Gina Lollobrigida's Earrings, 74 Carat Yellow Diamond Set Records at Sotheby's

Screen legend Gina Lollobrigida may have turned heads during her days as a sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s, but her jewels—including a 74 ct. yellow diamond that once belonged to a Persian Shah—were the center of attention at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva on May 14.

Lollobrigida’s collection sold for a total of $4.96 million, led by pair of natural pearl and diamond pendant earrings that fetched $2.39 million, setting an auction record for natural pearl ear pendants. The earrings beat the price paid for a pair of Elizabeth Taylor’s pearl earrings in 2011. A Bulgari diamond necklace and bracelet combination that Lollobrigida wore while accepting her 1961 Golden Globe sold for $783,851.

1964 natural pearl and diamond earrings

1954 diamond necklace/bracelet

A 74.53 ct. cushion shaped fancy yellow diamond formerly in the collection of the Persian Shah, Ahmed Shah Qajar, earned $2.9 million, setting an auction record for a fancy yellow diamond and a record price per carat for a fancy yellow diamond ($40,061 per carat).

74.53 ct. cushion shaped fancy yellow diamond

Other highlights of the sale included:

A 27.90 ct. cushion modified brilliant-cut D color diamond mounted on a ring sold for $4.45 million.

A 6.93 ct. brilliant-cut light pink diamond necklace, with two circular-cut diamonds—a 34.78 ct. diamond with an 11.38 ct. briolette diamond—sold for $2.39 million.