This past Wednesday, March 23, 2011, Elizabeth Taylor, the Queen of Luxury Diamond Jewelry passed away at a hospital surrounded by family. She lived a fairy tale life we can only dream of, gracing the silver screen since she was a small child, red carpet events and royal functions were day to day events for her. America loved her, the world loved her, and diamonds loved her. She had a love affair with jewelry that rivals no other, her name becoming synonymous with diamonds. Here is a look back at some of her most incredible pieces of luxury diamond jewelry:
The Diamond Tiara – 1957
Elizabeth Taylor’s 3rd husband, Mike Todd, gave her a diamond tiara in 1957 because he told her, “You’re my queen, and I think you should have a tiara.” (Could you imagine your husband saying this to you – how romantic!) She wore the luxury diamond jewelry to the Academy Awards that year because she wanted to represent her support for her husband. His film, “Around the World in 80 Days,” was up for the Oscar. After Mike won the award she was happy with her choice, later recalling the moment saying, “It wasn’t fashionable to wear tiaras then, but I wore it anyway, because he was my king.”
La Peregrina Pearl – 1969
The largest and most perfect pearl in the world is La Peregrina, a perfect gift for the Diamond Queen. Elizabeth Taylor received the pear shaped pearl from her twice husband Richard Burton for her 37th birthday. The next day she could not find it, searched frantically around their home, only to discover it in the mouth of her Pekinese! I suppose that is better than finding it in the pocket of the maid…
The Krupp Diamond - 1968
The Krupp diamond, named for Vera Krupp, was one of Elizabeth Taylor’s favorite pieces of luxury diamond jewelry. She admired the perfection of the cut, the glory of the facets, and the brilliant sparkle the gem offered, but there was another reason she just had to have it. The Krupp family was an active ally of Hitler and provided munitions for his persecution of the Jews. She wrote that: “When it came up for auction in the late 1960s, I thought how perfect it would be if a nice Jewish girl like me were to own it.”
Later in her life, Elizabeth Taylor sold much of her jewelry and gifted the proceeds to charity. She was especially active in the fight to radiate the AIDS virus. Rest in peace Diamond Queen!
Read More:
Jewelry Queen Elizabeth Taylor Dies at Age 79
Celebrity Diamond Jewelry: Where the Stars Find their Red Carpet Gems
The Diamond Diva: Is it a Luxury Diamond Engagement Ring, or not?
