long Bulgari sautoir centers on a 52.72 carat sugarloaf cabochon sapphire. It realized $5,906,500.
7. Ruby and Diamond Ring: $4.2 million
A Van Cleef & Arpels ring with an 8.24 carat ruby, a gift from Burton, which sold for $4,226,500.
8. Diamond Tiara: $4.2 million
Mike Todd gave Taylor this antique diamond tiara, and she wore it to the 1957 Academy Awards. It made $4,226,500, the same figure as the ruby ring above.
9. Birthday Emerald Bracelet: $4 million
This Bulgari emerald suite bracelet was Burton’s gift for her 35th birthday in 1967. It sold for $4,002,500.
10. Ruby and Diamond Necklace: $3.8 million
A Cartier ruby set from Mike Todd, a gift in 1957, which made $3,778,500.
11. Bulgari Emerald Ring: Around $3.3 million
The suite’s ring is reported at around $3.3 million. Figures for this lot vary between sources, so treat it as approximate.
12. Matching Emerald Earrings: $3.2 million
The matching earrings sold for $3,218,500. With the other pieces, they carried the suite past $23 million.
13. Bulgari Natural Pearl Ear Pendants: Just under $2 million
Another Bulgari design, a pair of natural pearl ear pendants, sold for just under $2 million and set a record for that kind of pearl jewelry. It is a quieter lot than the emeralds, but the pearls are the rarest thing in the suite.
14. Flower Brooch from the Emerald Suite: Roughly $1.5 million
The last piece of the same suite is a flower brooch. We estimate it at roughly $1.5 million, working back from the reported total for the whole suite. Treat that as our estimate, not a printed result.
15. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor Wedding Bands: About $1 million
The plain gold bands are reported at about $1 million, many times what plain gold bands would normally fetch. They are the cheapest piece here and the one with the least glitter, and they are priced mostly for the love story.
FAQ
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s most expensive piece of jewelry?
La Peregrina, the pearl necklace, sold for $11,842,500 at Christie’s in 2011. It was a world record for a pearl.
How much did the Elizabeth Taylor collection sell for?
The jewelry totaled about $137.2 million over two days in December 2011, with $115.9 million on the first evening and $21.3 million on the second.
How much did the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond sell for?
The 33.19 carat diamond sold for $8,818,500, a record price per carat for a colorless diamond.
Who bought Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels?
Mostly private bidders. The Taylor diamond went to a buyer in Asia, and Christie’s did not disclose most other buyers.
Where was the sale held?
At Christie’s New York on December 13 and 14, 2011.
Was the total $156 million or $137 million?
Both figures are reported. About $137.2 million is the jewelry sale alone, while the wider Taylor collection of jewelry, fashion, art and memorabilia brought in roughly $157 million.
How we put this list together
We ranked the pieces by price realized at Christie’s New York in December 2011, including the buyer’s premium. Where a lot appeared in only one place, we say so in the entry.
The inputs were auction results, the house’s reported totals and trade coverage of the sale. These are hammer-plus-premium prices from the sale itself, not valuations.
Last updated: October 2026.
