Victoria Beckham wedding tiara fails to sell at auction

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/dec/05/victoria-beckham-wedding-tiara-fails-sell-auction

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The tiara Victoria Beckham wore for her wedding has failed to sell at auction.

It was expected that the coronet-style headpiece would fetch between £18,000 and £25,000 at the Bonhams sale in London on Thursday. It failed to reach the undisclosed reserve price, however, with the highest bid for the lot being £14,000.

The singer and fashion designer – then Victoria Adams – commissioned Irish jewellery designer Slim Barrett to make the gold and diamond tiara in 1999. The fairytale piece, which was exhibited by the Victoria and Albert Museum in its 100 Tiaras, Past And Present show, is made from 18-carat yellow gold, set with large brilliant-cut diamonds and suspended diamond drops.

After the wedding, it was kept by Barrett, who has collaborated with Chanel, Versace and John Galliano and designed pieces for Sir Mick Jagger and Diana, Princess of Wales, and was put up for sale as part of Bonhams' auction of fine jewellery in London.

Auctioneer Matthew Girling, chief executive of Bonhams UK and Europe, described the piece as "something unique" before starting the bidding at £10,000.

When it failed to sell, Girling said: "It didn't find a home today, I'm afraid, and lives to fight another day. You missed a golden opportunity here in the room and on the phones and online, is all I can say."

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