Musings & Insights

Elizabeth Taylor, the iconic Hollywood actress, was renowned not only for her talent and beauty but also for her extravagant and breathtaking jewelry collection. Throughout her life, Taylor amassed a stunning array of remarkable pieces that showcased her exquisite taste and appreciation for the finest gems. Let's take a closer look at some of the highlights from Elizabeth Taylor's extraordinary jewelry collection.

Precious jewels and gemstones were more than a covetable symbol of a monarch’s power, authority and prestige. They were also a valuable resource to forge and strengthen alliances, settle debts and should the need ever arise, even provide the means for an escape. Keeping the crown jewels safe during the turbulent times of war was of paramount importance. Here are a few interesting tales from history of how royal jewels were hidden to prevent them from being stolen.

Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt, was known for her beauty, intelligence, and wealth. She was also known for her love of jewelry. Cleopatra's collection of jewels is not well-documented, and much of what is known about her jewelry is based on legends. However, it is believed that Cleopatra's collection of jewelry was extensive and varied.

If you recently saw the movie Red Notice on Netflix, you may be wondering whether Cleopatra’s three eggs really exist. We’re sorry to break it to you, but they do not. The makers of Red Notice were likely inspired by the Fabergé eggs for their storyline. Find out about the legendary Fabergé eggs, a series of jeweled eggs created by the famous Russian jewelry firm House of Fabergé.

The magnificent crown that adorns Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin is none other than the Imperial State Crown. It is the same crown that the Queen wore following her coronation ceremony in 1953 and has worn during State Openings of Parliament every year. It is the crown she wore most often and therefore the most memorable of all the Crown Jewels. Made of gold, lined with purple velvet and glittering with over 3000 precious gemstones, it is truly an impressive sight to behold.

The world’s most famous pearl, La Peregrina (Spanish: Wanderer) certainly lives up to its name, proving to have an alluring and well-documented journey of over 500 years. Here is the incredible tale that sees La Peregrina pearl be worn by multiple royals, be rumoured to carry a curse and be gifted as the perfect Valentine’s Day gift to a Hollywood icon.

Green diamonds are extremely rare, and the pear-shaped, 41 carats Dresden Green Diamond is the most famous one of them all. According to scientists, its vibrant apple green color comes from natural exposure to radiation during the millions of years when it was being formed.

The Hooker Emerald brooch is named after Janet Annenberg Hooker, a famous philanthropist who donated the stunning brooch to the Smithsonian in 1977. The Hooker Emerald is a mesmerizing 75.47 carats emerald that legend has it, once belonged to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The historic emerald is considered especially rare for its intense color and lack of inclusions at its magnificent size.

The Ocean Dream Diamond is the only diamond to possess the rare color combination of a dark rich blue and a radiant green, thereby making it one of the rarest diamonds on Earth. Gemologists usually associate this color with artificial enhancement and it is just one of Nature’s surprises that the Ocean Dream Diamond possesses this hue naturally. There is no record of any other diamond with this color.

The Sancy Diamond has a rich history worthy of a movie plot. This beautiful pale-yellow, shield-shaped diamond has exchanged hands, changed countries, disappeared and reappeared more times than we can count. At one point, it was even swallowed! Here is the fascinating story that has made the Sancy Diamond one of the most historic gemstones in the world.

The Hope Diamond is regarded as the most famous diamond in the world. It is also one of the most valuable. This lustrous fancy blue diamond has had many titles including the King’s Jewel, the Tavernier Blue, the French Blue and a far less complimentary, the Cursed Diamond. Yes, legend has it that the Hope Diamond carries a terrible curse within it. Journeying through the hands of multiple owners from India to France to England and America, it always left an indelible mark behind each time.

Certainly, you must have heard of the famous Kohinoor but did you know that an exceptional diamond called the Little Kohinoor exists too? The Bala Koh-I-Noor or the Little Koh-I-Noor is a diamond that was once forgotten but now has rightfully assumed its place in history. Dr. Usha Balakrishnan, a renowned Indian historian of jewelry, traces the story of this legendary treasure across various manuscripts and archives in both India and the UK with only one word to begin her hunt with: Nizam.

We all know that there’s no such thing as too many diamonds, but Renani Jewels from Meerut, India, just took it to a whole new level! Their Marigold Ring, or Ring of Prosperity, has been awarded the Guinness World Record for the Most Diamonds in a Single Ring. But how many diamonds can a single ring possibly hold?