Italian Actress Claudia Cardinale’s Jewels to Star at Christie’s

Christie’s will exhibit and sell jewels that belonged to Italian actress Claudia Cardinale at its upcoming Paris online auction.

Highlights from her collection include a Bulgari Serpenti bracelet watch from around 1965, featuring blue and white enamel and pear-shaped sapphires as eyes, which carries a high estimate of EUR 250,000 ($290,893). It will be on offer along with approximately 20 other lots that belonged to Cardinale as part of the June 19 to 26 Joaillerie Paris sale, Christie’s said last week.

Among the actress’s jewels is a Bulgari ring centering an oval cabochon ruby in a round and marquise-shaped diamond frame, with an upper price of EUR 100,000 ($116,357). Another Bulgari ring, this one sporting a cabochon sapphire between marquise-shaped diamonds, is likely to fetch up to EUR 80,000 ($93,092). Meanwhile, a Bulgari Trombino ring bearing an oval cabochon emerald and round and baguette-cut diamonds also has an upper price of EUR 80,000 ($93,092).

Cardinale, who died last year, was known for her elegance and beauty. She had prominent roles in Italian and French movies, including 1961’s Girl with a Suitcase. She also featured in the English-language The Pink Panther in 1963. Founded in Rome in 1884, Bulgari was one of the Italian actress’s favorite brands, both on film-festival red carpets and in her private life.

“These pieces of jewelry reflect her most essential, personal and intimate choices,” Christie’s said. “[She was] passionate about both fashion and style, and an icon of Italian glamour.”

Christie’s will exhibit the jewelry collection in Geneva from May 7 to 13 and in Paris from June 16 to 26.

Image: A Bulgari Serpenti bracelet watch (left), Claudia Cardinale (middle), a Bulgari ring centering an oval cabochon ruby (right). (Christie’s)