8 of Kim Kardashian’s most expensive jewellery pieces – from Princess Diana’s Attallah Cross pendant and Cartier bling from ex-husband Kanye West, to Elizabeth Taylor’s jade and diamond bangles
Kim Kardashian has made headlines for controversial reasons once again – this time for buying Princess Diana’s Attallah Cross pendant at auction for nearly US$200,000 in January.
According to Vogue, it’s the first time Kardashian bid for a piece of jewellery from the British royal family. Netizens took to the internet to express their disapproval of the reality TV star, who only recently suffered backlash from wearing a historical Marilyn Monroe dress to the Met Gala last year.
Other users point out that Kardashian isn’t to blame as the piece was up for grabs and buying the heirloom at auction made it fair game.
Whether she will wear it out or not is another question though. Back in 2021, after E!’s Keeping Up with the Kardashians TV series came to an end, the Skims founder opened up about how she coped with the aftermath of being robbed at gunpoint in 2016 at Paris Fashion Week.
She told Andy Cohen in a KUWTK series reunion that she no longer wore or kept expensive jewellery at her home. “I have it all taken from security before I even enter my home. I can’t sleep if I have jewellery in my safe, or money, or anything at my house. I just don’t live my life like that,” she said, adding, “As far as jewellery, if I’m wearing something, it’s borrowed. It’s fake.”
It’s unclear what Kardashian’s current stance is when it comes to wearing pricey bling, but either way, she’s known for owning some of the most extravagant pieces in showbiz – and the Diana pendant is just one of the latest additions to her collection.
Here are eight of her most iconic jewellery pieces from over the years …
8. Cartier Panthère Bracelet – US$35,000
Kardashian’s now ex-husband Kanye “Ye” West spoiled her with the most extravagant presents imaginable during their seven-year marriage.
But back in the early days, after they went public with their relationship in 2012 following Kardashian’s divorce from Kris Humphries, West gifted her a US$35,000 onyx Cartier Panthère bracelet, per Bravo TV.
7. Three Elizabeth Taylor jade and diamond bracelets – US$65,000
The 41-year-old is a huge fan of late British-American actress Elizabeth Taylor. She has dressed up as her idol on multiple occasions and regularly sings her praises on social media. In fact, before Taylor’s death in 2011, Kardashian even interviewed her in a cover story for Harper’s Bazaar.
A few months later, Kardashian splashed out US$65,000 (nearly 10 times its estimated value) for three Lorraine Schwartz jade and diamond bracelets that once belonged to the Cleopatra screen legend, reported Forbes.
6. More Cartier galore – over US$65,000
Clearly, Kardashian – and her ex West – have an eye for Cartier bling.
In 2013, The Kardashians bombshell posted a photo of her glammed-up wrist with five heavy-looking Cartier jewellery pieces. According to Bravo TV, the entrepreneur’s collection includes another Panthère and a pavé diamond Love bracelet. Altogether, the set is worth at least US$65,000, states the same source.
5. Cartier Panthère Bracelet – US$73,000
All those Cartiers are still not enough for the bling-loving social media sensation. Just one month after posting that impressive quintet, Kardashian shared a photo of her “new pet panther”, as she said in her caption, adding the hashtag #TheDonStrikesAgain, which suggested it also was a gift from West, per Bravo TV. The report states it’s worth about US$73,000.
4. Those diamond earrings lost at Bora Bora – US$75,000
Remember that iconic scene from KUWTK when Kardashian couldn’t find her diamond earrings while swimming at a luxury resort in Bora Bora?
Well, she was probably freaking out because they were worth a whopping US$75,000, per The Richest. Luckily for her, Kim’s younger sister Kylie Jenner helped with the search and found the pair “in two minutes”, as she told Buzzfeed in 2017.
3. Princess Diana’s Attallah Cross pendant – US$200,000
Kardashian’s most recent public jewellery purchase set her back nearly US$200,000 at a Sotheby’s auction on January 18, as she beat out three other bidders. The sparkling amethyst cross pendant was made by British luxury jeweller Garrard and only ever worn by the late Princess Diana, according to the press release.
2. Lorraine Schwartz diamond choker – US$1 million
In November 2016, Kardashian wrote in a post on her website, “This pregnancy, I would love a Lorraine Schwartz diamond choker, like the ones I’ve worn before to the Art + Film Gala.”
It seemed she got her wish not long after Saint’s birth, as the reality star showed off a seemingly new diamond choker at a wedding in April, reported British media. It’s estimated that the extravagant “push present” would have cost around US$1 million, per Cheatsheet.
1. Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring – US$4.5 million
Kardashian’s most expensive known piece of jewellery is said to be her glamorous engagement ring from then-fiancé West.
The 45-year-old “Famous” musician proposed to Kardashian in October 2013 with a 15-carat cushion diamond ring from Lorraine Schwartz, per Insider. He later upgraded the gem with a 20-carat diamond, states the same source … but, in 2016, the US$4.5 million ring was stolen along with other precious jewels in Kardashian’s collection.
In 2019, she wore a replica of the ring in a photo shoot for Lorraine Schwartz.
Kardashian has a record of pricey engagement rings with her 16-carat diamond ring from NBA player Humphries costing US$2 million, per Insider. The couple infamously divorced after just 72 days and Humphries reportedly sold the gem at auction for under US$1 million.
