Elizabeth Taylor Jewellery Auction - Part 9

The Daisy Parure

Necklace, Earrings and Brooch of diamond, colour diamond and chrysoprase mounted in 18kt gold. Made by Van Cleef & Arpels

The necklace was made in 1990 and is 14½" in length. The earrings made in 1992 and the brooch in 1993.

Estimate $200,000 - $300,000 for the set

I don't pretend to be an ordinary housewife.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor Jewellery Auction - Part 8

Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses.
Elizabeth Taylor

Ruby and Diamond Horse Brooch

An 18k yellow gold horse with round diamonds, square cut rubies and cabochon ruby eye

Estimate $2,000 - $4,000

Diamond, Enamel and Multi Gem Dragonfly Brooch

Opals, rubies, sapphires, opals and diamonds - the 5 main gem groups!

Estimate $6,000 - $8,000

Made by Boucheron this Art Nouveau enamel and multi gem butterfly brooch has an aquamarine and opal body. The enamel wings have cabochon rubies and calebre cut emeralds. Oh and I can't forget to mention the diamond head. Circa 1900

Estimate $10,000 - $15,000

Elizabeth Taylor Jewellery Auction - Part 7

It's not the having, it's the getting.
Elizabeth Taylor

Made by the House of Taylor

Baguette and circular cut diamonds and cultured pearls set in 18kt white gold.
The necklace is 14 3/4 inches and the bracelet is 7¼ inches

Estimate $100,000 - $150,000

Pink Saturday - November 26

Happy Pink Saturday! Thank you Beverly of How Sweet the Sound for hosting this day of celebrating Pink I hope you are feeling better.

This week, more of Elizabeth Taylor's pink jewellery.

Designed as a heavy link chain made of 18k white gold and pink sapphires. Total length 24 inches, this can also be worn as a necklace of 16½ inches and a bracelet of 7½ inches.

Estimate $10,000 - $15,000

I fell off my pink cloud with a thud.
Elizabeth Taylor



Not my favourite piece, but hey it's pink!


Have you noticed the new look to my blog?
A little tweaking so that it could be connected to my new website
www.graciejewellery.com

Please take a look - and if per chance you find something you like
use coupon code PINK20 for 20% off. (expires Dec 1, 2011)
A special pink coupon for my Pink Saturday Friends.


Thank you for visiting. Have a great weekend.

Elizabeth Taylor Jewellery Auction - Part 5

Diamonds and Pearls, one of my favourites

Cultured Pearl and Diamond Ring

The cultured pearl is 14.50 mm (that means "big"). The diamonds surrounding it are pear shaped. The shoulders of the ring are set with circular cut diamonds. The mount is platinum. Engraved inside is "something old, something new"

A wedding gift perhaps? You pick the husband.

I am a very committed wife. And I should be committed too - for being married so many times. Elizabeth Taylor

Happy Thanksgiving!

To my American Friends

Happy Thanksgiving!

eat some turkey for me (I like the dark meat, just sayin')

Elizabeth Taylor Jewellery Auction - Part 4

Continuing our look of Elizabeth Taylor's jewellery

A Belle Epoque Diamond Necklace

Old mine-cut diamonds set in platinum circa 1900. Total length is 16½ inches.
Estimate $25,000-$35,000

*Bell Epoque - French for Beautiful Era. This was a period in European social history tht began during the lat 19th century lasting until WW1. The Belle Epoque was named in retrospect when it was considered a golden age when compared to the horrors of WW1. A comparable epoch in the US was dubbed the Gilded Age.

The Mike Todd Diamond Ear Pendants

Round cut diamonds set in platinum. The original pair of these earrings were purchased on the Place Vendome-the famous Paris jewellery street. They were actually "paste" but Elizabeth loved them. A few months later Mike Todd surprised Elizabeth by having the pair made up with real diamonds.

Estimate $25,000 - $35,000

I sweat real sweat and I shake real shakes.
Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor Jewellery Auction - Part 3

Diamond and Cultured Pearl Earrings

Round diamonds set in 18kt white gold in a spiral shape. A cultured pearl measuring approx 12.95 mm is suspended in the center. The pearls were added by Elizabeth.

