The simple and elegant pearl has become synonymous with Audrey Hepburn, evoking her classic and understated style. According to son Luca Dotti, Audrey 'hated the idea of spending a fortune on diamonds and gold... What she really loved were pearls because of their purity, the fact that they were made by nature.' She loved them also for their warmth, as she disliked the sensation of anything cold against her skin.

Although the famous multi-strand pearl necklace worn in the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s has become Audrey’s iconic pearl moment, it is the single pearl earring that truly represents her signature style. As she did not believe in altering one’s physiognomy with piercings, she wore clip or screw back earrings. Audrey can be seen wearing this particular design of earring, with a fine loop connecting the single pearl with its back, in numerous photographs and films from 1954 onwards, including:

- Photographed at a press reception at the Dorchester Hotel, London by Terry Fincher, 1954
- Photographed for Glamour Magazine by Norman Parkinson, Rome, 1955
- Photographed by Jack Garofalo in Paris, 1955
- Photographed at the premiere of The Bridges at Toko-Ri by ullstein bild agency, London, 1955
- Photographed for Paris Match by David ‘Chim’ Seymour, Paris, 1956
- Funny Face, 1957
- Studio publicity shoot for Funny Face by Bud Fraker, 1956
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961
- Photographed on the set of Paris When It Sizzles by Bob Willoughby, Paris, 1962
- Photographed on the set of Paris When It Sizzles and Charade by Vincent Rossell, Paris, 1962
- Charade, 1963
- Studio publicity shoot for Charade by Bud Fraker, circa 1963
- Paris When It Sizzles, 1964
- My Fair Lady, 1964
- Studio publicity shoot for My Fair Lady, circa 1964

Based on their colour and size, the earrings in this lot most closely resemble a pair worn extensively by Audrey in the 1963 Universal production Charade and the 1964 Paramount production Paris When It Sizzles, both filmed in Paris in 1962. According to son Sean Hepburn Ferrer, these were the only earrings of this type remaining in Audrey’s possession at the time of her death in 1993.

Comparative Image (i): Audrey Hepburn in Paris When it Sizzles, 1964.
Comparative Image (ii): Audrey Hepburn in Charade 1963 with Cary Grant.
Please note that these comparative images are not included with this lot.