Pearls are a flawless classic, the perfect gemstone beyond age and style. Here are five of the most luxurious and expensive pearl necklaces ever auctioned.
Coco Chanel once said, "A woman needs ropes and pearl ropes."
Who are we to argue with a legend? Odes were sung to pearls, they dived into the depths of the sea for it, they gave their lives for it. We offer to admire pearl jewelry, which today are the most valuable and desirable.
Nameless sea pearl necklace - $5,1 million
A magnificent necklace with a luxurious diamond clasp is not just one of the five most expensive pearl necklaces in the world. It became the most expensive natural colored pearl necklace ever sold at auction.
Natural Black Pearl Cowdray Necklace - $5,3M
The beauty of the natural black Cowdray pearl necklace continues to amaze the world so much that in just 3 years between the sale of the jewelry, it broke its own record, adding $ 2 million in price. A beautiful single strand necklace with 42 Tahitian sea pearls sold for US$5,3 million at Sotheby's in Hong Kong.
Baroda pearl necklace - $7,1 million
The Baroda necklace is made from 68 cream and soft pink pearls and is finished with a Cartier diamond clasp. Previously, the piece sold $3,13 million and broke its own record in the latest auction, selling for $7,1 million at Christie's in New York.
7-strand pearl garland necklace - $9,08 million
A stunning collection of 614 magnificent pearls with a diameter of 5,1 to 17,05 mm is located on 7 strong threads. The necklace is adorned with a platinum and white gold clasp set with diamonds. With a price tag of $ 9 million, it takes an honorable second place.
La Peregrina necklace - $11,8 million
It is difficult to say whether La Peregrina is one of the most expensive pearl necklaces in the world because of the 50,6 carat pearl or because it belonged to the famous Elizabeth Taylor. The actress received the piece as a Valentine's Day gift from her husband, Richard Burton. Previously, the necklace belonged to the royal family of Spain, and then to the Duke of Abercorn.
The La Peregrina necklace remained in the family collection for nearly a century until Burton bought it at auction in 1969 for $37. In December 000, the piece was sold as part of the Elizabeth Taylor collection and fetched $2011 million at Christie's in New York.
Marie Antoinette's pendant - $36,16 million
Topping our list is Marie Antoinette's 18th century pearl and diamond pendant, which was sold in 2018 by Sotheby's for $36,16 million, setting a new record for natural pearls.
It is believed that the pendant was among the jewels that were packed under the cover of night in 1791 as the king and queen prepared to escape from the besieged Tuileries Palace and the armed revolutionaries surrounding them. From Paris, carefully hidden jewels were sent first to Brussels and then to Vienna for safekeeping by the Austrian emperor, Marie Antoinette's nephew.
It is noteworthy that, according to preliminary estimates of experts, the expected sale price was 1-2 million dollars.
