Shirley Bassey’s ‘Baignoire’ Breaks Auction Record
Part of the Welsh singer’s extensive jewelry collection, the bathtub-shaped Cartier watch went for nearly $72,000 at Sotheby’s Paris.

The “Collection of Dame Shirley Bassey,” the award-winning Welsh singer known for her performance of “Diamonds Are Forever,” garnered €2.2 million ($2.4 million), just above its expected total of €2.1 million.
“I fell in love with jewelry when I first discovered natural pearls as an up-and-coming singer, and I bought myself my first string of pearls—the first piece of jewelry I’d ever bought,” Bassey said in a release when the auction was first announced earlier this year.
“However, I quickly graduated to my lifelong passion for diamonds, which preceded the recording of ‘Diamonds Are Forever.’ In fact, I accepted to sing the song because it rang true to me and the way I felt about diamonds then and now.”
While a number of Bassey’s diamond pieces went for hundreds of thousands of dollars at Sotheby’s Paris, it was actually the 87-year-old singer’s relatively plain watch that broke a world record.
Bassey’s Cartier “Baignoire” with a white gold case and black leather strap sold for €66,000 ($71,712), blowing away its pre-sale estimate of €1,500-€3,000 and making it the most expensive “Baignoire” ever sold at auction.
Named for its shape (“baignoire” is French for bathtub), Cartier first created this style in the early 1900s. It brought back the “Baignoire” to much fanfare at Watches & Wonders Geneva in 2023.
Other pieces from Bassey’s collection that outperformed at auction include a vintage Van Cleef & Arpels diamond cluster ring from the 1960s that Elton John gave to the singer. It sold for €48,000 ($52,071), more than three times its high estimate.
A buyer bought her bow-shaped diamond brooch from 1905 for €162,000 ($175,742), nearly five times its high estimate, while another paid €174,000 ($188,754) for the Van Cleef & Arpels emerald and diamond necklace Bassey bought herself to commemorate her first Royal Variety Performance in front of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The pre-sale estimate on that piece was €50,000-€70,000.
Held Oct. 10, Sotheby’s Paris Fine Jewels sale totaled nearly €6.5 million ($7.1 million), with more than half of the lots topping their highest pre-auction estimates.
It’s the highest total ever for a Sotheby’s jewelry sale held in Paris.
The auction broke several brand-specific records too.

Sotheby’s said a circa-1928 Cartier “Tutti Frutti” bracelet became the most valuable Cartier lot ever sold at its Paris location.
A buyer paid €480,000 ($520,487) for the piece, making it the sale’s top lot overall.
A Georges Fouquet aquamarine, onyx, and diamond brooch that went for €126,000 ($136,654) became the most valuable Georges Fouquet piece sold by Sotheby’s Paris, while the sale also set a new record for the auction house when it comes to bracelets from Van Cleef & Arpels.
A buyer paid €240,000 ($260,244) for a sapphire and diamond “Boucle” bracelet from the brand, making it the most valuable Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet ever sold at Sotheby’s Paris and the auction’s third highest-grossing lot.
The Latest

The Austin, Texas, jeweler’s new 11,000-square-foot store is set to open this summer.

The rapper and singer-songwriter will perform at Tao Beach on June 8.

“Conversations with Chris Ploof” covers tips for men buying wedding bands, behind-the-scenes footage of Ploof in his studio, and more.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

As lab-grown diamond brands pop up across India, academics are researching how to grow demand outside of the jewelry industry.


The moves are part of the retailer’s new turnaround plan, “Grow Brand Love,” which also includes emphasizing brand loyalty over store banners.

The “Rush Hour” campaign stars Zoë Kravitz in bold, wearable pieces designed to make a statement in the workplace.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

Breitling is reviving Gallet, which was founded in 1826 and is known for making watches used in the early days of long-distance travel.

The American Gem Society now offers a Jewelry Evaluation Advisor designation as well as an updated Certified Sales Associate designation.

Rebecca Zeijdel-Paz created more than 75 new pieces for the residency, which will be on display at Trove’s store in New York through April.

Smith explores why a qualified candidate might still not be right for the job.

The company and its marketing agency, Loudr, were recognized for the “Make You Dance” marketing campaign.

The “Series8” and “Attesa” collections will be grouped under Citizen Premier.

David Fager, a former systems engineer at the retailer, was promoted to the role.

From retailers to designers and the media, the fine jewelry industry recognized one another’s work and looked to the future.

Eleanor H. Yeh is the recipient of the eighth annual Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design.

Joseph Cavalcante takes on the dual role as the Spanish jewelry brand looks to expand further into the U.S. market.

The trade show has also upgraded its venue to the Caesars Forum Conference Center.

The Dayton-based jeweler, which has been in business since 1985, was formerly known as Stafford Jewelers.

Reeds Jewelers CEO Alan Zimmer will be presented with the honor at JVC’s annual luncheon.

The piece, celebrating birthdays from March 21 to April 19, debuted with Sorellina’s new line of astrological pendants.

The Indian jewelry brand recently opened stores in Atlanta and Seattle.

CEO Beth Gerstein shared its most popular price points, what’s trending in non-bridal fine jewelry, and its holiday performance.

The 15 pieces were crafted from the “Insofu” emerald, discovered in Zambia in 2010.

Chris Anderson is joining the insurance provider as the new chief financial officer and treasurer.

Jewelers of America is distributing a brochure for retailers to use when discussing the differences between natural and lab-grown diamonds.