Claudia Cardinale’s jewels head to Christie’s Paris sale

That timing matters because Cardinale’s jewels do more than carry celebrity provenance. They sit at the meeting point of cinema history, midcentury Italian glamour and house heritage, with Bulgari, Cartier and Buccellati all represented in the collection. In the vintage market, a signed jewel already has an advantage over an unsigned comparable piece. Add a documented owner whose image is tied to European film culture, and the object gains another layer of collectibility that can move it well beyond its metal weight or gem content.

The pieces likely to attract the strongest attention are the ones that combine recognizability with wearability. The Serpenti watch is the obvious headline lot, because Bulgari’s serpent motif remains one of the house’s most durable signatures. The cabochon-ruby, star-sapphire and emerald rings should also travel well with bidders who prize bold stones and clear period character. Buccellati’s floral language, seen here in a rose, a sunflower and a butterfly brooch, offers a different kind of appeal, with decorative craftsmanship that feels distinctly Italian and unmistakably collectible.

Christie’s has placed the sale within its Joaillerie Paris online auction, running from June 19 to 26, 2026. The collection will be exhibited at Christie’s in Paris during the same window, following viewings in Geneva from May 7 to 13. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Fondazione Claudia Cardinale, established with Claudia Squitieri to support contemporary audiovisual creation, with a particular focus on empowering women artists.