Jewellery Legends Series: Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor was born in 1932 in London and her striking beauty and rare violet-hued eyes lent themselves perfectly to the silver screen. This legendary actor had a career that spanned over six decades and is considered the last huge star to come out of the old studio system in Hollywood.

She began acting as a child in the early 1940s, gaining fame with National Velvet at the age of just 12 years old. Taylor transitioned successfully into adult roles, earning critical acclaim for performances in films such as Giant and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress making her not only a huge celebrity but also highly renowned for her craft, and, of course, her amethyst colour eyes.

Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor’s relationship was one of the most famous and tumultuous romances in Hollywood history. A romance so passionate they married twice. They met while filming Cleopatra in 1962 and began a highly publicised affair, despite both being married to other people at the time. Brace for whiplash, but: they got married in 1964, divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975 before divorcing for a final time in 1976. Scandalous.

Their relationship was straight out of the movies they starred in, marked by intense passion, dramatic arguments, and lavish displays of affection, that added to Liz’s collection. Burton gifted Taylor numerous pieces of extraordinary jewellery, including the Asscher cut 33.19 ‘Krupp Diamond’, which was later renamed the ‘Elizabeth Taylor Diamond’. This ring became one of her signature pieces that she would wear almost every day. Completely understandable. Then there was the 69.42ct ‘Taylor-Burton Diamond’, plus the historic ‘La Peregrina Pearl’, which he had set into a custom necklace.

These gifts were such a huge part of their theatrical relationship, that they became the stuff of legend. Despite their many separations, Burton and Taylor remained very close until his death, even writing each other letters about how their lives were going. Their love story has since become the subject of many films and TV shows, packed with drama, glamour, and a lot of jewellery.

Elizabeth Taylor’s jewellery collection is one of the most well-known of all and earned over $115 million at auction after her death. All of the proceeds were donated to the charities that she fervently supported throughout her life. Many of the pieces are sure to end up as cinematic crown jewels in their own right. Some of the most famous and fabulous are:

The Taylor-Burton Diamond

Perhaps the most famous of all, this substantial diamond was estimated at 69.42ct, and was cut into a pear shape. Burton is said to have purchased it at auction in 1969 for over $1 million which must now be worth multiple times more. It was (shockingly) deemed too heavy to wear as a ring, so was set as a necklace, which Taylor wore to Princess Grace of Monaco’s 40th birthday party. That sounds about right.

The La Peregrina Pearl

This was a 16th-century pearl once owned by Spanish royalty. Burton gave it to his love as a Valentine’s Day gift in 1969. Liz then had it reset, incorporating pearls, rubies and diamonds to make a very special piece of jewellery. It was one of her favourite pieces that she wore quite a lot.

The Taj Mahal Diamond

Burton also gifted her the Taj Mahal Diamond, a heart shaped gemstone, dating back to the Mughal Empire. He gave it to her for her 40th birthday, and it was set in a gold and ruby necklace so it could be worn close to her heart.