Elizabeth Taylor’s Charm Bracelets

Elizabeth Taylor had several charm bracelets.  She wore them often in public along with the rest of her famous jewelry collection.  I have a copy of her book “Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair With Jewelry” and she’s got a few pictures of her bracelets in the book.  I bought the book several years ago just for my own reference and collection, never knowing the price of the book would skyrocket after her death.  It looks like it’s going for over $300 these days.  My copy’s pages came loose from the cover binding as soon as I got it.  I’ve read others have the same problem so it must be an issue with the book construction.  Maybe I should have my pages re-glued if it’s worth that much?  At any rate I love the book and have looked at the pictures often.

Elizabeth obviously had many love affairs in her lifetime, husbands, her acting career, and so on.  But she admits that her one constant love was her jewelry collection.  She shows off her extensive collection of diamond and gemstone jewelry in large color pictures in the book. Many of the photos are of her wearing her opulent pieces over a 60 year period, and she added personal and witty remarks about her jewels.  Most of her stories are of the men that gave them to her and the occasions they represented.  Her sense of humor shines as she reminisces about her decadent Hollywood life.

After her passing earlier this year, her jewelry collection will be auctioned by Christie’s auctions.  It’s estimated value is $150 million and includes some of the finest gemstones in the world.  One of them is the famous 33 carat Krupp diamond ring, and a 69 carat pear shaped diamond set into a necklace.  Most of the proceeds from the auction will benefit American Foundation for AIDS Research and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, both of which she founded and championed for over 20 years. The auction will begin December 3, 2011 at Christie's in New York City and the collection will tour the world for 3 months prior to that. Some of the stops listed are Moscow, London, Paris, Geneva, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Los Angeles.

One of my favorite chapters in the book is about how she acquired a diamond pin in the shape of the insignia of Wales from the Duchess of Windsor's estate, who also owned and wore many charm bracelets.  She met the Duchess when she was very young and then became friends with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor when she and Richard Burton were married.  Elizabeth admired the pin because Richard was Welch.  When the royal jewelry was auctioned in 1987 Elizabeth bid on it by telephone and even though the price went sky high she kept bidding.  She ended up spending $600,000 on it but she didn't care because she loved the pin.  Oh my gosh how fun would it be to have that kind of money to spend on jewelry?

All of the pieces in Taylor’s collection had sentimental attachments, including her charm bracelets.  First she is shown as a 15 year old girl wearing one of her first charm bracelets.  She then showcases several of her favorites, including one that has an opening locket with medallions engraved with each of her children's names.  She is also shown wearing a coveted necklace that includes turn of the century ivory theater tokens that was given to her by her dear friend Edith Head.  As a charm bracelet collector I can appreciate the emotion that accompanies jewelry, especially those pieces that are gifts.

Overall I have to say that every time I open my copy of My Love Affair With Jewelry I’m awestruck by the beauty of the jewels and also Elizabeth Taylor. Her spirit and generosity are evident in her stories and despite her star power she is endearingly humble.  At the beginning of the book she writes that she is merely the temporary custodian of her beautiful jewelry and that soon it will all be scattered throughout the world with new caretakers.   Nobody ever really owns these spectacular gems, they only experience their magic and presence for a while.  I like that, it reminds me of charm bracelets.

Summary

Article Name

Elizabeth Taylor's Charm Bracelets

Description

In this book Elizabeth Taylor showcases her jewelry collection and tells the stories of how she came to receive these baubles and trinkets from the loves in her life

Author

Fitzcharming

Tags: charm bracelet, Elizabeth Taylor, Krupp Diamond, Taylor-Burton Diamond

Category: Other Beautiful Jewelry