The artist once sang “Diamonds Are Forever” – but now she chooses to auction off several of her precious stones.
Wednesday 8 May at 20:52
The British singer Shirley Bassey (87) is selling off some of what she refers to as her most “meaningful” jewellery.
The BBC reports.
One of the items to be sold is a diamond ring that she received as a gift from the artist Elton John.
– I have used so many times, she says.
The ring is “vintage” from the 1960s, and covered with white diamonds.
– Elton John gave it to me after I sang at one of his “AIDS gala” events.
The entire jewelery collection to be auctioned off has an estimated value of almost £600,000.
At the time of writing, this corresponds to around NOK 8.2 million.
The 87-year-old is internationally known for having sung several James Bond songs. Among other things, she performs the iconic “Diamonds Are Forever” from 1971.
Here, Bassey stands on stage in Hamburg in 2013. One of the rings that are now being sold can be seen on her right hand.
Bassey says she fell in love with jewelery when she discovered natural pearls as a young artist.
– I bought my first pearl necklace – the first piece of jewelery I had ever bought, she says.
She is said to have later switched to collecting diamonds.
– Collecting jewelery for me is like collecting memories, and this collection is full of them, she says according to Sky News.
The artist says the jewelery collection includes pieces she has bought for herself to mark important moments – including performing in front of the late Queen Elizabeth.
In 1999, Bassey was honoured, knighted with the Order of the British Empire.
Here she stands with several famous Britons after the “Diamond Jubilee” concert held for the Queen outside Buckingham Palace in 2012:
Parts of the jewelery auctioned by Sotheby’s are on display in London from 24 to 29 May.
The auctions themselves will take place in October in Paris.
The proceeds from the sale will go to charitable causes that Bassey himself has selected.
Tags: Shirley Bassey auctioning jewelry
