Though she died in the spring of 2011 at the age of 104, Huguette Clark’s estate is still going through a series of legal conflicts as different parties try to claim their share of her estimated $400 million fortune. The sole surviving daughter of a Gilded Age copper mining tycoon, Ms. Clark left behind substantial real estate holdings across the country, as well as a sizable collection of personal items that included very valuable jewelry.
Few people knew of her jewelry collection before her death, as much of it had been locked away in a bank vault for over 70 years. The last time Ms. Clark was seen wearing the jewelry was in the 1930s, which also coincided with the last time she had her photograph taken. Since then, she had largely been in a self-imposed seclusion. Set to be auctioned off by Christie’s in April, the jewelry collection includes Art Deco bracelets, diamond rings, and other very valuable pieces, all of which were found in their original packaging. The most valuable single piece in the collection is a 9 carat, pink diamond ring estimated to be worth anywhere from $6 million to $8 million.
Apart from the jewelry collection, three of Ms. Clark’s New York apartments are also being sold. With the combined listing price of $55 million, the apartments are located in the same building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street in New York City. They occupy the 8th and 12th floors and encompass about 15,000 square feet. However, they had been unoccupied for so long that they require substantial renovation.
Leave a Reply