Legendary Jewels: Exploring the Jewelry Collections of Hollywood’s Icons

Legendary Jewels: Exploring the Jewelry Collections of Hollywood’s Icons

Throughout history, jewelry has been a symbol of status, beauty, and elegance. Hollywood’s iconic women, including Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly, have left an indelible mark on the world of jewelry, inspiring fashion enthusiasts and jewelry lovers worldwide with their collections of dazzling diamonds and timeless pearls.

Ahead, the jewelry collections of Hollywood’s legends and where to shop the looks.

Elizabeth Taylor

Known for her love of diamonds and other precious stones, Elizabeth Taylor was one of the most iconic jewelry collectors of all time. Some of her most famous pieces include a diamond tiara given to her by Mike Todd; La Peregrina, a 16th-century pearl necklace gifted by Richard Burton; and the Taylor-Burton diamond, a 69.42-carat pear-shaped diamond that was originally set in a ring before she wore it as a necklace.

Shop the look: Harry Winston’s Diamond Loop Pendant

 

Audrey Hepburn

From the oversized diamond Cartier earrings she donned in “How to Steal A Million” (1966) to the legendary 128.54-carat yellow diamond Ribbon Rosette necklace featured in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” Audrey Hepburn’s on-screen jewelry looks were nothing short of sensational.

Surprisingly, her personal jewelry collection was rather minimal. “Audrey really didn’t have very much real jewelry, ” says Christie’s private collections director Adrian Hume Sayer. “Pearls were an exception because she thought they were light and soft. They’re the only earrings in this model, and this type of fastening remained in her jewelry box at the end of her life.”

Shop the look: Tiffany & Co.’s South Sea Pearl Earrings

 

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly, later known as Princess Grace of Monaco, had a deep love for jewelry that was evident throughout her Hollywood acting career and her reign as a royal princess. Her diamond and pearl jewelry collection was nothing short of impressive, with many pieces gifted to her by her adoring husband, Prince Rainier.

Some of her most striking pieces were two Cartier engagement rings, a Van Cleef & Arpels pearl and diamond royal suite, and a sparkling Diamond Tiara of unknown origin. Each piece in her collection held a unique story and added to her signature style of understated elegance.

Shop the look: Chopard’s For Ever Ring

 

Marilyn Monroe

While Marilyn Monroe is often associated with a dazzling jewelry collection, the truth is that most of the diamond-studded pieces she wore were borrowed for movies and events.

The only items of real value from her jewelry collection were her diamond wedding band from Joe DiMaggio and a strand of Mikimoto pearls gifted to her from the Emperor of Japan. However, Monroe did have a signature piece that she regularly wore: a necklace composed of emerald-toned beads that added a touch of glamour to her iconic style.

 

Shop the look: Tiffany & Co’s Pearl Necklace

 

Jackie Kennedy Onassis

As a renowned style icon, it’s no wonder that Jackie Kennedy’s stunning engagement ring has served as a source of inspiration for countless brides over the years. The “toi et moi” design, crafted by Van Cleef & Arpels, featured a 2.88-carat diamond and a 2.84-carat emerald set on a band of baguette-cut emeralds and diamonds.

Jackie Kennedy’s jewelry collection was not limited to her iconic toi et moi engagement ring. During her engagement to Aristotle Onassis, the shipping magnate gifted her an enormous 40-carat Lesotho III diamond ring from Harry Winston.

Shop the look: Cartier’s Destinee Solitaire With Emerald Stone

 

About The Author

Debbie-Azar-100px.jpg

Debbie Azar is the Co-Founder and President of Gemological Science International (GSI), one of the largest gemological organizations in the world, and a distinguished leader in the global diamond and jewelry industry. As an executive with extensive knowledge of the jewelry and gem lab industries, her entrepreneurial skills and vision have helped GSI achieve rapid and continuous growth worldwide, establishing 13 leading-edge gemological facilities on four continents. She currently serves on the boards of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Responsible Jewellery Council, and Jewelers for Children, and is a member of the 24 Karat Club of New York. She has been featured in Forbes, Daily Mail, Good Morning America, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fox Business, Fox5, CBS2, BOLDTV, Varney&Co, The Street, and NASDAQ, among others.

Debbie Azar

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