Elizabeth Taylor, the epitome of glamour and elegance, had a deep passion for jewelry, a characteristic shared by many celebrities. However, her collection was distinguished by its exceptional quality. Far from being merely ostentatious, each piece was carefully chosen, bearing witness to personal reflection and refined taste.
Elizabeth Taylor: A life of glamour, love and jewels
Elizabeth Taylor, born on February 27, 1932 in Hampstead, London, is one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures, whose legacy extends far beyond the boundaries of cinema. From an early age, she stood out for her exceptional beauty and acting talent, landing her first screen role at the age of nine. Her career really took off with films such as National Velvet (1944) and Little Women (1949), in which she imposed her charisma and became a worldwide star.
In 1950, Elizabeth Taylor married her first husband, Conrad “Nicky” Hilton Jr, heir to the Hilton hotel chain, but the marriage failed and ended after nine months. It was at the premiere of The Heiress that Elizabeth Taylor met Montgomery Clift, another actor with whom she struck up a close friendship. In 1951, they starred together in A Place in the Sun, an iconic film directed by George Stevens for Paramount Pictures.
In Ivanhoe (1952), she played Rebecca, a young woman kidnapped and threatened with rape by Bois-Guilbert, played by George Sanders. The film, directed by Richard Thorpe, was based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott and established itself as a great medieval adventure film. Taylor’s performance eclipsed the star couple of Robert Taylor and Joan Fontaine. It was also during this period that she met actor Michael Wilding in London. They married in 1952 and had two children together: Michael Howard Wilding (b. 1953) and Christopher Edward Wilding (b. 1955).
In the years that followed, she worked with a number of major directors. She worked with Stanley Donen in Une vedette disparaît (1951), where she had an affair with him, and with Charles Vidor in Rhapsodie (1954), alongside Vittorio Gassman. She replaced Vivien Leigh at short notice for William Dieterle’s Elephant Walk (1954), before starring with Curtis Bernhardt in Le Beau Brummel alongside Stewart Granger and Peter Ustinov. She also had a brief affair with Richard Brooks, director of La Dernière Fois que j’ai vu Paris (1954).
Her career took a turn with George Stevens’ monumental Giant (1956), in which she starred alongside James Dean and Rock Hudson. Although the film, an epic Texas fresco, was controversial, it became one of Warner’s biggest hits. It was also at this time that she became close to singer Eddie Fisher, her husband Mike Todd’s best friend, and began an affair with him. After Mike Todd’s tragic death in a plane crash in 1958, Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher married, but their relationship attracted intense media attention, not least because of Fisher’s divorce from Debbie Reynolds. She continued her career with starring roles in Suddenly Last Summer (1959) and Cleopatra (1963), the latter being one of the most expensive films of the period. Her romance with Richard Burton, her partner in Cleopatra, became a subject of media fascination. The two actors married in 1964 after months of scandal, but their eight films together (including 1966’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) reinforced their image as a tumultuous but talented couple.
In the 1970s, Elizabeth Taylor continued to shine in the cinema, despite sometimes harsh reviews for her later films. She starred in productions such as Las Vegas (1972) and A Beautiful Tigress (1973), before appearing in TV shows such as General Hospital and Dynasty in the 1980s. These appearances reinforced her status as a pop-culture icon, although her film career was in decline.
In the 1990s, after her marriage to Larry Fortensky, she gradually retired from acting. Her last film role was in The Flintstones (1994), and in 2003 she announced the end of her career. Elizabeth Taylor died in 2011, aged 79, of heart failure. She is buried in Glendale, California, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Elizabeth Taylor and the art of collecting jewels
Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels were more than just accessories: they were symbols of her era, embodying luxury, passion and timeless elegance. Known for her refined taste, the actress chose each piece with care, each jewel becoming a mirror of her tumultuous life, marked by her passionate love affairs and legendary career. These treasures not only told the story of her style, but also of her emotions and experiences, transforming her jewels into true witnesses to her unique journey.
