Audrey Hepburn’s Famous Pearl Necklace From ‘Roman Holiday’ Is Heading to Auction
Not many, if any, could emulate the beauty and grace Audrey Hepburn showcased in Roman Holiday, but one collector will soon be able to model the same jewelry she did in the film.
The elegant pearl necklace the late British actress wore in William Wyler’s 1953 classic is heading to auction next month. Created by Fürst, the piece is expected to fetch between roughly $19,900 and $29,000 (CHF 18,000–26,000) during Christie’s Jewels Online: The Geneva Edit sale in November.
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Moric Fürst opened his atelier in Turin, Italy, in the 1850s, becoming a leading jeweler for the Savoyard court. His family later opened stores in Rome, Genoa, and Milan, cementing Fürst as a household name in the post-war period. As its popularity grew, the jeweler began handcrafting custom designs for well-heeled clients and Hollywood royalty.
This particular pearl collier can be spotted on Hepburn’s neck in the final scene of Roman Holiday. The film, which follows a young Princess Ann on a journey of self-discovery in Rome, features many exquisite costumes and jewelry designs. Hepburn, who later won an Academy Award for her portrayal of the princess, sported an assortment of regal tiaras, necklaces, and earrings in the flick that only heightened her natural elegance.
The actress had many iconic jewelry moments throughout her career, of course, such as rocking that famous five-row pearl choker in the first scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s or wearing a diamond Cartier necklace as a tiara in a publicity photo for Funny Face.
Hepburn was fond of jewelry in real life, too. She often wore simple, single-strand pearl necklaces and pearl stud earrings, perfectly reflecting her philosophy that “elegance is the only beauty that never fades.”
Jewels Online: The Geneva Edit will take place from November 3 to 16. The sale will include an array of rarities by the likes of Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, and Boucheron, as well as an exceptional private collection of gold nuggets. Bidding opens in four days.
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