Cabochon emeralds, brilliant-cut diamonds, polished 18K gold, and platinum ELIZABETH TAYLOR AND DAVID WEBB "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," Elizabeth Taylor once said of her fondness for all that glitters. From barely-there baubles to diamonds of tremendous size, Elizabeth Taylor loved jewelry — and it loved her. Once she discovered David Webb's fantastically designed jewelry, it wasn't long before she amassed her own collection, including couture pieces that he made especially for her. I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine. You can't possess radiance, you can only admire it. – Elizabeth Taylor Those personalized pieces were clearly standouts among her collection. At a 1967 press conference for Dr. Faustus, when asked about her coral, sapphire, white enamel, and gold Maltese cross brooch, Taylor responded, "It's by David Webb. Maybe if I mention him, he'll give me a gift." I've never thought of my jewelry as trophies. I'm here to take care of it and to love it, for we are only temporary custodians of beauty. – Elizabeth Taylor Elizabeth Taylor also had a troupe of David Webb animal jewelry. A white enamel horse bracelet, a carved coral lion bracelet, and an emerald-set mythical Makara bracelet all once graced her wrist. One particular necklace made of two strands of pearls with a double-headed diamond and emerald lion clasp even made it onto the silver screen with her. In 1973's Ash Wednesday , Elizabeth wore all her own jewelry, including her David Webb pearl necklace, matching torsade lion bracelet, and diamond and platinum hoop earrings. Big girls need big diamonds. – Elizabeth Taylor Her tiger brooch even found its way across the Atlantic when Taylor and Richard Burton went on a trip to Amsterdam in 1965. The two were giving a press conference at Schiphol Airport, and the tiger brooch sat snuggly on her shoulder with his enameled stripes, dangling paw, and twitching tail. The feline was safely nestled against a woman who took such pride in caring for her pieces.
