A lot of factors go into the making of a high-quality, expensive pearl necklace. Because natural pearls are extremely rare, necklaces made out of them can be extremely expensive. Below is a list of the ten most expensive pearl necklaces ever sold, and why they cost so much.
Table of Contents
- 1. La Peregrina – $11.8 Million (2011)
- 2. The Baroda Pearl Necklace – $7.1 Million (2007)
- 3. The Big Pink Pearl – $4.7 Million
- 4. The Duchess of Windsor Pearl Necklace – $4.8 Million (2007)
- 5. Untitled Four-Strand Natural Black Saltwater Pearl Necklace – $5.1 Million (2011)
- 6. The Cowdry Natural Black Pearl Necklace – $5.3 Million (2015)
- 7. The Seven-Strand “Festoon” Natural White Pearl Necklace – $9.08 Million (2013)
- 8. The Dodge Pearl Necklace via Cartier – $1.1 Million (2018)
- 9. The Cartier Natural Double-Strand Pearl Necklace – $3.7 Million (2012)
- 10. The Barbara Hutton/Marie Antoinette Single-Strand Natural Pearl Necklace – $1.47 Million (1999)
1. La Peregrina – $11.8 Million (2011)
Also called The Wanderer or The Pilgrim, this necklace used to be owned by Elizabeth Taylor, who wore it until her death. In 2011, it was sold by Christie’s Auction House, and the necklace is highlighted with rubies and diamonds, which is likely one of the reasons for its high price.
The necklace dates back to 1808 when Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, took it with him when he abdicated the throne. It went through a series of owners, mostly royalty, before it got to Elizabeth Taylor.
2. The Baroda Pearl Necklace – $7.1 Million (2007)
This beautiful necklace was originally made up of seven strands of pearls. It was owned by the Indian Maharajas of Baroda and is made up of pearls that are extremely rare. At one point, it was broken down and made into two strands with a total of 68 pearls, complete with a clasp made of real diamonds.
The sizes of the pearls range from 9.5 mm to 16 mm, and it was last sold in 2007 with a pair of pearl earrings to match.
3. The Big Pink Pearl – $4.7 Million
This necklace consists of a large 470-carat pink pearl, an exotic natural Abalone pearl, and it is highlighted with diamond swirls.
While its pink color is extraordinary, the pearl also has iridescent flashes of other colors, including lavender, green, orange, silver, and blue. Its exact origin is unknown, but the pearl itself was discovered in 1990 and the necklace can now be found in a store in Petaluma, California.
4. The Duchess of Windsor Pearl Necklace – $4.8 Million (2007)
This single-strand pearl necklace has a diamond clasp and dates back to 1929, when it was worn by Queen Mary of England. It was next given to Wallis Simpson by Edward the Duke of Windsor on the day of their marriage in 1937.
The necklace is made up of 28 creamy-white pearls that range in size from 9 mm to 16 mm, and the diamond clasp contains several emeralds as well. It was last sold in 2007 to Calvin Klein, who bought it as a gift for his wife.
5. Untitled Four-Strand Natural Black Saltwater Pearl Necklace – $5.1 Million (2011)
Made up of pearls that range from 5 mm to more than 12 mm, the necklace is a black charcoal-gray color with hints of colors such as green, teal, and silver. The strands contain 63, 69, 76, and 81 pearls, and there was nothing done to the pearls to make them the color they are.
In other words, every pearl found in this necklace is a natural color and unenhanced by anything artificial. The Swiss Gemmological Institute has already verified its authenticity.
6. The Cowdry Natural Black Pearl Necklace – $5.3 Million (2015)
The pearls on this necklace are natural black pearls that range in size from 7 mm to 11 mm, and they have overtones of colors such as green, silver, and peacock. Its original owner was Lady Pearson, the Viscountess Cowdray, and it has a diamond rectangle clasp that perfectly complements the necklace itself.
It was sold by Christie’s for $3 million, then later by Sotheby’s for a cool $5.3 million. Once you take a look at the necklace and notice its beauty, you’ll understand why it is so valuable. It is a truly exquisite necklace.
7. The Seven-Strand “Festoon” Natural White Pearl Necklace – $9.08 Million (2013)
With a length of 21 to 35 inches, this stunning natural white pearl necklace came from an unknown royal family and is made of natural pearls in a creamy-rose color.
It contains a total of 614 pearls that range in size from 5 mm to 17 mm, and it is currently the second or third-most-expensive pearl necklace in the world.
Most experts believe the pearls used to make the necklace come from the saltwater oyster species known as Pinctada radiata, which is native to the Persian Gulf.
8. The Dodge Pearl Necklace via Cartier – $1.1 Million (2018)
Thought to have originally been owned by the Russian empress Catherine the Great, this beautiful pearl necklace is now broken down into three necklaces – a one-strand, two-strand, and three-strand necklace.
The single- and double-strand necklaces have beautiful creamy-rose pearls, and the pearls contained in all three necklaces range from .05 mm to more than 10 mm in size.
The clasps on the necklaces are made out of square-cut diamonds and encased in platinum, which do a great job of highlighting the beauty of the pearls used in the necklaces.
9. The Cartier Natural Double-Strand Pearl Necklace – $3.7 Million (2012)
This double-strand pearl necklace has pearls that range in color from silver white to creamy white. There are a total of 120 pearls, and they range in size from 6.5 mm to 12 mm.
They have an amazing shine and luster, and the necklace is finished with a custom-made diamond clasp that is a total of three carats.
The shininess of the pearls is one of its most eye-catching features, especially since they have hints of other colors in them, including pink and green. This is truly an extraordinary pearl necklace well worth the price.
10. The Barbara Hutton/Marie Antoinette Single-Strand Natural Pearl Necklace – $1.47 Million (1999)
No one knows for sure what happened to the necklace from the time Marie Antoinette owned it until it was purchased for the socialite Barbara Hutton in 1933, but this beautiful necklace consists of 44 pearls that range in size from 8 mm to 16 mm.
The clasp is gorgeous and consists of a turquoise stone surrounded by diamonds, and the necklace is an eye-catcher to be sure. While other pearl necklaces are now worth more than this one, at one time it was the most expensive one in the world.
