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Taylor’s bling to fetch a fortune

  • September 21, 2011 at 1:50 am

Elizabeth Taylor’s emerald and diamond necklace and pendant. Photo: Reuters

SHE once said that the three loves of her life were Mike Todd, Richard Burton and jewellery. Now the lavish gifts the first two gave to satisfy the third are to go on sale.

The late actress’s entire collection of 300 pieces, valued at $US30 million ($28 million), will be auctioned at Christie’s in new York in December.

Most were gifts from Todd, the only one of Taylor’s seven husbands she did not divorce – he died a year into their marriage – and Burton, whose grand gestures of love came to symbolise the intensity of their relationship.

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The ‘Elizabeth Taylor Diamond’ is a 33.19 carat, D-color, VS1 claity gem. It was a gift of Richard Burton and is estimated at $US2,500,000 – $US3,500,000. Photo: Reuters

Lots will include the 33.19-carat Krupp Diamond, which became known as the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. Set in a platinum ring, the stone, which Burton bought for $305,000 in 1968, is expected to fetch up to $3.5 million.

Another major item is La Peregrina, one of the largest and most symmetrically perfect pear-shaped pearls in the world, which Burton bought for Taylor in 1969 as a Valentine’s Day gift.

Dating from the 16th century, King Philip II of Spain gave the pearl to Mary I of England before their marriage in 1554. When Mary died in 1558, the pearl returned to Spain, where it remained on show in the royal court.

Elizabeth Taylor with the La Peregrina, one of the many gifts from the men in her life.

Spain lost the jewel in 1808 when Napoleon invaded, thereafter earning it the nickname La Peregrina (the Wanderer). It was then sold by Charles Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III) while in exile in London.

Burton loved historical pieces, and in 1972 bought the 17th-century Taj Mahal diamond pendant for Taylor’s 40th birthday. The heart-shaped diamond belonged to Emperor Shah Jahangir, who had the diamond inscribed with his wife’s name, Nur Jahan. he later passed on the stone to his son, Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife, Mumtaz. ”I would have liked to buy her the Taj Mahal but it would cost too much to transport,” Burton remarked.

In a 2002 memoir, My love Affair with Jewellery, Taylor, who died in March, aged 79, wrote: ”I never, never thought of my jewellery as trophies. I’m here to take care of them and to love them. When I die and they go off to auction, I hope whoever buys them gives them a really good home.”

The Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation will reportedly receive some of the profits.

TELEGRAPH, UK

Taylor’s bling to fetch a fortune

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Second-hand, but Liz’s jewellery tipped to fetch a cool $28m

  • September 10, 2011 at 3:50 am

LONDON: she once said that the three loves of her life were Mike Todd, Richard Burton and jewellery. now the lavish gifts that the two men gave Elizabeth Taylor to satisfy the third of her passions are to go on sale.

The late actor’s entire collection of 300 pieces, valued at $US30 million ($28.3 million), will be auctioned at Christie’s in new York in December.

Most were gifts from Mr Todd, the only one of Taylor’s seven husbands whom she did not divorce – he died a year into their marriage – and Burton, whose grand gestures of love came to symbolise the intensity of their relationship.

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The emerald and diamond necklace and pendant. Photo: AP

Taylor’s obsession with jewellery is well-chronicled. her twice-husband Burton said: ”I introduced Liz to beer, and she introduced me to Bulgari.” he is alleged to have claimed ”the only word Elizabeth knows in Italian is Bulgari”.

Lots will include the 33.19-carat Krupp Diamond, which became known as The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. Set in a platinum ring, the stone, which Burton bought for $US305,000 in 1968, is expected to fetch up to $US3.5 million.

Another major item is La Peregrina, one of the largest and most symmetrically perfect pear-shaped pearls in the world, which Burton bought for Taylor in 1969 as a Valentine’s Day gift.

Dating from the 16th century, King Philip II of Spain gave the pearl to Mary I of England before their marriage in 1554. When Mary died in 1558, the pearl returned to Spain, where it remained on show in the royal court.

Spain lost the jewel in 1808 when Napoleon invaded, thereafter earning it the nickname La Peregrina (the Wanderer). It was then sold by Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III) while in exile in London to the 2nd Marquess of Abercorn, and remained in the Abercorn family until Burton bought it at auction in new York for $US37,000.

Burton was enamoured of historical pieces and in 1972 purchased the 17th-century Taj Mahal diamond pendant for Taylor’s 40th birthday. The heart-shaped diamond is associated with one of the greatest love stories. It belonged to Emperor Shah Jahangir, who had the diamond inscribed with his wife’s name ”Nur Jahan”.

He later passed the stone on to his son, Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz, who died in childbirth.

”I would have liked to buy her the Taj Mahal but it would cost too much to transport,” Burton remarked.

Christie’s jewellery expert, Rahul Kadakia, said: ”These are the top jewels that Elizabeth Taylor received from the great loves of her life, Mike Todd and Richard Burton. They’re from moments in life that were very dear to her.”

In a 2002 memoir, my love Affair with Jewelry, Taylor, who died in March aged 79, wrote: ”I never, never thought of my jewellery as trophies.”

Telegraph, London; Guardian News & Media

Second-hand, but Liz’s jewellery tipped to fetch a cool $28m

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