Liz Taylor's jewels sell for $115M

NEW YORK, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Jewelry belonging to the late screen icon Elizabeth Taylor has sold for $115 million at an auction in New York, Christie's said.

The auction house told the New York Post "The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor" sale set a world record for the auction of one private jewelry collection. Some of the proceeds from the sale are intended to go to Taylor's AIDS foundation, the newspaper said.

The item that fetched the highest price Tuesday was a Cartier pearl and diamond necklace given to Taylor by her then-husband, actor Richard Burton. It sold for $11.8 million.

"It's one of the most extraordinary auctions that Christie's has ever had and a testament to the affection for Elizabeth Taylor worldwide," the Post quoted Christie's Americas President Marc Porter as saying.

The two-time Oscar-winning actress died March 23 at age 79.