ELIZABETH TAYLOR WAS BORN ON 27 FEBRUARY 1932 AND DIED ON 23 MARCH 2011. HER JEWELS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH AT LEAST US$ 150 MILLION AND HER TOTAL FORTUNE WAS AROUND A BILLION US DOLLARS. CHRISTIE'S WILL AUCTION A PORTION OF HER BEAUTIFUL BLING, MOST OF WHICH WERE GIVEN BY HER HUSBANDS AND ADMIRERS.
ALMOST ALL HAVE A STORY TO TELL SO WHEN YOU BUY ONE, YOU WILL BE OWNING A PIECE OF CINEMATIC HISTORY AS ELIZABETH TAYLOR WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST MOVIE STARS AND POSSIBLY THE GREATEST ACTRESS AND CERTAINLY THE RICHEST IN THE HSTORY OF HOLLYWOOD WHICH EXPLAINS WHY CHRISTIE'S IS CALLING THIS SALE 'THE CROWN JEWELS OF HOLLYWOOD'!
The star of the show; the fabulous Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, D, 33.19 carats, VS1 Flawless, gift from Richard Burton, purchased at Parke Bernet Galleries, New York, 16 May 1968. Estimated price; RM 10 million.
La Peregrina Pearl, the massive 50-carat pearl owned by Queen Mary 1 of England. Early 16th century. Pearl, ruby and diamond necklace by Cartier and designed by Elizabeth Taylor with Al Durante of Cartier. Gift from Richard Burton. Purchased from Park-Bernet Galleries, New York on 23 January 1969. Estimate; RM 9 million
Suite of emerald and diamond jewellery by Bvlgari, 1960. Necklace; RM 4.5 million, pendant RM 2 million, bracelet RM 1.5 million and earrings RM 600,000
This emerald necklace alone is estimated at RM 4.5 million without the matching pendant which si another RM 2 million.
This matching emerald pendant is estimated at RM 2.2 million
This matching emerald ring is estimated at RM 2.4 million
This magnificent ruby and diamond necklace by Cartier was a gift from Mike Todd in August 1957. Necklace; RM 900,00. Bracelet RM 600,000. Earrings RM 350,000
This stunner is estimated at RM 600,000, a gift from Mike Todd in 1957
Close-up of ruby and diamond earrings by Cartier given by Mike Todd. RM 350,000
Ruby and diamond bracelet by Cartier from Mike Todd to Elizabeth Taylor. RM 600,000
Matching ruby and diamond ring of 8.24 carats, by Van Cleef & Arpels, gift from Richard Burton for Christmas 1968. Estimate; RM 4.5 million
Diamond and sapphire sautoir by Bvlgari 1969. Gift from Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor's 40th birthday in 1972. RM 2.5 million
Sapphire and diamond 'Trombino' ring by Bvlgari 1971. Estimate; RM 600,000WHO HAS NOT HEARD OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR, THE GRANDEST ACTRESS OF ALL AND THE FIRST WOMAN IN HISTORY TO EARN US $1 MILLION FOR HER ROLE IN 'CLEOPATRA'. us$1 MILLION TODAY IS NOT TO BE SNIFFED AT BUT IMAGINE HOW MUCH THAT WAS WORTH BACK IN 1963! SHE ULTIMATELY RECEIVED us $7 MILLION FROM THAT FILM ALONE WHICH MADE HER THE RICHEST ACTOR/ACTRESS OF HER ERA. MY FATHER SAID A NORMAL HOUSE BACK THEN WAS AROUND RM 15,000!
HER HIGHLY PUBLICISED LIFE INCLUDED 8 MARRIAGES AND SEVERAL LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES.
I THINK SHE WAS ALSO THE FIRST TO MARRY, DIVORCE AND RE-MARRY THE SAME MAN! HE WAS RICHARD BURTON OF COURSE AND MADE HISTORY WHEN HE GAVE THE FABLED 69.42 CARAT DIAMOND CALLED TAYLOR-BURTON FOR HER. THE MOST FAMOUS WAS THE 33.19 KRUPP DIAMOND WHICH SHE WORE DAILY. SHE ALSO OWNED THE LA PEREGRINA PEARL WHICH WEIGHS IN AT 50 CARATS AND WAS OWNED BY QUEEN MARY 1 OF ENGLAND. BURTON GAVE IT TO HER ON VALENTINE'S DAY IN 1969.
RICHARD BURTON THEN SCOUTED AND MANAGED TO BUY A PORTRAIT OF QUEEN MARY 1 WEARING THE PEARL. LATER THE COUPLE DISCOVERED THE BRITISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY DID NOT EVEN OWN A PORTRAIT OF QUEEN MARY 1 SO THEY LATER DONATED THE PAINTING AS BURTON IS WELSH.
SHE WAS MARRIED 8 TIMES TO 7 HUSBANDS. WHEN ASKED WHY SHE MARRIED SO MANY TIME, SHE ANSWERED, "I DON'T KNOW, HONEY, IT SURE BEATS THE HELL OUT OF ME. MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME IF I FELL IN LOVE AND WANTED AN AFFAIR, I WAS TO GET MARRIED SO MAYBE I AM AN OLD-FASHIONED TYPE OF GIRL."
