8 September 2011Last updated at 12:42

In pictures: Elizabeth Taylor jewel collection

Elizabeth Taylor and the Elizabeth Taylor diamond

A collection of jewels owned by the late Dame Elizabeth Taylor are to be sold at auction in December. Among the 269 pieces in the collection are the actress's 33.19 carat white diamond ring, which was a gift from her fifth husband, Richard Burton. It is expected to fetch between $2.5m - $3.5m (£1.6m - £2.2m).

Selection of Dame Elizabeth Taylor's rings

A selection of other rings will also go under the hammer, including the two wedding bands Burton gave Dame Elizabeth for their 1964 and 1975 marriages (left), a set of three diamond rings the actress won after she beat Burton in a Ping-pong game (centre) and a 8.24 carat ruby and diamond ring Burton put in Dame Elizabeth's Christmas stocking in 1968.

The pear-shaped pearl on this necklace – the equivalent to 55 carats – previously formed part of the crown jewels of Spain. Burton bought it at auction in 1969 and Dame Elizabeth later commissioned Cartier to design a new mount of pearls and rubies to offset what she called “the most perfect pearl in the world".

Set with a sugarloaf cabochon sapphire of 52.72 carats, this Art Deco style sautoir was a gift from Burton for Dame Elizabeth's 40th birthday in 1972.

Producer Mike Todd, Dame Elizabeth's third husband, gave her this Cartier suite of ruby jewels in 1957, the year before his untimely death. The actress once recalled that without a mirror at hand to see how her new jewels looked, she studied her reflection in the pool instead.

Night of the Iguana and The Prince of Wales brooch

Among the brooches on offer include the so-called Night of the Iguana Brooch which Burton gave the actress to wear to the premiere of his film of the same name in 1964, and a diamond brooch once owned by the Duchess of Windsor. Forming the three feathers of the royal insignia, Dame Elizabeth bought it at an auction in 1987 after the Duchess died.

The Bvlgari Emerald Suite and The Cleopatra Mirror

A Bvlgari suite of emeralds and a 'Cleopatra mirror' were some of the items Dame Elizabeth collected during many trips to Rome during the filming of historic epic Cleopatra. A selection of the jewels will be on show during a three-month global tour which begins in Moscow on 15 September before the sale at Christie's in New York on 13 December.

Entertainment & Arts

In pictures: Elizabeth Taylor jewel collection

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