Claudia Squitieri, daughter of the actress who passed away in September, has announced the sale of about twenty pieces belonging to her mother. They will be auctioned by Christie's from June 19 to 26. Highlights include jewelry from Bulgari and Buccellati, such as the sapphire and diamond daisy earrings she wore in 1963 at the premiere of The Leopard alongside Alain Delon and Burt Lancaster.
The genetic code of gems in classic cinema 💎
Each piece of jewelry acts as a time marker in Cardinale's filmography. The pear-shaped diamond earrings, worn on Oscar night in 1966 alongside Rock Hudson, not only reflect the aesthetics of the era but also the evolution of setting techniques. Sapphire, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, and diamonds, with a hardness of 10, withstand the passage of time without losing their luster—a relevant technical detail for appraising their current value.
Express auction: jewelry that saw more glamour than your wardrobe 😏
Cardinale's daughter has decided it's better to sell than to keep them locked away. These pieces have seen more red carpets than most mortals in a lifetime. The daisy earrings, for example, were closer to Burt Lancaster than any fan at a festival. Now, someone with a hefty bank account can own them and, hopefully, not lose them at the company dinner.