WHEN IT CAME TO DIAMONDS AND BLING, SHE WAS BOTH OLD AND NEW FASHIONED AS SHE COLLECTED LARGE DIAMOND SOLITAIRES AS WELL AS JEWELLERY BASED ON DESIGN. AT HER DEATH HER JEWELS WERE WORTH RM 500 MILLION AND HER TOTAL ASSETS WERE RM 3 BILLION AS SHE OWNED A BILLION RINGGIT WORTH OF REAL ESTATE. REMARKABLY, THE BULK OF HER FORTUNE CAME FROM BUSINESS INVESTMENTS AS SHE WAS AN ASTUTE INVESTOR. HER 3 PERFUMES, 'WHITE DIAMONDS', 'PASSION' AND 'PASSION FOR MEN' ALONE SOLD RM 220 MILLION IN 2010.
NOW PART OF HER LEGENDARY COLLECTION WILL BE AUCTIONED ON 13 AND 14 DECEMBER AT CHRISTIES NEW YORK SO FANS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO OWNING A PART OF LA TAYLOR!
The Prince of Wales Brooch circa 1935 from the Duchess of Windsor collection. Purchased by Elizabeth Taylor from Sotheby's auction from Sothebys Geneva 1987. Estimated; RM 1.8 million.
The Taj Mahal Diamond circa 1628, Gift from Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor for her 40th birthday in 1972. Gold chain by Cartier. Estimate; RM 1.5 million.
The Night of the Iguana Brooch. By Tiffany circa 1964. Gift from Richard Burton on the premiere of the movie 'Night of the Iguana' 11 August 1964. RM 900,000
Gold and Ivory Necklace. Ivory opera passes, 18th and 19th centuries. Gift from Edith Head estate. The cheapest at RM 4,500!
Charm Bracelet ith 20 assorted charms! I love lucky charms and will make a bid for this one as many if not all of the charms were personally made to symbolise their love and for special occasions. RM 100,000.
The Granny Necklace. Given by Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor on the occasion of her becoming a grandmother. This necklace, by Van Cleef & Arpel 1971, has matching earrings. RM 550,000
Matching earrings to Granny Suite. RM 90,000
The Mike Todd Tiara, given by him to Elizabeth Taylor in 1957. This antique diamond tiara circa 1880 is estimated at RM 250,000.The turquoise and gold Cleopatra Mirror by Bvlgari, estimated at RM 25,000
This pair of the very important wedding bands of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starts from a very cheap RM 18,000! Even I can afford it but I guess by the time the gavel falls for the last time, it will be sold for RM 200,000 as the diamonds alone are quite big!
The Ping Pong Diamond. A group of 3 diamond rings, given to Elzabeth Taylor by Richard Burton for winning a ping pong match in 1970! How sweet and romantic! I am the world's backgammon champion but all I ever got were some drinks at the old Tin Mine at KL Hilton! RM 20,000
Pair of diamond and multi-coloured sapphire 'Ball' earrings by JAR. Bought by Elizabeth Taylor in Paris in December 2001. RM 450,000.
THE CROWN JEWELS OF HOLLYWOOD
CHRISTIE’S ANNOUNCES THE LEGENDARY JEWELS FROM THE COLLECTION OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR – FIRST IN A SERIES OF SALES DEVOTED TO THE FILM STAR’S LEGACY
A LIFETIME OF GLAMOUR AND GREAT MOMENTS REFLECTED IN AN ICONIC COLLECTION OF DIAMONDS, PEARLS, GEMSTONES, HISTORIC JEWELS AND STORIED GIFTS
GLOBAL THREE-MONTH TOUR OF COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS KICKS OFF SEPTEMBER 15 IN MOSCOW
NEW YORK – Christie’s is proud to announce details of the first in a four-day series of landmark sales devoted to the iconic collection of Elizabeth Taylor, the celebrated film star, fashion icon, and humanitarian. On December 13, 2011, Christie’s New York will present 80 of Ms. Taylor’s most iconic jewels in a special Evening Sale, followed by 189 additional jewels in two Day Sale sessions on December 14. Widely celebrated as one of the greatest private collections ever assembled, this dazzling array of jewels includes Elizabeth Taylor’s most iconic diamonds, gemstones, historic jewels, and one-of-a-kind creations, as well as a treasure trove of personal mementos and beloved gifts. The total selection of 269 magnificent jewels from this storied collection is estimated to achieve well in excess of $30 million.
“From her most jaw-dropping diamonds, gems, and one-of-a-kind historic jewels, to cherished ‘It's Tuesday, I love you gifts’, and never-before-seen keepsakes, Elizabeth Taylor's magnificent collection of jewels promises to captivate the auction world this fall. This is without a doubt the greatest private collection of jewelry ever assembled in one place, and Christie's is honored to have been entrusted with the global tour of the collection this fall, and the sale of the collection in its entirety this December,” said Marc Porter, Chairman and President of Christie's Americas.
“Elizabeth Taylor’s passion for jewelry was well-known, but it is her depth of knowledge about fine jewelry that truly impresses,” added François Curiel, International Jewelry Director and President of Christie's Asia. “From the first time I met her in 1998, it was clear that she possessed an expert’s eye for craftsmanship, rarity, quality and history. She collected the best pieces from the best periods, and as a result her collection boasts exquisite examples from the most celebrated of jewelry designers, including BVLGARI, Boucheron, Cartier, JAR, Schlumberger, Tiffany, and Van Cleef & Arpels, among others.
Elizabeth Taylor always planned to offer her collection of jewelry at auction and I hope that the next owner of each of these iconic pieces will enjoy and respect these jewels just as much as she did, and as she herself said, ‘give them a really good home’”.
No comments:
Post a Comment