This impressive collection includes iconic pieces that have become inseparable from the famous actress, such as the Peregrina pearl, given by her husband Richard Burton, or her iconic engagement ring set with a 33-carat diamond. But the collection also includes much more discreet, carefully chosen pieces that testify to Elizabeth Taylor’s interest in jewelry.
The necklace set with the Peregrina pearl
In the Gulf of Panama in the 16th century, a slave discovers a small shell containing an exceptional pearl. The find, of rare beauty and weighing 50.56 carats, was so precious that it enabled him to buy back his freedom. Thus began the fascinating journey of La Peregrina, the most remarkable pearl of its time, which quickly spread across Europe, attracting covetousness for its incomparable size and brilliance.
In 1582, Philip II of Spain acquired it. Fascinated by its splendor, he had it set on a diamond brooch, a jewel worn by several Spanish queen consorts, some of whom are immortalized in Velázquez’s portraits. When Napoleon I invaded Spain in 1808, La Peregrina passed into the hands of Joseph Bonaparte, then Charles Louis Bonaparte, the future Napoleon III, who sold it in 1848 to the Duke of Abercorn.
In 1969, Richard Burton bought La Peregrina at auction for $37,000. He gave it to Elizabeth Taylor for Valentine’s Day, a surprise marked by a funny episode: the pearl briefly ended up in the mouth of the actress’s dog, who had mistaken it for a toy. Fortunately, as Elizabeth Taylor recounts in her book My Love Affair with Jewelry, the pearl was found intact.
To secure it and sublimate her story, Taylor asked Cartier to mount La Peregrina on a sumptuous necklace combining pearls, rubies and diamonds, inspired by a historic portrait of Marie Tudor. This masterpiece became one of the iconic pieces in the actress’s legendary jewelry collection.
The Mike Todd Tiara
Mike Todd’s diamond-set gold and platinum tiara for Elizabeth Taylor is one of the most iconic pieces in his collection. This sumptuous tiara, designed in the late 19th century, was given by the producer in 1957, shortly before their wedding. Taylor often wore it to prestigious events, claiming that it made her feel like a true princess. This elegantly designed tiara, set with sparkling diamonds, embodies both Hollywood glamour and Todd’s passionate love for the actress.
The Taylor-Burton diamond
Among Elizabeth Taylor’s legendary treasures, the Taylor-Burton diamond occupies a special place. This exceptional 69.42-carat jewel, cut by Harry Winston, symbolized the flamboyant love between the actress and Richard Burton. Given as a gift in 1969, this pear-shaped diamond quickly became one of the most famous in history, worn at galas and prestigious soirees. After their separation, Taylor sold this iconic piece, using the proceeds to support charitable causes, confirming her commitment as deep as her love of gems.
The Krupp/Elizabeth Taylor diamond
German actress Vera Krupp was the first famous owner of this diamond, received as a ring from her wealthy industrialist husband. After her death in 1967, the 33.19-carat stone was auctioned at Parke-Bernet in New York. On May 16, 1968, Richard Burton acquired the diamond for $305,000, a record at the time, after a bidding battle with Harry Winston. Contrary to popular belief, it was not an engagement ring, but a simple gift given to Elizabeth Taylor aboard a yacht on the Thames.
Emerald jewelry set by Bulgari
Elizabeth Taylor’s emerald and diamond set from Bulgari was a gift from Richard Burton during the filming of Cleopatra in Italy. Comprising a pair of earrings (circa 1960) with pear-shaped emeralds set off by round and pear-shaped diamonds, it also includes an emblematic necklace (1962) adorned with sixteen rectangular emeralds surrounded by diamonds. A detachable brooch pendant (1958) completes the set, accompanied by a matching bracelet (1963) and a ring set with a rectangular emerald, all mounted in platinum.
Ruby ring by Van Cleef & Arpels
Elizabeth Taylor’s famous ruby ring, given by Richard Burton for Christmas in 1968, symbolizes their passionate love. Created by Van Cleef & Arpels, it is set with an exceptional ruby surrounded by dazzling diamonds. Burton had promised Taylor “a real ruby”, and this sumptuous gift kept that promise. The actress wore the ring with pride, considering it one of the most sincere gestures of their relationship.
