AuctionsDec 18, 2024
Alexandrite Ring Sells for Record-Setting $1.9M at Sotheby’sAuctionsJan 31, 2025
Elizabeth Taylor’s Diamond Bracelet Outshines Estimate at U.K. Auction
The auction also featured the sale of a Cartier necklace made when Egyptomania was sweeping Great Britain.
This yellow diamond line bracelet (left), which Michael Jackson gifted to Elizabeth Taylor, sold for $147,480 at Woolley & Wallis’ recent jewelry sale, while the Cartier necklace seen at right sold for $85,218. (Photos courtesy of Woolley & Wallis).
Salisbury, England—A diamond line bracelet that once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor, gifted to her by Michael Jackson, sold for £118,750 ($147,480) Thursday at a jewelry auction in the United Kingdom.
Auction house Woolley & Wallis said the piece, which was estimated to sell for £50,000 to £70,000 (approximately $61,000-$86,000), attracted competitive bidding both on the phones and online, ultimately going to a phone bidder.
Said to be one of the Oscar-winning actress’ favorite pieces, the bracelet features 27 graduated step-cut yellow diamonds.
“It was a strong sale, and we are delighted that many pieces exceeded their higher estimates, demonstrating that high quality jewelry is still in demand and the market is buoyant,” said Marielle Whiting, jewelry specialist at Woolley & Wallis.
Related stories will be right here …
Auction house Woolley & Wallis said the piece, which was estimated to sell for £50,000 to £70,000 (approximately $61,000-$86,000), attracted competitive bidding both on the phones and online, ultimately going to a phone bidder.
Said to be one of the Oscar-winning actress’ favorite pieces, the bracelet features 27 graduated step-cut yellow diamonds.
“It was a strong sale, and we are delighted that many pieces exceeded their higher estimates, demonstrating that high quality jewelry is still in demand and the market is buoyant,” said Marielle Whiting, jewelry specialist at Woolley & Wallis.
Also featured in the sale was an Art Deco necklace from a limited-edition Cartier collection of Egyptian Revival pieces.
The piece, featuring rubies and diamonds, sold for £68,750 ($85,218), more than twice its highest pre-sale estimate of £30,000 (approximately $37,189).
The necklace was rediscovered after being privately owned for a century.
The Cartier necklace features a pendant pavé set with circular-cut diamonds holding an abstract floral arrangement of cabochon rubies mounted in platinum and gold. It hangs from a chain of black onyx beads.
In their research, specialists from Woolley & Wallis matched the pendant to a Cartier necklace from a 1920s print ad for the special collection.
The jeweler had created the pieces in reaction to the wave of Egyptomania sweeping Great Britain at that time, the auction house said.
Two years earlier, British archaeologist Howard Carter had discovered of the tomb of Tutankhamun, the famous ancient Egyptian pharaoh better known as King Tut, inspiring interest in Ancient Egypt.
The ad ran alongside information about the discovery in a January 1924 edition of The Illustrated London News.
The specialists confirmed the necklace bore the same Cartier Londres signature and a similar number sequence (S.L7352) as two other pieces from the same ad that went up for auction in New York in 2013 (S.L7358 and S.L7353).
In the ad, the necklace features an Egyptian faience figurine of Nefertem. The distinctive U-shaped base with hooked motifs at each side was designed to resemble the silhouette of the beaded usekh necklaces that adorn mummies and sarcophagi, the auction house said.
While the pendant in the ad shows the necklace set with a figurine of Nefertem, the one offered at the U.K. auction features an abstract floral arrangement.
There are many reasons Cartier may have changed it, the auction house said, but it could have been an effort to tone down the Egyptian influence as desire for the style dissipated.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
CrimeNov 12, 2026
1 of 7 Men Charged in $100M Brinks Heist to Plead GuiltyThree of the other alleged perpetrators will stand trial next March, while two remain on the lam and one was deported late last year.
WatchesNov 12, 2026
Zadok Jewelers Now Offers Certified Pre-Owned Rolex WatchesThe curated selection is available online and at its showroom in Austin, Texas.
IndependentsNov 12, 2026
Greenberg’s Jewelers Welcomes New Fourth-Generation MembersThe next generation understands what makes the 126-year-old retailer special, said CEO and Co-President Elise Greenberg.
Brought to you by
DSF Antique Jewelry: Fine Jewelry, Signed Designers, and a World of Rare DiscoveriesWith over 50 years experience in the trade, DSF Antique Jewelry offers quality, craftsmanship, condition, and remarkable variety.
Lab-GrownNov 10, 2026
GIA Examines Pink Lab-Grown Diamond Made to Look NaturalThe 6-carat CVD-grown pink diamond was “deliberately modified” to mimic the appearance of a natural rough diamond, the lab said.
