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Last year, we introduced you to some of the most hyped auctions that set new records despite the economic downturn. With the New Year approaching fast, it’s time again to look at the top 10 auctions of 2010 that set new records. Hit the jump to see them all…

10. Dalmore 64 Trinitas – $160,100

Last month, the Dalmore distillery near Inverness, Scotland made a new record by selling two of the three world’s most expensive Scotch whisky bottles, “Dalmore 64 Trinitas” for £100,000/$160,100 each. The distillery said that if the 64-year-old Trinitas was sold by the glass, it could cost up to £20,000 or about $32,000 a glass. Back in 2003, the distillery set a world record by selling a bottle of 62-year old Dalmore for over £25,000. In 2006, another bottle of the same whisky went for £32,000.

9. Châteaux Lafite-Rothschild 1869 – $232,692

In October this year, three bottles of Châteaux Lafite-Rothschild 1869 vintage wines were just sold at a Hong Kong auction by Sotheby’s. The $232,692 a bottle set a record for the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction.

8. Most expensive Barbie doll – $302,500

Since its debut in 1959, the Barbie doll has kept up with the times and trends. Recently, we introduced you to the most expensive Barbie dolls of all time. Lately, the most expensive Barbie in the world, designed by Australian jeweler Stefano Canturi for Mattel, was sold at Christie’s in New York for a whopping £191,000 ($302,500).

7. Daguerreotype Giroux – $996,400

The world’s first commercially-produced camera fetched a record 732,000 Euros ($996,499 at an the 17th WestLicht Photographica Auction in Vienna, Austria. The Daguerreotype Giroux was hoped to sell for between 500,000 and 700,000 Euros. The previous record price for a camera was 576,000 Euros in 2007.

6. Action Comics #1 – $1.5 million

Marking the most important event in comic book history ever, the world’s most coveted and an extremely rare Action Comics #1, a 1938 comic book that featured the first appearance of Superman, was sold for a record $1.5 million in March this year. Only about 100 copies of the issue exist and only a handful are in good condition, but this particular issue was rated at 8.0 out of 10, according to the CGC grading company.

5. BVLGARI blue Diamond – $15.7 million

Christie’s “Jewels: The New York Sale” on October 20 saw some great sales, including the BVLGARI Blue Diamond, a two-stone diamond ring featuring the largest triangular-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond ever to appear at auction. The ring had an estimate of over $12 million and was purchased by an Asian collector for a record $15.7 million.

4. 1936 Bugatti atlantic – Over $30 million

The ultra rare Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic traded hands for $30-$40 million, thereby setting the record for the highest sum ever paid for a single automobile. This ultra-rare masterpiece is known as the Williamson Bugatti of which only four examples were ever made, but now two or three of them can still see the light of the day.

3. Chinese porcelain vase – Over $85 million

A few days back, an 18th century Chinese porcelain vase found in a house clearance in London went for £43 million ($69.3 million) at Bainbridges Auctions. The private buyer paid an additional premium of £8.6m to the auctioneer The vase was only estimated to sell for £1.2 million, but fierce bidding resulted in a new world record.

2. Giacometti sculpture – $104.3 million

In February this year, a life-size bronze sculpture of a man by Alberto Giacometti was sold at Sotheby’s auction house in London for $104.3 million. It set the world record price for an artwork at auction. The previous record was $104.1 million for a 1905 Picasso, “Boy With a Pipe (The Young Apprentice)” at Sotheby’s in New York in 2004.

1. Pablo Picasso painting – $106.5 million

Auctioned at Christie’s Evening Sale of Impressionist and Modern Art in May this year, this 78-year-old Pablo Picasso painting fetched a whopping $106.5 million, thereby breaking the previous world record for any work of art sold at auction. Interestingly, the Spanish artist’s 1932 painting “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” had been earlier expected to sell for between $70 million and $90 million.

Auctions to check out…

1. Rare 24.78-carat pink diamond

This rare 24.78-carat pink diamond is estimated to go for a record price when it will be auctioned today (November 16) at Sotheby’s in Geneva. Billed as one of the world’s great diamonds, the exceptionally rare pink stone is being expected to fetch between $27 million and $38 million.

2. The Bride of Frankenstein poster

A teaser poster for James Whale’s 1935 film “The Bride of Frankenstein” is expected to sell for $700,000, making it the most expensive movie poster in history. The current record is with a poster for Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent film “Metropolis,” which sold for $690,000 in 2005.

Read more: http://www.bornrich.org/entry/top-10-record-breaking-auctions-of-2010/#ixzz17vglBtPm