Dame Shirley Bassey’s collection of jewels stole the show at an auction in Paris, breaking global records with total sales racking up to a staggering €2.2 million (£1.8 million). The entirety of the lots present in this sale belonged to the esteemed singer.
At the tender age of 87, her simplistic ladies’ timepiece from Cartier Baignoire in solid gold achieved a never-before-seen price of €66,000 (£54,976), skyrocketing past its initial estimated value of €1,500-€3,000.
An exquisite gift from Sir Elton John—a 1960s Van Cleef and Arpels diamond ring outfitted with brilliant-cut diamonds—amassed a sum of €48,000 (£39,995), multiplying considerably beyond its anticipated value of €10,000-€15,000.
Notably, a Van Cleef and Arpels diamond-tied emerald necklace, a memento from Dame Shirley’s debut performance at the Royal Variety in honour of Queen Elizabeth, went for €174,000 (£144,985)—over twice its predicated worth of €50,000-€70,000.
Additionally, a roughly century-old diamond brooch was sold off at the handsome amount of €162,000 (£134,991), vastly surpassing its predicted range of €26,000-€35,000.
The auction was a segment of the biannual sale of Sotheby’s Fine Jewels, where the proceeds were passed onto charities selected by Dame Shirley herself.
Launching her singing profession in 1953, she is revered for delivering three iconic themes for James Bond movies—Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker. Her jewellery collecting hobby had its onset prior to her rising fame in the music industry.
She admitted her strong affection for jewels, recalling her first encounter with natural pearls in her early singing days. This alluded her to splurge on her first pearl necklace, marking her initial investment in jewellery. Despite this, she shared that she soon transitioned her preference to diamonds—a love she cultivated before Diamonds Are Forever was recorded.
The tune resonated with her interest in diamonds, she revealed. Dame Shirley holds a unique spot as the sole artist who has recorded multiple James Bond themes. She pioneered a breakthrough as the initial Welsh artist with a UK number one single in 1959 with ‘As I Love You’. Dame Shirley’s portfolio also boasts of 12 UK Top 10 singles and eight UK Top 10 albums.