In 2011, Christie’s called Elizabeth Taylor’s extensive jewelry collection “Hollywood’s Crown Jewels.” While most of these treasured pieces remain locked away by collectors, one of his most prized brooches is now up for grabs.
The 18k yellow gold and platinum piece was designed by Italian jeweler Bulgari and adorned with cushion-cut blue and pink sapphires. It is also adorned with circular cut white diamonds that balance out the maker’s unique floral bouquet design. Its sparkling sapphires total 17.5 carats, while the diamonds are said to weigh 5.25 carats. Reflecting color and drama, the brooch perfectly reflects Bulgari‘s sophisticated design codes; a brand whose pieces Taylor avidly collected over the years.
New Orleans-based antiques dealer MS Rau recently acquired the multicolored brooch from a private collector who attended Christie’s ‘Crown Jewels’ sale on December 14, 2011 in New York City. That day, the two sessions brought in a total of $21.3 million for her assortment of historic jewelry and one-of-a-kind creations.
Taylor even wrote a book dedicated to his collection.
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A few of the dazzling lots included Van Cleef & Arpels necklaces, David Webb bracelets, a Jean Schlumberger gold case and diamond-set Chopard offerings. The brooch was estimated to sell for between $8,000 and $10,000, instead it sold for nearly seven times those projections at $68,500.
“I never thought of my jewelry as trophies,” the British-American actress shared in her 2002 book, Elizabeth Taylor: My love affair with jewelry. “I am here to care for it and love it, because we are only temporary guardians of beauty.”
Unlike many of her peers, Taylor was known for owning her jewelry rather than just borrowing it for special events. Many of her most prized pieces, in fact, we bought from her husbands. Taylor’s most famous piece of jewelry is a 69.42-carat pear-shaped diamond, known as the Taylor-Burton Diamond when actor Richard Burton bought it for her. She wore the piece to the Oscars in 1970.
The newly listed brooch from Taylor’s distinguished jewelry portfolio is signed “Bvlgari” with a French trial mark and maker’s mark for $88,500. Contact MS Rau for details.
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