London ? Bidders clamored Tuesday for jewelry owned by the late Princess Margaret – including the tiara she wore at her wedding – during an auction that surpassed the predicted total with the sale only half over.

The 'Poltimore Tiara' once owned by Britain's Princess Margaret is shown at Christies Auction in central London Tuesday June 13, 2006. Bidders clamored Tuesday for jewelry owned by the late Princess Margaret, paying 100 times the advance estimate for some items in an auction whose takings surpassed the predicted total before the selling was even half over. One of the most-watched items was the tiara Margaret wore at her 1960 wedding to Lord Snowdon. Originally designed in 1870 for Lady Poltimare, it fetched 926,000 pounds (US$1.7 million; euro1.3 million), far more than its 200,000 (US$360,000; euro280,000) pre-sale estimate but short of the million-pound mark ($US1.8 million; euro1.4 million) some had predicted. (AP Photo/John Stillwell/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE

Christie’s said the collection of jewels drew $17.3 million in the first day of the two-day sale. The auction house had originally estimated that the auction would bring in about $15 million.

Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, died of a stroke in 2002 at the age of 71. She was known for her glamour and sense of style.

One of the most-watched items was the tiara, shown at right, that Margaret wore at her 1960 wedding to Lord Snowdon. Originally designed in 1870 for Lady Poltimare, it fetched $1.7 million, far more than its $360,000 pre-sale estimate.

The auction, which included 192 pieces of jewelry Tuesday, today will offer 600 items of furniture, china, monogrammed silver boxes and decorative items.