When we talk about Elizabeth Taylor, immediately a picture of glamor, sophistication, dazzling jewelry and elegant poise comes to our mind. The Hollywood legend however was much more than her several marriages, affairs, luxurious possessions and love for expensive jewelry. She was a humanitarian and activist at heart.
Elizabeth Taylor, who was also called the Queen of Hollywood, began her showbiz career in 1940 at a tender age and by 1960’s she became the highest paid actress of all times in Hollywood. The American Film Institute named her the seventh-greatest female screen legend of Classic Hollywood cinema in 1999. Her beauty and violet eye color was mesmerizing and a marvel to many. She won many hearts with her fantastic performances in films like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Suddenly, Last Summer, Butterfield 8, Cleopatra, among many others. More than her professional life as a brilliant actress, her personal life was always at the forefront and a point of discussion. Taylor was married 8 times to seven men and had converted to Judaism. She enjoyed a jet-set and lavish lifestyle. She was one of the first celebrities to be part of HIV/AIDS activism and even helped in raising more than $270 million for the cause.
Taylor began her perfume brand and two of her best-selling fragrances were Passion in 1987, and White Diamonds in 1991. She later had 11 fragrances marketed in her name. British newspaper ‘The Guardian’ had estimated that more than half of her estimated $600 million-$1 billion estate included revenue from fragrances alone. Elizabeth later founded her own jewelry company called ‘House of Taylor’, which was in collaboration with Kathy Ireland and Jack and Monty Abramov
Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor’s penchant for stunning jewels is no secret. She collected some of the finest and most exquisite pieces of jewelry throughout her life. Her love affair with men and jewelry was well-known and the love for the latter, made her amass some pretty impressive and envious collections known through history. She owned valuable pieces from the best jewelers including Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels and Bulgari. The eight times married Taylor had some of the most breathtaking pieces gifted to her by her fifth husband Richard Burton and third husband Mike Todd. Burton once famously joked about his wife saying, “I introduced her to beer and she introduced me to Bulgari.” On another occasion the Welsh actor also said, “the only Italian Elizabeth knows is Bulgari.” On a serious note, the man has given her some of the most exquisite pieces from the Italian brand of Jewelry. Elizabeth’s obsession for high and rare jewelry has made world records auctioning some of those pieces. Here’s a look at some of her most prized possessions.
1. The Daisy Necklace and Earrings
Taylor wore this charmingly exquisite necklace to the 1993 Oscars where she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. She wore it with a beige low-neck gown and paired it with matching earrings. It consisted of pavé-set white diamond petals, pavé-set yellow pistils and chrysoprase leaves.
2. Asscher Cut Diamond Ring
One piece of jewelry that Elizabeth wore more than any other was the massive asscher cut diamond ring given to her by Richard Burton in 1968. It became her signature jewel.The gorgeous ring was massive and weighed 33.19-carats in total. The ring boasted a diamond that was known to be the most perfectly cut, having proportioned facets that beamed brilliance. It was a flawless gem and Burton bid a high price for it at the Parke-Bernet Galleries in New York. The ring was later renamed by Christie’s as the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond.
3. The Emerald Parure
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Elizabeth Taylor’s emerald suit comprised an Emerald Necklace, Emerald and Diamond Pendant, with matching set of Earrings, Emerald Ring and also a Bracelet. On many occasions, she wore the pendant also as a brooch. The set was gifted to her by her husband Richard Burton. His many trips to the Bulgari boutique at the Via Condotti in Rome from 1962 - 1967, helped him acquire the exquisite pieces. Richard Burton gifted Elizabeth the Emerald and Diamond brooch at their engagement and the Necklace was a wedding present. The stunning Earrings, bracelet, and ring followed after that.
4. Ruby Parure
Elizabeth’s third husband Mike Todd gave her the stunning ruby parure by Cartier. It comprised a necklace, matching earrings and a bracelet. She was just 24 years old at the time and pregnant with her daughter Liza. The spectacular bib necklace was made of oval, cushion, and round-shaped rubies with baguette and round-cut diamonds. The rubies were set in gold while the diamonds were set in platinum. The stunning necklace can also be worn as a tiara.
Some of Elizabeth’s other prized jewelry possessions included the 69.42-carat (13.884 g) Taylor-Burton Diamond, and the 50-carat (10 g) La Peregrina Pearl, 321-carat Burmese sapphire pendant, among many others.
Emerald Floral Brooch
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Cluster Round Baguette Brooch Pin
Apart from owning some of the most exquisite jewelry designs, Elizabeth Taylor was also known for her humanitarian work. She played an active role in the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), and the establishment of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF).
In the early 1980’s Taylor started her work as the spokesperson and fundraiser for AIDS. Along with Dr. Mathilde Krim and a small group of physicians and scientists, Taylor started the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). She was the founding National Chairman of amfAR and used her celebrity status to make people aware of the HIV/AIDS virus.
Elizabeth began The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) that provided direct funding to AIDS organizations throughout the world, provided direct patient care, and provided assistance to people living with AIDS. At present the organization is working towards providing mobile medical van units, providing doctors and medicines directly to people is an emergency and urgent need, be it in cities in the United States or in villages throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Ms. Taylor was in fact one of the first celebrities who was outspoken about the AIDS virus that mysteriously seemed to have appeared in the 1980’s. The deadly virus’s origin was unknown and it sent shockwaves through communities along with a stigma attached to it. Taylor once said if anything, she would like to be remembered for her relentless work in fighting AIDS.
Ms. Taylor’s passing in March 2011 didn’t put an end to her altruistic work and charity. It now continues through her family members who are carrying forward her legacy. Naomi deLuce Wilding is one of them, who is Taylor’s granddaughter (Michael Wilding Jr’s daughter, who is Taylor’s first son). Naomi is an accomplished fashion director, stylist, art gallerist, and activist. Talking about her grandmother’s legacy of philanthropy and carrying it forward, Naomi said, “It's difficult to walk in her shoes — she was uniquely able to do what she did because of her visibility. As a family, we're really conscious of the fact that by joining forces, we send a very strong message of being inspired by her activism. We are moved by her passion for HIV and AIDS in particular. I think what's also very relevant now, and the reason she chose this particular cause, is that she recognized immediately that it was an issue of discrimination and stigma; that it was ultimately a social justice issue. And that's why she was uniquely positioned to fight this fight.
In the years that have passed since then, we've developed many medical advances and we're armed with so much more to fight the battle against HIV and AIDS. And once again, we're looking at this stigma that's holding us back. Stigma, and again, social justice issues such as poverty and racism that are keeping us from reaching an AIDS-free generation. Conversation, education, and sharing this message is very important right now. We're amazingly positioned in the world at the moment, I think, to really bring about great change.”
Speaking fondly of her grandmother Naomi added, “I think she was uncompromising. And when you look at the life that she led, privately and publicly, that to me is the message that comes across the strongest. People also knew that she was an incredibly loving human being, loving to her family. And her battle for those who were suffering with HIV and AIDS also gave insight to how loving she was, and that the idea of universal compassion and justice was a driving force for her. Those are the things that made up who she was in the strongest way possible, and I think most people are really aware of that.”
