"Christie's: The Jewellery Archives Revealed," a new book from jewelery specialist Vincent Meylan, looks at the exciting, surprising and occasionally tragic stories behind some of the auction house's most important sales.<br /><br />One of the many royals featured in its pages is Princess Soraya Esfandiary Bakhtiari, the second wife of a former shah of Iran.
"Christie's: The Jewellery Archives Revealed," a new book from jewelery specialist Vincent Meylan, looks at the exciting, surprising and occasionally tragic stories behind some of the auction house's most important sales.

One of the many royals featured in its pages is Princess Soraya Esfandiary Bakhtiari, the second wife of a former shah of Iran.
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Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Soraya married in 1951, but the marriage was short-lived. The shah divorced her in 1958 because she could not give him an heir.
Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Soraya married in 1951, but the marriage was short-lived. The shah divorced her in 1958 because she could not give him an heir.
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After the divorce, Soraya started a glamorous new life in Europe, where she was relentlessly followed by paparazzi, who had dubbed her the "sad-eyed princess."
After the divorce, Soraya started a glamorous new life in Europe, where she was relentlessly followed by paparazzi, who had dubbed her the "sad-eyed princess."
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During the early days of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Soraya sold a number of her pieces, including a diamond necklace signed Harry Winston. It went to auction at Christie's in Geneva on Nov. 17, 1988.
During the early days of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Soraya sold a number of her pieces, including a diamond necklace signed Harry Winston. It went to auction at Christie's in Geneva on Nov. 17, 1988.
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The 2011 sale of the late Elizabeth Taylor's jewelery collection netted more than $130 million. A number of pieces had been gifted to Taylor by her third husband, Mike Todd.
The 2011 sale of the late Elizabeth Taylor's jewelery collection netted more than $130 million. A number of pieces had been gifted to Taylor by her third husband, Mike Todd.
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"When Mike gave me this tiara, he said, 'You're my queen, and I think you should have a tiara,'" Taylor wrote in "Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry."
"When Mike gave me this tiara, he said, 'You're my queen, and I think you should have a tiara,'" Taylor wrote in "Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry."
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Here, Taylor wears a headdress designed by French designer Pierre Cardin with a Bulgari emerald necklace -- a engagement gift from her fifth husband, Richard Burton.
Here, Taylor wears a headdress designed by French designer Pierre Cardin with a Bulgari emerald necklace -- a engagement gift from her fifth husband, Richard Burton.
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She was wearing the necklace when she accepted the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1967.
She was wearing the necklace when she accepted the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1967.
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Screen star Gloria Swanson (seen here in a promotional still for the acclaimed "Sunset Boulevard") owned what are considered two of the most important pieces ever produced by Cartier.
Screen star Gloria Swanson (seen here in a promotional still for the acclaimed "Sunset Boulevard") owned what are considered two of the most important pieces ever produced by Cartier.
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The bracelets, made of rock crystal and diamonds, were made in 1930, and "are emblematic of the pure art-deco style that Cartier designed at the time," Meylan writes. <br /><br />Swanson wore them in at least two of her films. In 1988, five years after her death, Cartier bought back the bracelets to add to their archive.
The bracelets, made of rock crystal and diamonds, were made in 1930, and "are emblematic of the pure art-deco style that Cartier designed at the time," Meylan writes.

Swanson wore them in at least two of her films. In 1988, five years after her death, Cartier bought back the bracelets to add to their archive.
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The Soong sisters -- (L-R) Ai-ling, Mei-ling and Ching-ling -- all played an important role in 20th century Chinese politics. <br /><br />Ai-Ling, the eldest, was married to H. H. Kung, one of China's richest men in the early 20th century; Ching-ling was the wife of Sun Yat-sen, who is often regarded as the father of modern China and served as the Republic of China's first president; and Mei-ling was married to Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Republic of China from 1928 to 1975.
The Soong sisters -- (L-R) Ai-ling, Mei-ling and Ching-ling -- all played an important role in 20th century Chinese politics.

Ai-Ling, the eldest, was married to H. H. Kung, one of China's richest men in the early 20th century; Ching-ling was the wife of Sun Yat-sen, who is often regarded as the father of modern China and served as the Republic of China's first president; and Mei-ling was married to Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Republic of China from 1928 to 1975.
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Ai-Ling, who was married to a millionaire, started the sisters' jewelery collection, which was dominated by jade taken from a now-exhausted Burmese mine. Each sister would add to it over the years. <br /><br />When Mei-ling died in 2003 at the age of 105, their collection fell into the hands of Christie's Hong Kong. In 2015, the sisters' 46 pieces sold for more than $14 million.
Ai-Ling, who was married to a millionaire, started the sisters' jewelery collection, which was dominated by jade taken from a now-exhausted Burmese mine. Each sister would add to it over the years.

When Mei-ling died in 2003 at the age of 105, their collection fell into the hands of Christie's Hong Kong. In 2015, the sisters' 46 pieces sold for more than $14 million.
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