Two rare pieces of jewellery once owned by Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor could sell for up to £200,000 according to a leading expert.
The pieces, offered for sale at Prestige Pawnbrokers’ Chelsea store, include an Art Deco Cartier diamond and onyx watch dating back to around 1925, alongside an aquamarine and diamond necklace and matching earrings by jewellery designer Lynn Nakamura.
James Constantinou, founder of Prestige Pawnbrokers and star of Channel 4’s Posh Pawn, said it was an extraordinary find.
James said: “We see some incredible pieces of jewellery coming through our doors, but it’s not every day you have something that once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor.
“She had one of the most extraordinary jewellery collections in the world, and to have two pieces from that collection brought into our Chelsea store is something really special.
“These are beautiful pieces, but the fact they belonged to Elizabeth Taylor makes them even more desirable to collectors.”
The aquamarine and diamond necklace and earrings are currently valued at £85,000, while the Cartier watch is valued at £45,000.
However, James believes the two pieces could sell for as much as £200,000 combined because of their rarity and connection to the Hollywood icon.
James said: “What makes these pieces so interesting is that you’re not just buying a Cartier watch or a beautiful set of aquamarine jewellery. You’re buying something with an extraordinary history behind it.”
The Cartier watch features a silver dial surrounded by rose-cut diamonds, with black onyx and diamond links connecting it to a black silk strap.
The Lynn Nakamura set features a cushion-cut aquamarine, platinum chains and diamonds, accompanied by matching drop earrings.
Both pieces were part of Taylor’s personal jewellery collection, which attracted worldwide attention when it was sold following her passing in 2011.
James said: “The Cartier watch is around 100 years old, and it’s a beautiful example of Art Deco jewellery.
“The aquamarine set is equally striking, and both pieces are very different from the sort of jewellery people tend to associate with Elizabeth Taylor.
“For someone who collects rare jewellery or Hollywood memorabilia, having that direct connection to Elizabeth Taylor is a huge part of the appeal.
“I would expect pieces like these to attract plenty of interest because you don’t often get the chance to own something with this sort of history.”
Constantinou currently runs eight Prestige Pawnbrokers stores across the country. The business, which brought a premium approach to the traditional pawnbroking industry, has become a multi-million-pound enterprise.
TV show Posh Pawn ran for seven series, giving viewers a fly-on-the-wall view of James’ revolutionary take on high-end pawnbroking and the astonishing items he was offered, from a mini submarine, planes and yachts to a Swarovski crystal drum kit used on a Kylie Minogue tour.