Estimate $5000-$7000

Elizabeth Taylor's Jewellery Auction - Part 2

Part 2 of our look at the Elizabeth Taylor jewellery to be auctioned by Christie's

The Cartier ruby and diamond necklace Elizabeth received from Mike Todd while expecting their daughter, Liza.

Made by Cartier, this necklace has baguette cut diamonds with 7 oval cushion cut rubies. All are mounted in platinum and 18k gold. At just 14 inches in length, it is meant to sit at the base of your throat.

Estimated at $200,000 - $300.000The matching earrings are set with 3 oval cushion cut rubies and baguette cut diamonds in platinum and 18k settings.

Estimated $80,000-$120,000

To complete the set - a ruby and diamond bracelet. Ten oval cushion cut rubies and round cut diamonds in platinum and 18k gold. The bracelet is 6½ inches in length.

Estimated $150,000-$200,000


Not belonging to this set but would be a nice addition

A Christmas gift from Richard Burton, this oval cut ruby is approximately 8.24 carats set in a circle of round cut diamonds. The shoulders are set with small round diamonds. The unusual part of this ring is that the diamonds are actually set with yellow gold claws. Usually the claws are tipped with white gold or platinum so that the diamonds don't pick up the yellow colour.

Estimated $1,000,000-$1,500,000



Success is a great deodorant.
Elizabeth Taylor

The Taylor-Burton Diamond

The Taylor-Burton diamond

This is the best known of Richard Burton's jewellery purchases for Elizabeth Taylor. This is a 69.42-carat pear-shape diamond. It was cut from a rough stone weighing 240.80 carats found in the Premier Mine in 1966 and purchased by Harry Winston. Here there is a coincidence: Eight years before, another cleavage of almost identical weight (240.74 carats) had been found in the Premier. Harry Winston bought this stone too, commenting at the time, "I don't think there have been half a dozen stones in the world of this quality." This wouldn't be the first time the Premier Mine would have the last word because the 69.42-carat gem cut from the later discovery is a D-color Flawless stone.

After the rough piece of 240.80 carats arrived in New York, Harry Winston and his cleaver, Pastor Colon Jr. studied it for six months. Markings were made, erased and redrawn to show where the stone could be cleaved. There came the day appointed for the cleaving, and in this instance the usual tension that surrounds such an operation was increased by the heat and glare of the television lights that had been allowed into the workroom. After he had cleaved the stone, the 50-year-old cleaver said nothing -- he reached across the workbench for the piece of diamond that had separated from it and looked at it through his horn-rimmed glasses for a fraction of a second before exclaiming "Beautiful!" This piece of rough weighed 78 carats was expected to yield a stone of about 24 carats, while the large piece, weighing 162 carats, was destined to produce a pear shape whose weight had originally been expected to be about 75 carats.

The stone's first owner after Harry Winston wasn't Elizabeth Taylor. In 1967 Winston sold the pear shape to Mrs. Harriet Annenberg Ames, the sister of Walter Annenberg, the American ambassador in London during the Richard Nixon administration. Two years later, she sent the diamond to Parke-Bernet Galleries in New York to be auctioned explaining her decision with this statement: "I found myself positively cringing and keeping my gloves on for fear it would have been seen, I have always been an extremely gregarious person and I did not enjoy that feeling. It sat in a bank vault for years. It seemed foolish to keep it if one could not use it. As things are in New York one could not possibly wear it publicly." One might argue the stone was too large to be worn in a ring, let alone in public.

Elizabeth Taylor wearing the Taylor-Burton Diamond in a necklace
by Cartier featuring a number of smaller pear-shaped diamonds.

The diamond was put up for auction on October 23rd, 1969, with the understanding that it could be named by the buyer. Before the sale speculation was prevailing as to who was going to bid for the gem, with the usual international names being kicked around by the columnists. Elizabeth Taylor was one name among them and she did indeed have a preview of the diamond when it was flown to Switzerland for her to have a look at, then back to NYC under precautions described as "unusual". The auctioneer began the bidding by asking if anyone would offer $200,000, at which the crowded room erupted with a simultaneous "Yes". Bidding began to climb, and with nine bidders active, rushed to $500,000. At $500,000 the individual bids increased in $10,000 increments. At $650,000 only two bidders remained. When the bidding reached $1,000,000, Al Yugler of Frank Pollack, who was representing Richard Burton, dropped out. Pandemonium broke out when the hammer fell and everyone in the room stood up, resulting in the auctioneer not being able to identify who won, and he had to call for order. The winner was Robert Kenmore, the Chairman of the Board of Kenmore Corporation, the owners of Cartier Inc., who paid the record price of $1,050,000 for the gem, which he promptly named the 'Cartier'. The previous record for a jewel had been $305,000 for a diamond necklace from the Rovensky estate in 1957. A diamond, known as the Rovensky (actually thought to possibly be the Excelsior III Diamond), attached to the necklace weighed approximately 46.50 carats. It appeared in an article about diamonds in the April 1958 issue of National Geographic magazine, along with the Niarchos, Nepal, and Tiffany Yellow. As well as Richard Burton, Harry Winston had also been an under-bidder at the sale. But Burton was not finished yet and was determined to acquire the diamond. So, speaking from a pay-phone of a well-known hotel in southern England, he spoke to Mr. Kenmore's agent. Sandwiched between the lounge bar and the saloon, Burton negotiated for the gem while continually dropping coins into the phone. Patrons quietly sipping their drinks would have heard the actor's loud tones exclaiming "I don't care how much it is; go and buy it." In the end Robert Kenmore agreed to sell it, but on the condition that Cartier was able to display it, by now named the Taylor-Burton, in New York and Chicago. He did not deny that Cartier made a profit, stating "We're businessmen and we're happy that Miss Taylor is happy." Shortly afterwards on November 12th, Miss Taylor wore the Taylor-Burton in public for the first time when she attended Princess Grace's 40th birthday party in Monaco. It was flown from New York to Nice, Italy in the company of two armed guards hired by Burton and Cartier.

In 1978, following her divorce from Richard Burton, Miss Taylor announced that she was putting the diamond up for sale and was planning to use part of the proceeds to build a hospital in Botswana. In June of 1979 Henry Lambert, the New York jeweller, stated that he had bought the Taylor-Burton Diamond for $5,000,000.

By December he had sold the stone to its present owner, Robert Mouawad. Soon after, Mr. Mouawad had the stone slightly recut and it now weighs 68.09 carats. Before the recutting, the curved half of the stone's girdle had a very round outline, it is now a little more straight at that end. It also had a small culet, which was made even smaller after the recut.

Sources: Famous Diamonds by Ian Balfour and My Love Affair With Jewelry by Elizabeth Taylor.

Pink Saturday - November 19

Happy Pink Saturday. Thank you to Beverly from How Sweet the Sound for hosting our weekly pink meetings.

The epic jewellery collection that belonged to Elizabeth Taylor will be auctioned in December.

Because of my magpie obsession with all things sparkly, I will be featuring several pieces of the jewellery over the next couple weeks.

My Pink Saturday offering is

The "Triphanes" Sautoir was made by Van Cleef & Arpels.

A detachable pendant with an oval cut kunzite sits within a circular cut diamond setting. This sits in an amethyst bead frame with kunzite and diamond detail. Mounted in 18kt gold it is 27 inches. The necklace can be shortened to 19 inches or 16 inches and a detachable segment can be worn as a bracelet.

It is estimated it will sell for $70,000 to $100,000.

Can't afford that? How about a matching pair of earrings?

These are estimated to fetch $15,000 -$20,000.

Come back on Monday for another spectacular piece from Elizabeth Taylor's collection.

Almost Friday Giggle

Please share this butterfly with all your friends!
If You Do Not Forward Him
He Will Be Waiting For You On Your Pillow - Every Night!

I Had To Move Him On‚
It Just Wouldn't Be Fair To Keep Him.

Sunday November 13

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a reception and dinner in aid of the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal at St. James' Palace Thursday evening.

Pictures: Reuters

Remembrance Day - 11-11-11

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields.

Wear your poppy today in honour of all the bygone soldiers who gave their lives so that we may enjoy our freedom today.Wear your poppy today in honour of all the soldiers that are still fighting to keep our freedom.

The Cenotaph in Ottawa, Ontario

The cenotaph in my hometown

The cenotaph at Flanders Field, Belgium

My Family's Honour Role

Leslie Thwaites
86th Machine Gun Battalion
Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force
World War 1

William Ashdown
First Sergeant U.S. Army
89th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division
Killed Pearl Harbor 1942


Ronald K. Thwaites
Private - Army
Royal Regiment of Canada
World War 2

Charles Thwaites

HMCS
Royal Canadian Navy
World War 2

Armistice Day in England today

A Week of Remembrance

Remembrance Day (also know as Poppy Day, Armistice Day or Veterans Day is a memorial day observed in British Commonwealth including Canada to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty since World War 1.

Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918; hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice

("at the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 a.m.)

The day was specifically dedicated by King George V on 7 November 1919 as a day of remembrance of members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I.

The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields". These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

The common British and Canadian tradition includes either one or two minutes of silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month (11:00 a.m., 11 November), as that marks the time (in the United Kingdom) when the armistice became effective.

In Canada, Remembrance Day is a public holiday in all provinces and territories except Ontario and Quebec. Veterans Affairs Canada, a federal entity, states that the date is of "remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace"; specifically, the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, and all conflicts since then in which members of the Canadian Forces have participated. The department runs a program called Canada Remembers with the mission of helping young and new Canadians, most of whom have never known war, "come to understand and appreciate what those who have served Canada in times of war, armed conflict and peace stand for and what they have sacrificed for their country."

Poppies are laid on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Remembrance Day in Ottawa

The official national ceremonies are held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, presided over by the Governor General of Canada (the Queen's official representative), any members of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister, and other dignitaries and is observed by the public. Typically, these events begin with the tolling of the Carillon in the Peace Tower, during which serving members of the Canadian Forces arrive at Confederation Square followed by the Ottawa diplomatic corps, ministers of the Crown, special guests, the Royal Canadian Legion, the royal party (if present), and the viceregal party. Before the start of the ceremony, four armed sentries and three sentinels (two flag sentinels and one nursing sister) are posted at the foot of the cenotaph.

The Guard of Honour (a member of the Royal Canadian Navy at left, and the Royal Canadian Air Force (at right) at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Remembrance Day, 2010

The arrival of the governor general is announced by a trumpeter sounding the "Alert", whereupon the viceroy is met by the Dominion President of the Royal Canadian Leagion and escorted to a dais to receive the Viceregal Salute, after which the national anthem, " O Canada", is played. The moment of remembrance begins with the bugling of " Last Post" immediately before 11:00 a.m., at which time the gun salute fires and the bells of the Peace Tower toll the hour. Another gun salute signals the end of the two minutes of silence, and cues the playing of a lament, the bugling of " The Rouse"," and the reading of the Act of Remembrance. A flypast of Royal Canadian Air Force occurs at the start of a 21 gun salute, upon the completion of which a choir sings "In Flanders Fields". The various parties then lay their wreaths at the base of the memorial; one wreath is set by the Silver Cross Mother, a recent recipient of the Memorial Cross, on behalf of all mothers who lost children in any of Canada's armed conflicts. The viceregal and/or royal group return to the dais to receive the playing of the Royal Anthem of Canada, "God Save the Queen", prior to the assembled Armed Forces personnel and veterans performing a march past in front of the viceroy, bringing about the end of the official ceremonies. A tradition of paying more personal tribute to the sacrifice of those who have served and lost their lives in defence of the country has emerged since erection of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the War Memorial in 2000: after the official ceremony the general public place their poppies atop the tomb.

Similar ceremonies take place in provincial capitals across the country, officiated by the relevant lieutenant governor, as well as in other cities, towns, and even hotels or corporate headquarters. Schools will usually hold special assemblies for the first half of the day, or on the school day prior, with various presentations concerning the remembrance of the war dead. The largest indoor ceremony in Canada is usually held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with over 9,000 gathering in Credit Union Centre in 2010; the ceremony participants include old guard (veterans), new guard (currently serving members of the CF), and sea, army, and air cadet units.

A Week of Rememberance

I was asked to keep this going and I am gladly doing so

WHEN A SOLDIER COMES HOME

When a soldier comes home, he finds it hard....

...to listen to his son whine about being bored.

....to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.

...to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work.

...to be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad night's sleep.

...to be silent when people pray to God for a new car.

...to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.

...to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying.

....to keep from laughing when anxious parents say they're afraid to send their kids off to summer camp.

....to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather.

....to control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold.

...to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog.

....to be civil to people who complain about their jobs.

....to just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation a year.

....to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.

The only thing harder than being a Soldier...

Is loving one.