DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
RICHARD BURTON FAMOUSLY SPLURGED ON THE BLING WHEN IT CAME TO ELIZABETH TAYLOR. MARION McMULLEN LOOKS AT WHY DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND
RICHARD BURTON always knew the perfect gift to give his film star wife Elizabeth Taylor... diamonds.
She once said: “My mother says I didn’t open my eyes for eight days after I was born but, when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked.”
Welsh actor Richard Burton married Elizabeth Taylor – twice – and happily indulged her diamond addiction throughout their relationship.
He gave her a 69.42 carat pear-shaped diamond costing more than a million dollars 50 years ago on October 24, 1969, and joked: “This diamond has so many carats it’s almost a turnip.”
It was the latest in a long line of high-profile jewellery purchased by the acting star. A year earlier he had presented Elizabeth her with the Krupp diamond ring, which he purchased for $307,000, and presented it to her on board their yacht moored on the River Thames.
He showered diamonds on the Cat On The Hot Tin Roof and Cleopatra star early in their relationship.
He gave her diamond and emerald ear pendants and a flower brooch from Bulgari in 1960 and she wore the pendants to the Paris premiere of Lawrence of Arabia and again when she co-starred with Richard Burton in the 1963 movie The V.I.Ps.
For her 40th birthday in 1972, he presented her with a £380,000 diamond pendant dating back to the 17th century and designed by
Shah Jahan, the prince who commissioned the Taj Mahjal.
He also staged a massive party in Budapest with a celebrity-studded guest list including Princess Grace of Monaco and Raquel Welch so Elizabeth could wear her new sparkling birthday gift.
The actress once said: “You can’t cry on a diamond’s shoulder and diamonds won’t keep you warm at night, but they’re sure fun when the sun shines.”
Elizabeth was not the only star who loved being showered with diamonds. Hollywood star and sex symbol Mae West once pointed out: “I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond.”
American funnywoman Joan Rivers obviously agreed, joking: “I don’t work out. If God had wanted us to bend over he would have put diamonds on the floor.”
Nine-times married Hungarianborn actress Zsa Zsa Gabor always left with the jewellery and admitted: “I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back.”
She counted Hollywood leading man George Sanders and hotel magnate Conrad Hilton among her former husbands, and the one-time Miss Hungary once declared she had never met a diamond she didn’t like. Her many jewels included a 66-carat necklace featuring 45 stones called simply the “King of Diamonds”.
Welsh singer Dame Shirley Bassey sang the 1971 James Bond theme tune Diamonds Are Forever and later pointed out: “Diamonds never leave you ... men do.”
Dame Joan Collins brought bling to US series Dynasty as Alexis Carrington, but once told an American chat show she often wore fake jewellery when out and about during the day because of the danger of robbery.
It’s not just muggers who are a danger ... there are also several diamonds which are said to come with a curse attached.
Legend has it that the famous Hope Diamond – 44 and a half carats – was taken from the eye of a Burmese idol and brings bad luck to anyone who owns.
The curse story might be because it belonged to French king and Louis XVI queen Marie Antoinette before they met their end at the guillotine during the French Revolution.
Another previous owner was American socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean and it is said she used to hang the diamond around the neck of her Great Dane, Mike, at parties. Evalyn died of pneumonia in Washington at the age of 60 and the Hope Diamond was later sold to settle her debts.
Queen Elizabeth’s crown jewels includes the colossal 3,106-carat Cullinan – the largest diamond ever discovered – as well as a diamond and pearl tiara bought by Queen Mary from the daughter of the Grand Duchess Vladimir and a diamond and sapphire necklace and earring set given to Elizabeth by her father King George VI as a wedding gift. Country and western star Dolly Parton also likes to sparkle joking: “It’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world”. Singer Cher has parted company with some of her diamonds. She put her white gold and diamond skull and crossbones necklace up for auction at Sotheby’s in 2006. It was part of a lot from her personal collection, with part of the proceeds going to The Cher Charitable Foundation, and made nearly $20,000.
But diamond-loving Zsa Zsa Gabor once pointed out: “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and dogs are a man’s best friend. Now you know which sex has more sense.”
It’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world.
Famously bling singer Dolly Parton