Jewellery from the collection of Welsh singer Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey will be auctioned for the first time this autumn.
The collection will go on sale on October 10 in Paris. As part of Sotheby's Fine Jewels biannual sale.
It consists of more than 80 pieces of jewellery collected during her seven-decade career. It also includes pieces from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Piaget.
Almost every piece contains diamonds. The gemstone is widely associated with Bassey from her performance in «Diamonds Are Forever» for the 1971 James Bond film of the same name. A song that has remained a staple in her repertoire.
But she is the only singer in the world to have recorded multiple Bond themes, Sotheby's said. She also recorded «Goldfinger» and «Moonraker» between 1964 and 1979.
Bassey's career is «unique in longevity, success and esteem in British music history,» the auction house said.
He was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Recently, the King made her a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor for her contributions to music.
Bassey started collecting jewelry when she was a young singer. Each piece featured in the sale represents a specific moment or special event in her illustrious career, Sotheby's said.
«I fell in love with jewellery when I first discovered natural pearls as an aspiring singer. I bought my first set of pearls,the first piece of jewelry I ever bought,» Bassey said.
«However, I quickly moved on to my lifelong passion for diamonds, which preceded the recording of “Diamonds Are Forever”. In fact, I agreed to sing the song because it was true to me and the way I felt about diamonds then and now.».
The sale will include a set of Cartier diamonds and gold estimated to sell for 200,000 to 250,000 euros ($217,000 to $272,000). As well as a necklace with more than 50 diamonds that could fetch up to 320,000 euros ($348,000).
Bassey's yellow diamond heart-shaped ring will also be offered. It is expected to sell from 165,000 to 200,000 euros ($179,000 to $217,000).
«Collecting jewellery for me is like collecting memories and this collection is full of them. All the pieces are meaningful and have a story to tell. I either bought them for myself or they were given to me as a gift,” Bassey said.
He added: «There's this gorgeous vintage Van Cleef & Arpels ring from the 1960s, covered in white diamonds. Elton John gave it to me after I sang at one of the AIDS Gala nights and I've worn it many times.
Or the heart-shaped set with rubies and diamonds. I spotted it in a jewellery shop window during a stop in Bangkok on my way to my first concert tour in Australia.
«And perhaps one of the most special pieces in the collection is this emerald set that I bought myself. To honour my first Royal Variety Performance in front of the late Queen.».
Pieces from Bassey's collection can be seen at Sotheby's London from 24 to 29 May. But also at Sotheby's in Paris from 4 October, before the live sale on 10 October.
Proceeds from the sale will be donated to charities chosen by Bassey.
Source: nationaljeweler.com
