TIMELESS BEAUTY

"Diamonds are a girl's best friend".  Where did that expression come from?  Was it Marilyn who coined it or was she the one who put it on the tips of our tongue?  Trends come and go, fashions have a tendency to recycle itself in interesting ways.  However diamonds seem to be as popular as ever.  Back in the 1960's, a one Carat, D Loupe Clean wholesale diamond was priced at about $2,700 U.S.  Today, that same diamond is worth more than $29,000 U.S.!  Its value has gone up more than 10 times in the last 50 years.

I understand that with the stigma of African conflict diamonds, the world's supply must be getting lower.  Canada is becoming a big resource for this precious gem.  One of Husband's cousins got one for her 10th wedding anniversary.  To my untrained eye, it looked massive and gorgeous!  What I find interesting is that some diamonds seem to be like new cars.  As soon as you drive that baby away from the store, its value plummets, while other antique or vintage ones become more valuable with age.

Elizabeth Taylor said it best "you can't cry on a diamond's shoulder and diamonds won't kieep you warm at night, but they're sure fun when the sun shines".  And who could argue with an icon who owned some of the most valuable examples in the world?!



allaboutgemstones.com

It was in the early 1900's the development of diamond saws and lathes enabled the modern cuts we still see today such as the popular "round brilliant"  In 1905 the largest rough gem-qualty diamond in the world was found by Frederick Wells.  From that, came the famous "Great Star of Africa" (far right). 

I just love looking at beautiful diamonds.  I'm drawn to them like a moth to a flame.  Our enduring love of this precious stone has been the headache and hearache for many (men mostly)!  I think that it has more appeal than other precious gems because of the fact that most diamonds have no colour.  It has a sparkle like nothing else, especially under indoor electrical lighting.  It basically goes with any outfit casual to elegant.  I feel that a woman seems more feminine with a diamond on her finger or wrist or dangling from her lobes.

Elizabeth Taylor Auction

The beautiful Elizabeth Taylor who passed this year left not only a legacy in film and humanitarian work, but a whole bunch of great stuff!

Christies's Auction House will be offering items from her estate for auction. Beginning in December one can view her items in New York at Rockefeller Center or in London, UK. Jewelery, clothing, movie memorabilia and artwork will all be available.

I am particularly interested in her jewelery, but alas, it is waaaaay beyond my budget! But drool over these stunning pieces! At the time of her death, her jewelery collection alone was reported to be worth about $150 million.

THE ELIZABETH TAYLOR DIAMOND
A Rectangular-Cut Diamond Ring of 33.19 carats D color, Potentially Internally Flawless, Type IIa
Estimate: $2,500,000 – 3,500,000

THE BURTON WEDDING BANDS
Given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton upon their marriages in 1964 and 1975
Estimate: $6,000 – 8,000

CLEOPATRA, 1963
An Irene Sharraf caftan, the nude chiffon ground appliqué with palmyra and lotus flowers in coffee and cream silks and beadwork, unlabeled, made for Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra
Estimate: $6,000 - 8,000 

Or for $20, you can buy the Christies Souvenir publication. It too looks yummy!

Calendar of events:

THE END OF AN ERA



utilandfutil.com


I was going to do a big retrospective of the late Elizabeth Taylor.  But I kept seeing tributes of her on televisions and in print.  I didn't want to repeat the same information so I let it go for awhile.  I knew that I wanted to say something about her passing, but what?  I thought about what Taylor represented.  Then I caught a bit of "Gone with the Wind" last night on television.  There I saw another female movie icon.  That got me to thinking how sad the passing of Elizabeth Taylor really is, as it signals the end of the golden era of Hollywood as we know it.  This violet-eyed beauty was such a perfect example of a 'movie star' not just an actress, which really are a dime a dozen.  Not many Taylors will come our way.  Today's disposable society doesn't seem to have the reverence nor the patience for movie stars.  A lot of women have enjoyed their 10 minutes of fame, then burned out like passing meteorites.  Very few are enduring symbols of Hollywood royalty.

My mom used to wistfully say that she wished the big, old time actors wouldn't age, that they could live forever.  I didn't really understand that statement until I was older.  When Paul Newman died a couple of years ago, I was so sad as it was yet another reminder that time doesn't stand still for anyone.  Even beloved legends.

katherineemmons.com

I'm glad to live at a time when I can still appreciate the golden age of Hollywood and marvel at all the new innovations of today's moving making.  I thank my mom for guiding me to appreciate people like Taylor, Newman, Hepburns (Katherine & Audrey), Leigh and countless others immortalized in film forever.  I miss them all...

Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton,and the Marriage of the Century



Vintage 1993 ELIZABETH TAYLOR GOLDCOAST Necklace MIB



Size 9 Vintage ELIZABETH TAYLOR BRILLANCE RING MIB



Elizabeth Taylor Taylored Style Necklace & Earring NIB



The Last Time I Saw Paris

On the weekend I settled in front of the fireplace, with my beautiful siberian husky napping on the rug and began watching "The Last Time I Saw Paris". A great 1954 movie with quite the cast!

Elizabeth Taylor
Van Johnson
Walter Pidgeon
Donna Reed
Eva Gabor
Roger Moore....yes, even before "The Saint" - handsome devil.

A traditional love triangle loosely based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's Babylon Revisited. A gem of a movie I had not heard about.

The point here is that I was drooling over the short hairstyles worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Eva Gabor and Donna Reed. So much so that I am seriously considering chopping my locks off. How elegant they are!

  

 

Of course, it helps to have Roger Moore standing behind you pouring champagne, while you recline in a stunning chiffon gown...but I digress.

Ah, the freedom and ease of short, sassy, sexy hair. I have been growing my hair long for so many years, that I have become weary with all the 'in-between stages'. It can be a traumatic event to cut one's hair short. I have done it in the past and it looked fabulous. Looking back however, these shorn haircuts also coincided with major changes in my life - as is often said, 'a change is as good as a holiday'. Perhaps I'm ready for a shakeup - or maybe I will just board a plane and take a holiday. It may be less stressful.

Have you ever made a major change and did it turn out the way you wished?