Taylor’s Lost Treasures: Where Are Her Jewels Now?
- Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic jewelry collection was sold at a record-breaking Christie’s auction in 2011 after her death.
- The auction raised a staggering $156.8 million, shattering all previous records for a single-owner jewelry collection.
- All proceeds from the monumental sale were donated to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF), continuing her legacy of activism.
- The collection, featuring legendary pieces like the Taylor-Burton Diamond and La Peregrina pearl, is now dispersed among private collectors worldwide.
The Final Act of a Hollywood Legend
For decades, Elizabeth Taylor was as famous for her breathtaking jewelry collection as she was for her captivating performances on screen. Her jewels were not just accessories but extensions of her persona—bold, rare, and full of history. However, following her death in 2011, this legendary collection embarked on its final, most meaningful chapter. It wasn’t locked away in a vault or passed down; it was sold in a historic auction to fund her other great passion: her fight against AIDS.
A Collection Beyond Compare
Elizabeth Taylor’s collection was a treasure trove of historical and personal significance, with many of the most famous pieces gifted to her by her great love, Richard Burton. Each jewel told a story of glamour, romance, and Hollywood royalty.
Iconic Pieces That Captured the World’s Imagination:
- The Taylor-Burton Diamond: A flawless 69.42-carat pear-shaped diamond that became one of the world’s most famous gems after Burton purchased it for her.
- La Peregrina: A magnificent 16th-century pearl with a royal Spanish lineage, which Taylor had set in a stunning Cartier necklace.
- The Cartier Ruby Suite: A gift from her third husband, Mike Todd, consisting of a breathtaking necklace, earrings, and a bracelet.
These were not just trinkets but priceless works of art, and the world watched with bated breath to see what would become of them.
The Record-Shattering Christie’s Auction
In December 2011, Christie’s New York hosted the sale of “The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor,” an event that drew global attention. The pre-sale estimates, though high, were completely dwarfed by the final results. The auction brought in an astonishing $156.8 million, setting a new world record for the sale of a single-owner jewelry collection. The demand was unprecedented, confirming the collection’s legendary status and the world’s enduring fascination with Taylor.
A Legacy of Activism
The most important part of this story is where the money went. True to her decades-long commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS, Elizabeth Taylor had willed that the proceeds from the auction benefit The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). Her jewels, once symbols of her personal glamour, were transformed into a powerful force for good, funding vital research, patient care, and advocacy work. It was a final, selfless act that cemented her legacy not just as a star, but as a dedicated humanitarian.
A Dispersed but Enduring Legacy
Today, Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels are scattered across the globe, in the hands of anonymous private collectors who seized the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of Hollywood history. While the collection may no longer be intact, its legacy is stronger than ever. It lives on in the record books, in the memories of her unparalleled style, and most importantly, in the continued life-saving work of the foundation she so passionately supported.