Weekly QuizNov 12, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingNov 10, 2026
Botswana in Line to Take Controlling Stake in De Beers, President Says If the Global Diamond Consortium emerges as the top bidder for De Beers, Botswana’s stake will double to 30 percent, Duma Boko said Monday.
ColumnistsNov 10, 2026
Who Checks the Facts When AI Writes Your Jewelry Copy?An incorrect AI-generated ad or product description can cost your store valuable consumer trust.
Brought to you by
How Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Makes Custom Engagement Ring Design Easier to SellWith customization becoming more expected in engagement ring shopping, the Bridal Builder makes the process tangible.
Events & AwardsNov 09, 2026
Here Are the 2027 Gem Award NomineesThese nine individuals and brands are up for a Gem Award in the Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation categories.
CrimeNov 09, 2026
Jeweler Pistol-Whipped, $900K in Jewelry Stolen During Home Invasion The incident, which happened in Miami-Dade County, serves as a reminder to jewelers of the dangers of selling and storing jewelry at home.
GradingNov 09, 2026
GIA Acquires Thousands of Gem Specimens With ‘Extraordinary’ InclusionsGIA Analytical Microscopist John Koivula curated the collection of 2,665 crystals, gems, and minerals over a 60-year span.
CollectionsNov 09, 2026
Bibi van der Velden’s Alligators Become High JewelryThe “Eclipse” collection, the brand’s first high jewelry line, centers its alligator motif in diamond and spinel jewels.
EditorsNov 06, 2026
The Spectrum Pieces I Can’t Stop Thinking AboutFrom a Betta fish brooch to a “dragon’s trove” of zircon eggs, here are seven pieces that’ve stuck with Associate Editor Lauren McLemore.
TrendsNov 06, 2026
Pat Pruitt’s DragonFly Earrings Take Flight on Election NightGroundbreaking New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland wore the earrings, our Piece of the Week, when she declared victory on Tuesday.
MajorsNov 06, 2026
SNL’s Colin Jost Finds the Perfect Gift in Kay Jewelers’ Holiday AdJost goes on an epic journey, traversing rough seas and encountering a cyclops, to discover the perfect holiday gift.
Supplier BulletinNov 05, 2026
Winning With GCAL 8X®: What’s Working at the CounterSponsored by GCAL by Sarine
SurveysNov 05, 2026
What Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearFrom shrinking budgets to AI elves, here are five takeaways from holiday reports by Bain, Adobe, Mastercard, NRF, and insights from YouGov.
CollectionsNov 05, 2026
Judi Powers, Russell Jones Unleash Joy With New CollaborationThe designers combined their talents for Little Pet Portraits, hand-painted miniatures of our best friends set in a piece of jewelry.
FinancialsNov 05, 2026
Brilliant Earth Continued to Resonate With High-Income Shoppers in Q3Its non-bridal fine jewelry remains the star of the show, recently launching new collections inspired by Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Goodall.
MajorsNov 05, 2026
Ariana Grande Stars In Swarovski’s Holiday Campaign“Joy: The Swarovski Musical” features Ariana Grande as the leading lady in scenes inspired by classic musical montages.
GradingNov 05, 2026
GIA to Offer Next-Day Holiday ServicesThe lab will bring back its complimentary next-day service for some reports starting next week.
CrimeNov 04, 2026
$250K+ in Undeclared Cartier Jewelry Seized at Philadelphia AirportA Pennsylvania woman failed to declare a ring and a bracelet, discarding the boxes and receipts to conceal the purchases, officials said.
FinancialsNov 04, 2026
Pandora’s Q3 Sales Up 7% Amid Focus on DesignNew collections and relevant marketing pushed the company forward, while Pandora’s lab-grown diamond sales continue to lag.
Events & AwardsNov 04, 2026
NYC Jewelry Week 2026 Is the Largest Edition YetThe citywide celebration, slated for Nov. 16-22, is set to host more than 175 events, including live jewelry-making demos.
MajorsNov 04, 2026
Bergdorf Goodman Names New PresidentLanessa Elrod, former president and CEO of Louis Vuitton Americas, has stepped into the role as the retailer celebrates 125 years.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Longtime Jewelry Marketer Arthur Klein Dies at 89Klein, who had his own marketing agency and worked for Gabriel & Co. and Trans American Diamond, is remembered as a kind man.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Zadok Jewelers Toasts To 50 Years With Diamond Bracelet GiveawayTo enter the giveaway, locals can purchase a featured beverage from one of eight participating restaurants in Houston and Austin, Texas.
