Shirley Bassey's Diamonds Aren't Quite Forever
May 08, 24
(IDEX Online) - Shirley Bassey, who has sold 140m records in her 70-year career, is to auction diamond jewelry and other items from her extensive collection for charity.
The 87-year-old Welsh singer (pictured) was the voice of three James Bond theme songs (Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker) and was appointed a dame by the Queen in 1999 for services to the performing arts.
Items she collected throughout her career will be sold at Sotheby's Paris on 10 October.
Among the highlights are a diamond necklace (estimate $290,000 to $344,000), a diamond and gold parure created by Cartier (estimate $215,000 to $269,000), a yellow diamond ring ($177,000 to $215,000), an emerald and diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels ($65,000 to $75,000) and an aquamarine, sapphire, diamond and gem set ($65,000 to $75,000).
"Collecting jewellery for me is like collecting memories, and this collection is full of them. All the pieces are meaningful and have a story to tell, whether I bought them for myself, or they were gifted to me," said Dame Shirley.
Among the highlights, she said, was a 1960s vintage Van Cleef & Arpels ring covered in white diamonds that Elton John gave her after she sang at one of his AIDS Gala evenings.