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The late Elizabeth Taylor, whose jewels are considered one of the greatest private collections ever assembled, certainly had an eye for jewelry, particularly diamonds, and some of her iconic pieces were--not surprisingly--set in platinum. 

Dubbed “The Crown Jewels of Hollywood,” by Rahul Kadakia at Christie’s New York auction house, the star’s jewels were part of a world-record-setting auction just before the holiday season. There were separate auctions for her clothing and accessories, but nothing matched the drama that happened Christie’s New York threw open the vault on December 13, 2011, and presented 80 pieces of jewelry in a special evening sale that  sold out fully, bringing in $115.9 million.

Vintage platinum pieces, from a stunning diamond ring to exquisite chandelier earrings, were among those that fetched some of the highest prices of the evening. In fact, the top-selling piece was a Cartier diamond, ruby and natural pearl necklace, “La Peregrina,” that was first purchased in 1969  by Taylor’s ex-husband Richard Burton. The rubies in the necklace, which fetched $11.4 million, were mounted in platinum.  

Another top-selling lot: a cut-cornered, rectangular cut 33.19-carat diamond ring, set in platinum. Estimated at $2.5 million to $3.5 million, the stunning Krupp diamond that Taylor reportedly wore every day sold for $8.8 million.  It was, again, presented to Taylor  by Burton, one of her several generous husbands, who bought it in 1968.

This diamond ring, set with a 33.19-carat cut-cornered rectangular cut diamond flanked on either side by a tapered baguette-cut diamond was a gift from Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor. It sold for $8.8 million at Christie’s Legendary Jewels, Evening Sale. Photo: Christie’s Ltd. 2012

When they married in 1964, Burton also presented Taylor with another stunner: an emerald and diamond necklace by Bulgari, estimated to be worth about $1 million to $1.5 million, which ultimately fetched $6.1 million.

An emerald and diamond necklace by Bulgari, featuring 16 rectangular- and square-cut emeralds and set in platinum, was gifted to Taylor by former husband Richard Burton. It sold for $6.1 million at the Christie’s auction.

Another top lot in the auction was a pair of natural pearl and diamond ear pendants by Bulgari that sold for nearly $1.99 million, nearly five times their estimate. The earrings were a gift from Aaron Frosch, attorney and friend to Elizabeth Taylor and Burton,  who bought them back in 1972. The earrings  were mounted in platinum with button-shaped natural pearl at the top descending via a circular-cut and marquise-cut diamond link to a detachable drop-shaped natural pearl.

Bulgari natural pearl earrings, set in platinum and featuring diamonds, fetched nearly $1.99 million at the Christie’s auction. Photo: Christie’s Ltd. 2012

Lot 7, a diamond and sapphire ring,  was a gift to Taylor from longtime friend Michael Jackson. Estimated at $80,000 to $120,000, it ultimately sold for $722,500. Featuring a pear-shaped diamond that weighed approximately 16.98 carats, it was trimmed with calibré-cut sapphires,  and mounted in platinum and white gold.

Another gift from Jackson was the stunning Michael Jackson Diamond Bracelet, a diamond-studded piece that resembled a wristwatch which went for $194,500 although it was valued at $30,000 to $50,000. At the center of the bracelet where a watch dial would be is a line of five rectangular-cut diamonds, within an arched baguette-cut and circular-cut diamond oval-shaped frame. It also has a three-row circular-cut diamond band and clasp of similar design, all mounted in platinum.

Longtime friend Michael Jackson gave this platinum diamond bracelet featuring a center line of five rectangular-cut diamonds within an arched baguette and circular-cut diamond oval-shaped frame to Taylor. It sold for $194,500 at the Christie’s New York auction. Photo: Christie’s Ltd. 2012
 
Jackson and Burton weren’t the only one indulging Taylor’s penchant for platinum jewelry.

Consider the Mike Todd Diamond Ear Pendants, valued at $25,000 to $35,000, which went for $374,500. Todd, the third of Taylor’s seven husbands gave the star the earrings in 1957.  The chandelier-style earrings feature what’s called a “girandole” design, suspending three circular-cut diamond drop-shaped pendants from an openwork plaque of circular-cut diamond flowers and bows, to the circular-cut diamond flower surmount, mounted in platinum.

These platinum diamond ear pendants, each with a girandole design, featuring three circular-cut diamond-drop shaped pendants and an openwork plaque of diamond flowers and bows, fetched $374,500 at the Christie’s auction. They were a gift to Taylor from former husband Mike Todd.