Some things are worth waiting for, and standing in long lines to view Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels is one of them!<\/p>\n
I was among the first admitted to the viewing when it opened on Saturday (thanks to my being a “regular” at Christie’s for 30 years and having been given a VIP pass), and it made it much easier for me to take my time and really view things carefully. While there were many pieces that were not really anything special, there were some that truly filled me with joy and made me feel privileged to have been able to see them. There were four lots in particular — 11, 12, 26, and 77 — which rank among the finest and rarest I’ve ever seen at auction or elsewhere in my lifetime!<\/p>\n
Lot 11 is a pair of natural<\/em> pearl earrings that are amazing for their design, their size, and their spectacular quality — the surfaces were almost flawless, they exude an exceptional deep, intense luster, and their shapes are incredibly symmetrical and perfectly balanced. I can’t recall ever seeing another pair of natural pearl earrings of such near-perfection. And I also liked the fact that the tops were round “button” shapes; the somewhat flattened bottom portion allowed the pearl to fit closer to the ear so that the pear-shape drops hung more elegantly. The round button tops are approximately 15 mm in diameter; the pear-shape drops measure approximately 12 x 12 x 18 mm \u00a0for the slightly longer of the 2, and 12 x 12 x 16 for the shorter….and the slight difference in length doesn’t bother me in the least!<\/p>\n Lot 12 is the famous “La Peregrina” pearl necklace made by Cartier. As many of you may know, I talk about this pearl and its famous history in my book, The Pearl Book<\/em>,\u00a0so to actually see it first hand was a powerful experience for me. The other natural pearls were also exceptional for their color, lustrousness, and size. And for me it was fascinating to learn that there are 3 CULTURED pearls among the pearls in the necklace. The point for me being that this — <\/em>Cartier NOT being able to find 3 more natural pearls of the size, shape, color to match the others —<\/em>\u00a0clearly underscores the the rarity of such pearls. And one almost forgets the rubies — which are also exceptional — and diamonds!<\/p>\n Elizabeth clearly loved emeralds, and there are many emerald pieces on display, but only one emerald captured my attention — Lot # 26. The color represents the finest color to be found in an emerald! Classified on the lab report from AGL as “Classic Colombian” material, its color evokes images of the emeralds from Muzo or Chivor that were shipped to European royalty for centuries, but I suspect it would be difficult to find another, even among the Crown Jewels, that rivals this one for color, size and clarity. In terms of clarity, while some inclusions can be seen with the eye, there is evidence of \u00a0“insignificant to faint” ‘oil only, making it exceptional for that reason as well. Its measures 19.38 x 15.36 x 8.23 mm.(no weight was given due to the difficulty of estimating the weight when a stone is cut the way this one is cut on the pavilion–very “full”) and this, combined with its mesmerizing color, is the type of gem that simply jumps out at you from across the room.<\/p>\n And I’ve saved the best for last. Lot #77. A natural, untreated, Burma ruby weighing 8.24 carats. This is the finest ruby I’ve ever seen, and sets a new standard for the term “Regal Ruby”! As a gem associated with passion and women of strength, what could be more fitting than its belonging to Elizabeth Taylor. And when Richard Burton said he was going to find the most perfect ruby in the world, he succeeded! It’s color is the ideal, it’s flawless to the naked eye, it’s oval shape is beautifully cut, resulting in a ruby with unusual overall brilliance. The ruby is surrounded by very fine oval-shape diamonds, in a classic design. My only regret is that I am not a contender to own it….I’m betting this ruby ring sets an all-time record for any ruby….and one that will not be matched again in my lifetime!<\/p>\n So for those of you who can…don’t miss this amazing exhibition. And the clothing and art are nice, too!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some things are worth waiting for, and standing in long lines to view Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels is one of them! 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