Jackie Collins’s Estate Is a White Glove Sale for Bonhams

Los Angeles--Interest in the estate of romance novelist Jackie Collins proved to be huge at Bonhams this week, as the auction house sold everything of hers that it offered.

Bonhams Los Angeles put the property of the best-selling author up on the block Tuesday and Wednesday. “Jackie Collins: A Life in Chapters” totaled nearly $3.4 million, of which her jewelry comprised about $2.1 million.

The British-born writer published her first novel, “The World is Full of Married Men,” in 1968, kicking off a 47-year writing career.

She wrote 32 best-selling novels, and while Bonhams Global CEO and Global Head of Jewelry Matthew Girling acted as one of the auctioneers for the sale, he managed to namecheck every one, to the room’s entertainment, the auction house said.  

Collins and her husband, gallery and nightclub owner Oscar Lerman, custom built their nearly 22,000-square-foot Beverly Hills home in the early 1990s, where she grew her collections of fine art, sculpture and jewelry.

Collins, who is the sister of English actress and author Joan Collins, died in September 2015 of breast cancer at the age of 77.

The top lot of the sale of her estate was a ring featuring a 6.04-carat pear-shaped diamond flanked by tapered baguette-cut diamonds totaling 1 carat. It went for $187,500 Wednesday.

There also was a gold and diamond David Yurman collar that sold for $65,000, a Patek Philippe platinum and diamond wristwatch that achieved $31,250, and a platinum Art Deco diamond and emerald necklace that sold for $56,250.


Collins also was a serious collector of fine art and sculpture, with a particular passion for Art Deco sculpture and 20th century American and British painting.

Other notable highlights from the two-day auction include the “Scarf Dancer” bronze by Josef Lorenzl, circa 1925, that sold for $21,250; several works by the English painter Beryl Cook, including “Tango in Bar Sur” that achieved $27,500; and Collins’ bespoke special edition 2002 Jaguar XKR Sportscar finished in metallic gold, which sold for $43,750.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to three organizations supporting the empowerment of women: Malala Fund, Equality Now and WriteGirl.

From today through June 1, other items from Collins’ Beverly Hills home are up for auction online, including Art Deco sculpture, jewelry, watches, fine art, memorabilia and furniture.