Claudia Cardinale's jewels up for auction at Christie's

Claudia Cardinale's jewels are going

up for auction: 24 precious pieces worn several times by the

unforgettable Angelica from The Leopard are on sale online at

Christie's until June 26.

Cardinale died last September at the age of 87 in Nemours,

France.

Most of the jewels were given to her in the 1960s by her

then-husband, film producer Franco Cristaldi, who had chosen her

for I Soliti Ignoti in 1958.

The auction includes creations by Bulgari, Cartier, and Van

Cleef & Arpels, reflecting the elegance, wit, and glamour of one

of the most celebrated stars in cinema history.

Like other actresses of the same period—Anna Magnani, Gina

Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Monica Vitti—she was particularly

attached to Bulgari, a symbol of postwar Italian glamour.

Some jewels have a direct connection to cinema: for The Pink

Panther, Van Cleef & Arpels created a hair ornament specifically

for Cardinale, intended for the character of Princess Dala.

Claudia loved jewelry with a strong personality, says

Christie's: among them the famous Bulgari "Serpenti" enamel and

sapphire bracelet watch, made de rigueur for the divas of La

Dolce Vita after Elizabeth Taylor wore hers to the filming of

Cleopatra at Cinecittà in 1962.

"Acting was my mother's passport to the world," her daughter

Claudia Squitieri told Christie's.

"She traveled everywhere to promote her films, from New York to

Tokyo, carrying her favorite jewelry because she didn't believe

in the 'I wore it once, I'll never wear it again' philosophy. I

love the fact that she wore the same jewelry her entire life: it

shows that it had a special meaning for her," she added.

There are photos of Claudia Cardinale wearing the same emerald

and diamond necklace in Rome in 1970, in Los Angeles in 1976,

and in Cannes in 1987.

"Over the years, the jewelry became tangible reminders of her

success. Some reminded her of places, others of the roles she

had played, and the women she had portrayed on screen."

In addition to being a very famous actress, Claudia Cardinale

was also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO, the UN agency for

culture, advocating for women's rights.

In 2023, shortly before her death, she and her daughter also

created a foundation for young female artists, to which part of

the proceeds from the auction will be donated.

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