The Glamour Lives On

On March 23, 2011, we said goodbye to one of the most glamorous and iconic women of our time. Elizabeth Taylor not only embodied the essence of Old Hollywood glamour, but was also the pinnacle of feminine charm. We at CIRCA have always appreciated that, among her many talents, she was one of the great lovers and collectors of jewelry. This prowess was displayed in all of its dazzling splendor at Christie’s in the lead up to this week’s The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor sale.

Rooms were filled with mannequins adorned in her many outfits, from Chanel, Dior, Versace as well as many of the costumes from her iconic movie roles. The main attraction, of course, was her extensive jewelry collection. Although the famous Taylor-Burton diamond was not among the items, there were many highlights including La Peregrina, a ruby, diamond and pearl necklace by Cartier showcasing a drop pendant with royal provenance dating back to the 16th century; and of course The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond – or Krupp Diamond- a rectangular-cut diamond ring of 33.19 carats that was given to Taylor by then-husband Richard Burton.

Aside from the sheer wow-factor of the individual pieces was the magnitude of the collection; a point that truly showcases Ms. Taylor’s capacity to acquire fine jewelry. Never shy of adorning herself in jewelry of all designs she proclaimed, “I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine. You can’t possess radiance, you can only admire it.” Elizabeth Taylor is the type of woman that jewelry was made for, a truly passionate collector who reveled in sharing her radiance with everyone. She wore her jewels because they delighted her and made her feel exquisitely beautiful, a feeling that all woman today should certainly embrace.

Images: Elizabeth Taylor wearing The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, courtesy: graphics-arts.blogspot.com; Elizabeth Taylor’s caftan collection, courtesy: Art Market Monitor; La Peregrina, courtesy: Business Insider.


In the Loupe is authored by CIRCA’s resident trendspotter and style maven. She’s traveled the world, dabbling in high finance, haute cuisine, and fine art at one of the world’s leading auction houses, before finding her true calling in the world of priceless gems. The result is a genuine global luxury connoisseur, with a knowledge and appreciation of beauty, quality and true style. She is one of the industry’s foremost experts on the valuation of fine gems and jewelry, and is now happy to share her discerning eye and impeccable taste to help you look and feel fabulous! Print this post