Athina Onassis sells mother Christina's jewels

(11 Jun 2008) SHOTLIST
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London, UK - 11 June 2008
1. Wide of auction room, 38-carat pear-shaped diamond necklace being auctioned
2. Auctioneer opening bidding at 1.5 million pounds (2.94 million US dollars), pull out to wide of hall
3. Girl modelling diamond necklace to bidders
4. Close-up of diamond
5. Auctioneer, with model in foreground, taking final bid UPSOUND (English): Francois Curiel, auctioneer: "Thank you very much, three-million 200-thousand pounds."
6. Pull out to wide as bidders applaud
7. Tilt up photo of Christina Onassis, daughter of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, wearing diamond necklace
8. Diamond necklace in hands of unknown person
9. Close-up of necklace
AP PHOTOS - "No Access Canada/For Broadcast use only - Strictly No Access Online or Mobile"
Paris, France - December 18, 1973
10. STILL - Christina Onassis shaking hands with couturier Bernard Lanvin
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Aktion, Greece - March 18, 1975
11. STILL - Christina Onassis with stepmother, former US first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
AP TELEVISION
London, UK - 11 June 2008
12. Establishing shot of auctioneer Francois Curiel, Chairman, Christie's Europe
13. SOUNDBITE (English): Francois Curiel, Chairman, Christie's Europe:
"The Onassis family is known for collecting the best jewellery and the best works of art, so you come to a very successful auction. Onassis provenance, great quality, a little of bit of Christie's auction in the middle - and you have a dream of an auction for an auctioneer."
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London, UK - 9 June 2008
14. Ruby and diamond necklace and earrings on display
15. Sapphire and diamond necklace next to Onassis photo in display case
16. Wide of Faberge Buddha
17. Entrance to Christie's hall showing Onassis jewellery
ONASSIS NECKLACE AUCTIONED IN LONDON
A dazzling diamond necklace that used to belong to Christina Onassis, daughter of Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis, sold at auction on Wednesday (11JUN 2008) for 3.6 (m) million pounds (7.1 million US dollars).
The necklace, with a 38-carat pear-shaped diamond, was the highlight of the Onassis jewellery auction at Christie's in London.
It was displayed by a model as a fierce bidding war broke out.
Eventually, amid applause from rival bidders and onlookers, the item was secured by a private collector from Russia.
The necklace was a reminder of the glamour associated with the Onassis family.
Christina was the only daughter of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis - who went on to marry JF Kennedy's widow Jacqueline.
Christina lived a life of luxury, but there was tragedy too, as she lost both her parents and a brother within the space of two years.
Speaking after the auction on Wednesday, auctioneer Francois Curiel - who's also chairman of Christie's in Europe - said the sale had been a fitting tribute to one of the great icons of the 20th century.
"The Onassis family is known for collecting the best jewellery and the best works of art... a dream of an auction for an auctioneer," he commented.
The auction also included dozens of rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces and oddities belonging to the woman dubbed the "Poor Little Rich Girl" during her lifetime - including the so-called Faberge Buddha.
This was a jade-coloured Buddha by Peter Carl Faberge, renowned for creating ornamental eggs for Russia's imperial family.
It sold for 1.3 (m) million pounds (2.5 million US dollars).
Christina Onassis died in 1987 of a heart attack. She was just 37 years old.

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