The iconic actress, Elizabeth Taylor got engaged to the love of her life, Richard Burton, with a Bulgari necklace and a pendant-brooch instead of an engagement ring. Here's the complete story!
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, better known as Elizabeth Taylor was one of the biggest actresses in the 1950s. The iconic actress began her acting career in the 1940s and became one of Hollywood's highest-paid movie stars in the 1960s.
In her illustrious acting career, Elizabeth Taylor was renowned for her exceptional acting skills, timeless beauty, affairs, marriages, and relationships. The actress lived a glorious life, and even to this very day, she is still remembered as one of the greatest female screen legends in the history of classic Hollywood cinema.
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Although the list of her successful movies is quite long, but if we have to pick some of her most memorable movies, it includes the likes of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Giant, Father of the Bride, Cleopatra, and many more.
The legendary Hollywood actress, Elizabeth Taylor worked in so many memorable movies and had an illustrious career that still serves as a benchmark for many renowned actors. However, apart from being a talented actress, Elizabeth was also madly in love with expensive jewellery.
The iconic actress had a collection of some of the most expensive rings, necklaces, brooches, and jewellery items. However, there was one jewellery item in Elizabeth Taylor’s collection that not only deserves a separate mention but was also quite close to her heart.
Yes! We are talking about Elizabeth’s Bulgari necklace and pendant-brooch, which she received from her husband, Richard Burton. However, not everyone is aware of the complete story behind this special jewellery item and why it was sold for more than 6 million USD in 2011. So without further ado, let’s get started!
Once in an interview with a leading publication, Richard Burton stated that he had introduced his ladylove, Elizabeth Taylor, to beer while she introduced him to Bulgari. For the unversed, Bulgari is an Italian company, one of the world's most famous and expensive jewellery brands. As per Richard, the only Italian Elizabeth knew about was Bulgari, such was her love for the jewellery that the Italian brand used to make.
Before their engagement ceremony, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton went to a Bulgari store to shop. The couple entered the ‘money room’ of the Bulgari store, which was the section with the brand’s most expensive jewellery. It was when Elizabeth and Richard saw an emerald and diamond necklace which featured a detachable pendant-brooch, which was quite popular in those days.
Talking about the Bulgari necklace, it had 16 square-cut and rectangular-cut emeralds on it. Each and every gem was surrounded by pear-shaped diamonds, which was indeed a work of art. Not only this, it was an 18-carat Columbian emerald, which is considered as one of the finest in the world. Not many people are aware of the fact that when Elizabeth got engaged to Richard, she wore the pendant-brooch instead of an engagement ring, as it was way too special for her and equal to a ring.
Elizabeth Taylor passed away at the age of 79 in 2011 due to heart failure. After her death, when her Bulgari necklace and pendant-brooch were auctioned in 2011 by Elizabeth Taylor’s estate, it was sold for a mammoth price of 6,578,500 USD. It was a world auction record for an emerald jewel as the price per carat of an emerald was around 280,000 USD per carat, which was truly astonishing.
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Elizabeth Taylor had multiple husbands, boyfriends, and affairs in her life, but it was Richard Burton, who loved her more than anyone else. Even she was madly in love with him and had some of the best moments of her life with him. The lovebirds met for the first time at a party in the 1950s. While Elizabeth was a famous British-American actress, Richard was a Welsh actor, who was renowned for his baritone voice.
Their second meeting happened in 1962, when they were cast in the film, Cleopatra. While Elizabeth played the role of 'Cleopatra', Richard portrayed the character of 'Mark Antony'.
It was during the film’s shoot that Elizabeth and Richard fell in love with each other. However, what was controversial about their relationship was the fact that both of them were married at that time, and it was an extra-marital affair that shocked the entire Hollywood.
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Elizabeth Taylor was married to Eddie Fisher, and Richard Burton was leading a married life with Sybil Burton. However, they left their respective partners and got married on March 15, 1964. After being together for some years, Elizabeth and Richard got divorced in 1974, and it looked like the end of their story.
However, the famous ex-couple, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, came together once again after parting ways and got married for a second time in 1975. But unfortunately, they couldn’t hold on to their relationship once again as it was nothing more than a sinking ship. As it was predicted by many people, Elizabeth and Richard divorced once and for all in 1976. After which, they never looked back at each other.
What are your thoughts about Elizabeth Taylor’s Bulgari necklace and a pendant-brooch? Let us know.
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