Elizabeth Taylor’s Jewels to be Auctioned Off

The Taylor-Burton Diamond

Taylor with the Famous "La Peregrina"

“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 an engagement ring.  I was hooked,” the late Elizabeth Taylor famously stated about her fascination with diamonds, gems and pearls.  Taylor may be gone, but her ridiculous collection of jewels is still here.  But, apparently not for long…  Taylor’s jewelry is going to auction at Christie’s, for a once-estimated $150 million.  Celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz spoke of the actress, saying, “The studios, in order to make her happy, they’d always give her jewelry.  So she grew up collecting it.”  And boy, did she ever.  Taylor received a 69-carat, pear-shaped diamond necklace as a present from 5th (and 6th) husband, Richard Burton, which was renamed the “Taylor-Burton Diamond,” in honor of its owners.  It also sold for a record 1 million dollars.  She also owned the “La Peregrina Pearl” necklace, which once belonged to Anne Boleyn and Queen Mary I.  It was a Valentine’s Day gift from Burton, and their Pekingese dog almost destroyed it when he decided to chew on it during one of the couple’s spats.  (One of our editors is a Tudor history buff, and this little anecdote made her literally gag.)  Taylor’s favorite piece was apparently the 33-carat, emerald-cut Krupp diamond ring that Burton also bought for her from Sotheby’s.  The Krupps were a German industrial family that donated to the Nazi Party, so she found it amusing that it ended up in a Jewish girl’s hands (even though she was a convert, but that’s beside the point).  Taylor apparently wore it everyday of her life after receiving it.  Among her other baubles were the the Duchess of Windsor diamond brooch and the Grand Duchess of Russia emeralds.  In 2002 Taylor published a book about her love of jewelry called, My Love Affair with Jewelry, as well as creating her own jewelry line called House of Taylor.  From crowned royals to Hollywood starlet, it’ll be interesting to see where these precious gems go next!

Her Favorite 33-Carat Krupp Ring

Taylor in Grand Duchess of Russia Emeralds

Look-of-the-Day

The United States may have a fashion icon in the making in their White House, but France’s First Lady is a former model.  (We can’t imagine why the French have a reputation for being so glamorous!)  Carla Bruni, the Italian-born, French-raised fashionista is seen here in a bright purple Dior coat.  She wore it during a 2008 diplomatic meeting with then-British First Lady, Sarah Brown.  We were inspired by our sophisticated friend, Danielle, who was sporting a similarly chic look this weekend.  Although, we didn’t get to take a picture of her, so Carla had to fill in instead!  This shade is particularly flattering on brunettes, and since both of the stylish women are half-Italian, it’s no wonder they both look so beautiful in violet.  Their eye-catching outerwear is reminiscent of a crocus in bloom – seeing this pop of purple in March (in the garden, or the streets of Manhattan) is the first sign that winter is leaving us.  Au revoir snowy weather!