These precious sea stones are worth millions thanks in part to their famous owners. From Marie Antoinette to Elizabeth Taylor, see the most expensive pearls in the world.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $11 Million
Image Credit: AFP via Getty Images Elizabeth Taylor’s La Peregrina pearl necklace, which was sold by Christie’s in 2011.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $11 Million
Image Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Elizabeth Taylor wearing the La Peregrina pearl necklace in 1992.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $9 Million
A seven-strand pearl necklace auctioned off by Christie’s in 2013.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $8.7 Million
Image Credit: AFP via Getty Images A ceremonial pearl necklace (chaozhu), believed to have belonged to Emperor Yongzheng, which was auctioned off by Sotheby’s in 2010.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $8.7 Million
Image Credit: Pictures From History/Universal A portrait of Emperor Yongzheng dated to the 18th century.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $7.1 Million
Image Credit: Getty Images Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III wearing the Baroda pearls in an 1887 illustration. The necklace, which was once seven strands, was sold at Christie’s in 2007.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $5.2 Million
Image Credit: AFP via Getty Images The Cowdray black pearls, which once belonged to Lady Pearson, the Viscountess Cowdray. The necklace and matching earrings were last sold by Sotheby’s in 2015.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $4.8 Million
A Cartier pearl necklace once belonging to Queen Mary, the Duchess of Windsor and Kelly Klein, which the latter sold through a Sotheby’s auction in 2007.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $4.8 Million
Image Credit: Bettmann Archive Wallis Simpson wearing the aforementioned pearl necklace in 1965.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $4.8 Million
Image Credit: Getty Images Kelly Klein, wearing the same pearl necklace, and her husband, designer Calvin Klein, in 1987.
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The World’s Most Expensive Pearls — $2.2 Million
Image Credit: Getty Images for Sotheby's A three-strand pearl necklace that belonged to Marie Antoinette. Sotheby’s auctioned off the piece in 2018.