There are still two days left to bid on items in the Diamond Empowerment Fund’s online auction on CharityBuzz.com.

A strong international market for diamonds and colored stones in 2011 made for a milestone year in Christie’s jewelry and watches department, with growth seen in numerous countries and categories.

The late Elizabeth Taylor, whose jewels are considered one of the greatest private collections ever assembled, certainly had an eye for jewelry, particularly diamonds, and some of her iconic pieces were--not surprisingly--set in platinum.

Christie’s London held a sale of “Jewellery” here on Jan. 18, realizing a total of $1 million with 78 percent of the auction sold by lot.

The most telling sale in the auction of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry consisted of nothing more than paper cutouts of a necklace, earrings and a pair of ear clips. An ambitious buyer plunked down $6,875.

Colored and colorless diamonds highlighted Bonhams’ Fine Jewelry auction, held here Dec. 13, with the sale achieving a total of $4.8 million with 80 percent of the sale sold by lot.

The second day of auctions garnered $21.3 million, bringing the total sale of the icon’s jewelry to $137.2 million.

Two jewelry auctions held at Sotheby’s here on Dec. 7 achieved a combined total of $30.4 million.

Christie’s first auction for “The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor” achieved a total of $115.9 million, making it the most valuable private collection of jewels ever sold at auction.

Two matching diamonds, weighing 35.77 carat and 35.61 carat, were sold for $8.3 million and $8.1 million at Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction at Hong Kong Tuesday.

Geneva--The Sun-Drop diamond, a 110.03-carat, fancy vivid yellow, VVS1 pear-shape that was the highlight item of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction, sold for CHF 11.3 million ($12.3 million) on Tuesday. The exceptional diamond was estimated at $11-$15 million, making the hammer price a disappointment at $111,631.43 per carat.

Sotheby’s will be holding its sale of “Magnificent Jewels” here on Dec. 7, offering significant diamonds, gemstones and period signed jewels.

Sotheby’s will be offering men’s accessories and watches in its Dec. 7 auction here, “The Elegant John Traina--A Portrait in Style,” a sale of the late author’s collection.

Christie’s Hong Kong will host a sale of “Magnificent Jewels” on Nov. 29, offering more than 300 diamonds, gems and jadeite jewels expected to realize $75-$100 million.

A 32.77-carat vivid yellow diamond sold for $6.6 million at Christie’s “Magnificent Jewels” auction held Tuesday, a sale that showed strong demand for both large white and natural colored diamonds.

Bonham’s Oct. 19 auction of Fine Jewelry here will feature a diverse collection of jewels spanning several periods of design, including the art deco, arts and crafts and Belle Époque periods.

Sotheby’s Geneva will be offering the Sun-Drop diamond, a 110-carat fancy vivid yellow pear-shaped diamond, at its sale of Magnificent Jewels on Nov. 15 here.

Sotheby’s sale of Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite on Oct. 5 here achieved a total of $65 million, setting both the highest total for this type of auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong and two world auction records for important colored diamonds.

Christie’s New York will mark the start of the fall auction season with its sale of Magnificent Jewels on Oct. 18, an auction of more than 340 pieces of jewelry estimated to realize a total of $35 million.

Sotheby’s New York set its fifth consecutive record sale with the auction of “Important Jewels” on Tuesday, achieving a total of $16.4 million.

Dates and locations have been set for a worldwide tour of the collection of the late Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry, fashion, art and memorabilia, prior to auction at Christie's.

Sotheby’s will hold an auction of important jewels on Tues., Sept. 20, here, offering a selection of white and colored diamonds, among other lots.

Gemfields, GIA India, World Land Trust and Jaguar Land Rover have collaborated with 10 of India’s top jewelry designers to create a pop-up collection of Zambian emerald jewelry that aims to create awareness and raise funds for the conservation initiatives of the Wildlife Trust of India and the World Land Trust for Asian elephants.

Auction house Christie’s has planned an international, three-month tour of highlights from the Elizabeth Taylor collection, including pieces of her jewelry.

Bonhams & Butterfields Sept. 19 sale of salon jewelry and watches will include a variety of pieces, many with diamonds.