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.

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.

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).

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.
The Latest

The “Impermanence” collection contemplates nature through the Japanese art of Ikebana (flower arranging) and philosophy of wabi-sabi.

The Texas-based jewelry retailer has set up shop in Tennessee and Arizona.

Eric Ford will step into the role, bringing with him decades of experience.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

In addition to improved capabilities, the acquisition will allow the jeweler to offer support to other independent jewelers.


The “Celestial Blue” capsule collection campaign features Olympian Kateryna Sadurska.

The seasonal store, located in Mykonos, Greece, offers exclusive events, personal styling, and curated experiences.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

The New England jeweler is hosting a bridal event for the month of August.

The trade-only event will host its debut fair in the Emerald City later this month.

Its sessions will focus on inventory strategies, staff performance, retention and acquisition, emerging market trends, and more.

For its 10th anniversary, Miseno designed the “Arco” earrings based on the Arco Felice, an arch conceptualized in A.D. 95 in Miseno, Italy.

The jewelry company is one of several contributing to relief efforts in the region after the recent floods.

Inspired by fiancé Sid Wilson’s nickname for her, the white and yellow diamond ring features a unique honeycomb design.

The brand is marking its 50th anniversary with a limited-edition bangle, high jewelry suites, new collections, and more.

Goldfarb said changes in the industry, coupled with his age and the updates needed to modernize his business, drove his decision.

Longtime LVMH executive Michael Burke has stepped into the role.

Central topics of next week’s event include climate action, labor rights, artisan preservation, and value retention in producing countries.

Vickie Rokkos has joined the jewelry company as its new national sales director of North America.

Turbulence will be the new baseline for luxury as it faces its biggest potential setbacks in 15 years, a recent report said.

Sponsored by Rio Grande Jewelry Supply

The “For the Love of Fruits” collection features five fruit pendants, each holding a different meaning.

Diamonds and crimes (some involving diamonds) top the list of National Jeweler’s most popular stories halfway through the year.

They discovered “The Dash Diamond,” named for their dog, at the Crater of Diamonds State Park earlier this month.

The “Les Pétales” collection imagines roses caught mid-bloom as a tribute to nature’s beauty.

Luxury brands charge thousands for their shoes and handbags. Jewelers pricing diamond products should take note, Peter Smith writes.

Rotenberg was an active member of the American Gem Society and an accomplished appraiser who also worked with therapy dogs at a hospital.