World record price for Shirley Bassey’s jewellery collection at Paris auction

Dame Shirley Bassey’s jewellery collection has smashed a world record in a Paris auction with all of the lots belonging to the singer selling for a collective price of €2.2 million (£1.8 million).
The 87-year-old singer’s plain ladies’ Cartier Baignoire gold wristwatch sold for a world record price of €66,000 (£54,976), 22 times its €1,500-€3,000 estimate.
Her vintage 1960s Van Cleef and Arpels diamond ring with brilliant-cut diamonds, which was given to her by Elton John, sold for €48,000 (£39,995), more than three times its estimate of between €10,000-€15,000
A Van Cleef and Arpels emerald and diamond necklace, bought by Dame Shirley to commemorate her first Royal Variety Performance in front of Queen Elizabeth sold for €174,000 (£144,985), more than double its estimate of between €50,000-€70,000.
A vintage diamond brooch from about 1905 also sold for €162,000 (£134,991), almost five times its estimate of between €26,000-€35,000.
The collection was part of the Sotheby’s Fine Jewels biannual sale, with proceeds benefiting Dame Shirley’s chosen charities.
Dame Shirley began her singing career in 1953 and is best-known for singing three James Bond theme songs in Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.
She began collecting jewellery before her singing career took off.
Speaking before the auction, she said: “I fell in love with jewellery 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 jewellery I’d ever bought.
“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.”
She is the only singer to have recorded more than one 007 theme, and was the first Welsh singer to achieve a UK number one single in 1959, with As I Love You.
Dame Shirley went on to have 12 UK top 10 singles and eight UK top 10 albums.