Watches, Necklaces, Bikinis: The Most Expensive Ever!

Costume jewellery is becoming increasingly popular. It is, of course, always better to wear real jewellery, meaning precious stones and metals, but because of the high cost involved, it is by no means essential. As long as the piece is well made, costume jewellery can enhance an outfit as much as the real McCoy would. If your budget is limitless, here are a few sought-after pieces you might want to invest in, featuring five of the most expensive pieces of jewellery ever sold.

The most expensive
The most expensive jewel sold at an auction to date is the Graff Pink, sold in November 2010 at Sotheby's Geneva for £28.9 million to Laurence Graff, the London jeweller. One of its previous owners was the American jeweller, Harry Winston. It consists of a 24.78-carat fancy intense pink diamond, set in platinum, flanked by two shield, shaped white diamond shoulders. It is a rectangular step-cut stone with round corners and truly exquisite. This would take costume jewellery to a new height.

Most expensive bikini?
Feel like wearing the most expensive bikini on the beach? For £18.8 million you can catch a tan wearing 150 carats of D quality diamonds, which include a pearl shaped stone of 51 carats and no flaws, a 30-carat cut flawless emerald, two 15-carat cut round and two 8-carat pearl shaped diamonds with no flaws. The bikini was designed and manufactured by Susan Rosen and Steinmetz Diamonds and was worn by Molly Sims on the 2006 Sportswear Illustrated swimsuit cover. This bikini gives a new meaning to costume jewellery.

Ear rings
For a truly unusual set of drop earrings, prepare to pay £5.32 million for 60.1 carats of two sets of pear-shaped diamonds set in platinum. This is the perfect accessory, no matter what you wear. Harry Winston of Rodeo Drive, "jeweller to the stars", created this pair in 2006. Don't be surprised if you see these earrings, the most expensive in the world, on the Hollywood red carpet at the Oscars, adorning the ears of the likes of Angelina Jolie.

Watch
For the most expensive watch ever sold, look no further than the beautiful yellow gold pocket watch designed and created by Patek Phillipe in 1939. A banker from New York commissioned the watch designer to manufacture a watch with the most functions in the world. It was four years in the making and its mechanism rivals a small computer. Even its face is complicated, yet this does not detract from its beauty and functionality. In 1999, the Supercomplication (yes, it even has its own name) sold for £6.89 million. Nobody would blame you if you very noticeably check the time every half an hour.

Bracelet
Fancy yourself wearing a bracelet that once belonged to Wallis Simpson, whose love was the reason that King Edward VIII gave up the British throne? The onyx and diamond Cartier panther bracelet was sold in November 2010 at Sotheby's in London for £4.5 million to Madonna, according to rumour. The panther, with glittering emeralds for eyes, is stretched out and the bottom is made of articulated silver pieces so it bends around the wearer's wrist.

Whether you wear costume jewellery or the genuine article, make sure you do it with class.

Hi there, I am Sally Rowland a 24 year old with a great passion for blogging. I love blogging on a number of subjects including fashion and jewellery. In my spare time I like to keep up to date with all the latest in the celebrity world of fashion. I am currently writing on behalf of www.janeshilton.co.uk who specialise in designer fashion.