Mention diamond jewellery to almost anyone, and ask them to name the first woman that comes to mind, chances are they’ll say Elizabeth Taylor. This iconic star had a love affair with jewellery that was to last a lifetime. Ms Taylor was known for being passionate about diamonds and published a book in 2003 entitled Elizabeth Taylor – My Love Affair With Jewellery. Sadly, the 79-year-old Academy Award winning actress died from congestive heart failure on 23rd March 2011.
Her collection, which includes some of the world’s finest and most expensive gemstones, is to be split up and sold off along with other pieces from the star’s collection of rare vintage jewels and extensive film memorabilia. Accordingly, Christie’s are planning a series of auctions devoted to Ms Taylor. The star even speculated shortly before her death that one day her treasured collections would be “scattered around the four corners of the world.”
The beginning of a love affair
According to Elizabeth, her love affair with jewellery started at a very early age. “My mother says I didn’t open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was her engagement ring. I was hooked”. She never lost that passion for jewellery, and later admitted that the three great loves of her life were Mike Todd, Richard Burton and jewellery. She is quoted as saying: “You can’t cry on a diamond’s shoulder, and diamonds won’t keep you warm at night, but they’re sure fun when the sun shines”.
Throughout her illustrious career, the actress was seen wearing her beloved diamonds (and other precious jewellery) as everyday accessories. Whether swimming in the pool with Mike Todd wearing the La Preregina pearl pendant, or accessorising jeans and baseball cap with the Krupp diamond at matinee movie shows, she did it with style. For Elizabeth’s 40th birthday in 1972, Richard Burton gave her the heart-shaped diamond known as the Taj-Mahal. This diamond is a rather flat, large gemstone with an Arabic inscription on either side. Set with rubies and diamonds in a gold rope-pattern necklace, Burton said “I would have liked to buy her the Taj-Mahal itself, but it would cost too much to transport. This diamond has so many carats, it’s almost a turnip.” Then he added, “Diamonds are an investment, when people no longer want to see Liz and me on the screen, we can sell off a few baubles.”
A truly breathtaking collection
Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels are well known to Christies as the auction house hosted a public exhibition of her jewels in 2002 in aid of her favourite charities. On display were the legendary 33-carat Krupp diamond, the La Preregina Pearl pendant created by Cartier, and the heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond necklace. Elizabeth Taylor is reputed to have amassed an estimated $150 million worth of rare jewels during her lifetime, but it has not yet been confirmed which pieces will be up for auction.
The Taylor collection includes other (but only slightly) lesser known but equally exquisite jewels – a stunning sapphire engagement ring from second husband Michael Wilding, a diamond tiara given to her by third husband Mike Todd, and an enormous Bulgari diamond-and-emerald necklace given to her by Richard Burton.
Elizabeth’s favourite piece of jewellery was the 33-carat diamond given to her by twice husband Richard Burton. She had it mounted on a ring and wore it throughout her life. The Taylor collection is well documented; many pieces have a known provenance, and there are numerous photographs of her wearing her jewels, but interestingly, we hear little of her wedding rings.
The Taylor legacy
The auction dates for the Taylor collection are yet to be confirmed but they are certain to draw interest from around the globe. Her collection, although split, will live on: there will be something of her in each of those treasured gems, wherever they may travel. Elizabeth Taylor will be sadly missed by her millions of fans, but has left a charity legacy that, like a diamond, will last forever.
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