Diamonds Diamond collectors The most mesmerising rock of them all, the diamond, transcends fashion, era and cultures, with new-age and yesteryear celebrities alike coming back for more and more f course, collecting is Beyoncé’s blast at the 2014 a game won by those who Grammys followed Carrie Ohave been at it the longest, Underwood rocking a $31 million but hot on the diamond-encrusted necklace designed by Jonathan heels of luminaries Queen Elizabeth Arndt the year before. II, Elizabeth Taylor and Madonna South Africa is a world leader are Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and in diamond mining and Charlize Charlize Theron. Theron is never afraid to fly her Lady Gaga is regularly lighting flag. She made a statement at the up red carpets in one way or 2014 Academy Awards with another, but the $30m Tiffany & a 21-carat emerald-cut stone Harry Co. 128.54-carat Tiffany Yellow Winston necklace that she paired Diamond necklace she wore at with diamond earrings for a total the 2019 Academy Awards was of $15.8m worth on Hollywood’s perfectly aligned to her A Star is biggest night. Born reincarnation. It was, in fact, Other notable sparklers the very necklace Audrey Hepburn include Cate Blanchett who wore wore when she promoted Breakfast $18m-worth of Chopard diamonds at Tiffany’s. Just a month before, at the 2014 Academy Awards, Gaga had dazzled at the Golden including opal earrings, a diamond Globes with a Tiffany & Co. bracelet and a pear-shaped necklace featuring a 20-carat pear- diamond ring. shaped center stone accompanied Look no further than the classic by 300 other diamonds and a fashionistas to see where these hot price tag of $5m. And it was her shots gain inspiration. Highlights emerald-cut Lorraine Schwartz of Queen Elizabeth II’s private earrings that made the headlines collection include the Timur Ruby, at the 2016 Academy Awards. The a 352 carat spinel inscribed with 90-carat stunners cost a cool $8m. the names of the Mughal emperors Another A-lister never to be shy who were its previous owners, with the bling is Beyoncé, who wore a diamond and sapphire necklace Lorraine Schwartz to the 2014 and and earrings, known as the 2017 Grammy Awards, with $10m Victorian Suite of Sapphire worth of chandelier earrings and and Diamond set, which were ➤ cocktail rings at the former and a 400-carat necklace and ‘that’ Pictured: Natalie Portman in ruby ring at the latter – taking the Harry Winston six-carat cluster total to $12m worth of diamonds necklace and oval drop earrings on the night. at the 2012 Oscars April-June 2020 Upward Curve 11 Diamonds Right: Antonio Stradivari’s Lady Blunt Below right: The famous Breakfast at Tiffany’s dress Below: Bonhams’ auction of a Ferrari 250 GTO in 2013 originally designed in 1850 and The collection included a Cartier gifted to the Queen by her father, charm bracelet featuring nine King George VI, for her wedding. jeweled crosses, engraved with love The Duchess of Winsor was notes ‘handwritten’ by the Prince, not such a popular figure. As well and a custom Van Cleef & Arpels as scandalously luring King Edward ruby and diamond necklace, which away from his throne in favour was a gift for Wallis’ 40th birthday. of marrying her, Wallis Simpson Wallis later had the necklace also managed to accrue a rather redesigned to feature an additional spectacular number of jewels cascade of rubies down one side. It during her 35-year marriage to the sold for £2m (US$2.5 today) when subsequent Duke of Windsor. The it was auctioned in 1987, along collection, along with a number of with a diamond and onyx panther items belonging to the Duke, were bracelet, which was also custom- auctioned at Sotheby’s Geneva made by Cartier for the Duchess. shortly after Wallis’ death in 1987. Rumour has it that Madonna At the request of the Duchess, paid £4.5m (US$5.25m) for the the proceeds from the sale, latter piece of jewellery when it was American actress, Elizabeth Taylor through Christie’s New York in 2011 which amounted to around £39m sold again in 2010. was also known for her love affair at approximately £74.9m. Some (US$48m), were donated to the with jewellery and amassed of the most famous pieces in the Pasteur Institute in Paris. This was Above: Queen Elizabeth II has an incredible assortment of jewels collection included La Peregrina, believed to be a gesture of thanks the best collection of all Right in her lifetime, largely thanks to her a 16th-century pearl, once owned to the Parisian people for taking the and below: Cate Blanchett and on-off husband Richard Burton. by Mary Tudor, which was gifted couple in after they were banished. Charlize Theron (2014 Oscars) The entire collection was sold to Taylor and with which Cartier created a pearl, diamond and ruby necklace (it sold for £7.6m); the Krupp diamond ring, a potentially flawless emerald cut diamond ring, which was a gift from Burton in 1968; and a Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond ring of 8.24 carats, another gift from Burton to Taylor. The formiddable Shakespeare actor Burton is said to have promised the actress a ‘perfect’ red ruby, but it was four years before he tucked a small box into the bottom of Taylor’s Christmas stocking, which she nearly missed when opening her gifts. ■ 12 Upward Curve April-June 2020.