1 / 4
Famous jewels
Elizabeth Taylor attends a charity ball in Monaco, South of France on Nov. 17, 1969. Making its debut is the famous 69.42 carat, pear-shaped diamond that Taylor is wearing as a pendant. It is a present from her husband, Richard Burton. Initially, the diamond was bought by Paris jeweler Cartier at an auction and he named it "Cartier." Burton bought it the next day and renamed it "Taylor-Burton." (AP Photo/Maestri)
Christie's auctioned off the Archduke Joseph Diamond for nearly $21.5 million on Nov. 13, a world auction record price per carat for a colorless diamond. Here is a look at some other rare baubles, from Elizabeth Taylor's personal collection to the world's first ring carved from a diamond created by Swiss company Shawish Jewelry.