I Guess That's Why They Call It the Bling

Break out your checkbooks, music fans. A diamond and sapphire brooch worn by Elton John is on the auction block in London tomorrow. The 1930s Art Deco piece was worn by Sir Elton in his 1988 music video, “I Don’t Wanna Go on With You Like That.” A photograph of him wearing the piece during the filming of the video accompanies the lot.

The brooch, which is expected to fetch over $20,000, is shaped like the letter “J” and has brilliant-cut and baguette-cut diamonds and oval-cut and circular-cut sapphires.

"Diamonds have an enduring appeal," Jean Ghika, Bonhams' UK director of jewelry, said Tuesday. "They provide timeless elegance in a fast-moving fashion arena and in many instances maintain their worth."

An 11-carat emerald-cut diamond ring by De Beers that auctioneers say could go for as much as $593,000 is among the other items being sold. Economic crisis? What economic crisis?

For those of you who miss music videos with narrative through lines dramatized through interpretive dance (or heck – just music videos), check out the old Elton MTV gem on You Tube here. Playing the synthesizer in a long-tailed suit never looked so cool.