Eight of the 150 lots in Bonhams’ London Jewels auction this Thursday, Dec. 5, were owned by actress Joan Collins, famous as the often bejeweled Alexis Carrington Colby on the 1980s hit TV series Dynasty.
“We’re proud to present a selection of jewels from the collection of Dame Joan Collins, which includes three of her cherished pieces by Buccellati, all set with diamonds and colored gems,” said Kate Flitcroft, co-head of Bonhams’ U.K. jewelry department, in a statement.
Leading the sale is a five-strand pearl necklace with ruby and diamond floral accents (pictured above), estimated at $190,000 to $320,000, or £150,000–£250,000. The necklace has natural pearls 5.55 mm to 9.85 mm in size, as well as approximately 12 cts. t.w. old brilliant-cut, single-cut, and baguette diamonds and one unheated Burmese ruby.
“Our London Jewels sale features several single-owner collections of antique and signed 20th-century jewels,” said Flitcroft. “Other highlights include a 19th-century sapphire and diamond necklace and a circa 1830s light pink diamond ring with a charming heart-shaped diamond surround.
“Striking private collections of postwar pieces by Grima and Kutchinsky also feature, alongside a wide variety of jewels by coveted names such as Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, Giuliano, Lalaounis, Lalique, Mauboussin, Masriera, Sterlé, and Van Cleef & Arpels,” Flitcroft added.
Collins’ jewels in the auction also include a circa 1970 dioptase brooch, sapphire and diamond earclips, and a Charles Oudin diamond-set watch sold by Fred Leighton. The London-born actress was appointed OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1997 in recognition of her artistic achievements, and her dedication to philanthropy earned her the title of DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2015.
Collins made her stage debut at age 9 and her first British film by 17. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, she was under contract at 20th Century Fox, appearing in several films in the 1950s. Her television appearances include Star Trek, Batman, Mission: Impossible, The Love Boat, Roseanne, Will & Grace, and American Horror Story. In the early ’90s, Collins starred in a revival of Noel Coward’s Private Lives on Broadway and the West End. She is also the author of multiple novels and lifestyle books, and is a passionate advocate for charitable causes centered on empowering women, supporting children, and strengthening families.
The London Jewels sale will take place at Bonhams’ New Bond Street flagship in the heart of Mayfair.
(Photos courtesy of Bonhams)
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