The Story Behind Elizabeth Taylor's Jewelry That Kim Kardashian Wore
From Richard Burton’s romantic gifts to a multimillion-dollar auction, the Bvlgari emeralds have a fascinating history that goes beyond their extraordinary beauty.
by Kyla Villena
Published on Nov 4, 2026
Kim Kardashian celebrated her 46th birthday with a trip to the Philippines, where well-deserved vacation included scuba diving, spotting marine life (she even shared that she saw “Nemo” and plenty of turtles!), and watching colorful sunsets by the sea. But the celebrations didn't end with her birthday on October 21.
Days later, Kim headed to Rome, Italy, for the press tour of All’s Fair Season 2, in which she stars alongside Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash-Betts, Glenn Close, Naomi Watts, and Teyana Taylor. While in the city, she made a special visit to a Bvlgari boutique, where she was given a rare opportunity to try on archival jewelry once owned by Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor. “This has been pulled from the archives for you, Kim. This is not something we regularly do,” a member of the Bvlgari team told her.
Kim also thanked her stylist, Law Roach, saying he “really pulled some strings here.” During a phone call with him, she gushed that it was “the best birthday present ever.”
But what makes Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry so special? Read on.
A Closer Look at Elizabeth Taylor’s Bvlgari Emerald Suite, as Seen on Kim Kardashian
Throughout her acting career, Elizabeth Taylor amassed an extraordinary jewelry collection. Many of the pieces were gifts from her husband and fellow actor, Richard Burton, including the magnificent emerald-and-diamond necklace that Kim tried on. During her visit, Kim also wore a pair of emerald-and-diamond earrings, although these were not the same ones Taylor owned.
The necklace has an equally fascinating history. Richard gave Elizabeth the detachable emerald pendant, which can also be worn as a brooch, for her 30th birthday in 1962. Two years later, he presented her with the necklace as a wedding gift. Together, these pieces became part of her iconic Bvlgari emerald suite, which also included a pair of earrings, a ring, and a bracelet. Taylor was frequently photographed wearing the collection.
Following Elizabeth’s death in 2011, her extraordinary jewelry collection was auctioned by Christie’s. The necklace sold for $6,130,500, while the emerald pendant fetched $6,578,500—approximately P265.5 million and P284.8 million, respectively, based on exchange rates at the time. Bvlgari eventually acquired both pieces for its archives.
Christopher P. Smith, president of the American Gemological Laboratories (AGL), examined the stones ahead of the auction and explained, “The emerald and diamond necklace and bracelet from Bvlgari had a collection of very fine Muzo emeralds from Colombia, as well as a number of top-quality Sandawana emeralds from Zimbabwe.” Both sources were renowned for producing exceptional emeralds, adding to the significance of Taylor’s collection.
Recalling her connection with Elizabeth Taylor, Kim shared, “I was lucky enough to have [had] a phone conversation with her about this piece. When she passed away, I was brought into her home, shown her safe with all her jewelry before they cleared it out, so I was able to see everything in her home.”
The Bvlgari team sent Kim off with a heartfelt message. “We all admire you so much for the work you do, other than being a business woman, because that really comes through. That’s special for the brand, for us as a team.”
Kim then reflected on how Elizabeth Taylor has inspired her, not only through her unapologetic personality but also through her dedication to humanitarian causes and philanthropy. That commitment resonates with Kim, who has been actively involved in criminal justice reform, particularly advocating for incarcerated individuals. She shared, “I hope that this year brings all of the things that she would fight for and give me a little bit more of that spirit, so I just got a little jolt of her energy.”
Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.