Rating: 
Summary: A Shared Treasure by a most Generous Custodian
Review: A wonderful storybook about some enchanting jewels cared for by one of our finest leading Ladies. This is a book I've long dreamt to see, even before the press releases about "My Love Affair with Jewelry" commenced to appear last year. Seeing the real gems would be nearly impossible even though Elizabeth allows most anyone to try on her mobile museum acquisitions.This book is a must for anyone who has an affection for our most sacred symbols of love and affection.
As a fine Jeweler, I love to pass on to my interested clients the rich folklore and captivating legends behind Elizabeth Taylor's jewels. I suppose there are enough stories for some of Dame Taylor's baubles to fill a historical text but this intoxicating tome is indeed a sharing tour of her incredible collection. You will certainly turn each page slowly, relishing the beauty, the dialogue, and certainly feeling very fulfilled when reaching the end many pages away. As an added touch to this very historical, personal and jewelry box of a book Elizabeth kindly invites her readers to contribute to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, her most noble cause as our grandest leading Lady.
Rating:
Summary: A sumptuous, gorgeous, superlative book
Review: Elizabeth Taylor's "My Love Affair with Jewelry" is a sumptuous affair. And perhaps affair is the best word to use in describing her feeling towards the jewelry which forms one of the most important private collections in the world--Taylor seems as intoxicated and bewitched by her jewelry as she ever was by true loves Mike Todd and Richard Burton (incidentally, the two husbands who gave her the most important pieces). The book is an enormous treat. Sit down and feast your eyes on the rubies, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and more which form the core of Taylor's collection. There are some misses (including an atrocious--and probably atrociously expensive--monkey necklace given to her by close friend Michael Jackson), but for the most part, the pieces shown here are beautifully designed, handsomely set, and studded with magnificent gemstones. Witness the cherry-red ruby Burton gave her one Christmas, set in a 14K gold ring and surrounded with enormous diamonds. Take a look at the famed Peregrina pearl--the finest and largest pear-shaped pearl known, and once owned by Anne Boleyn. Drool over the many diamonds (the Krupp diamond, the Taylor-Burton diamond--gosh, how DOES she keep track?!??). There are necklaces, bracelets, parures (complete sets of jewelry, from necklace to bracelet to ring to earrings and beyond), rings, and even the odd tiara and bejeweled evening purse. This is pure, unadulterated FUN and all the more so because of the clear and gleeful delight Taylor takes in her jewelry. Though she occasionally slips in a pious "The pieces aren't mine--I'm merely the custodian," we can see that she delights in ownership. "My Love Affair with Jewelry" is handsomely laid out and filled with first-hand accounts of the pieces, the occasions on which they were given (or bought, many times at auction), and the memories they evoke. The photographs of the pieces (the vast majority shown life-size) are interspersed with many never-before-seen photos of Taylor herself--sometimes with husbands, lovers, children, etc., but mostly just all by her glorious self, adorned with glorious jewelry. How fitting that the magnificent jewelry shown here should grace the person of possibly the most beautiful woman of the 20th century.
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite jewels for an Exceptional Lady
Review: Elizabeth Taylor's MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH JEWELRY is one of the most sumptuous and beautifully-made books on the subject of fine jewelry. This is not only a great gift idea for the Elizabeth Taylor fan or for jewelry lovers, it is also a wonderful book to be pored over time and time again. The quality of the photos is top-notch, many are full-page and in gloriously rich color. The book itself is quite large, so many photos of the individual pieces are enlarged to show the superb craftmanship and detail from the world's premier jewelers: Harry Winston, Bulgari, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Schlumberger (of Tiffany fame), and on and on. The stories behind some of these world-famous gems are quite charming and have been told in countless biographies of Dame Elizabeth. My favorite has to be the story of the Cartier-Burton diamond, at the time of its purchase in 1968, the highest price paid at auction for a diamond. The flawless 69.42 carat pear-shaped diamond was even featured in the Guiness Book of Records for many years. The pictures featuring La Liz wearing it are breathtaking. There is another story that Liz and Richard Burton were visiting Lucille Ball on the set of The Lucy Show, as Liz was going to guest-star in an episode. Of course, the Cartier diamond was the talk of the world, so Lucy asked if she could try it on. Liz Taylor has always been more than glad to let friends try on her jewelry, so she obliged Lucy. Well, Lucy could not get it off and she literally panicked. They tried in vain to get the ring off and finally succeeded, with much giggling from everyone. It is the spirit with which Liz Taylor enjoys her jewelry that I find so endearing and fun. Many of the pieces in her collection are of historical interest, like the Shah Jehan Diamond and the La Peregrina pearl. Liz even wore La Peregrina in a movie starring her husband Richard Burton. There are several movie stills showing her wearing it while in period costume. This is a book to be enjoyed for many years!
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Jewels of a Famous Actress
Review: I always knew that Elizabeth Taylor had a lot of expensive jewelry, but I had no idea what her historic collection contained. My favorite is the King Farouk bracelet. The Grand Duchess Vladimir's pieces are also owned by Queen Elizabeth. The rubies & emeralds are a color that is almost impossible to find. Dame Elizabeth has more than most museums do. This book shows us part (I can't believe she has even more than this) of the gems Liz has acquired over the years. This lady never ceases to amaze me.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible and Vulgar
Review: I can't believe I made it through this book without being sick to my stomach. Granted the jewelry is wonderful (thanks to the good taste of her beaus), but Ms. Taylor's commentary is vile, vulgar and completely disconnected with the other 99.999% of the world. Titles such as "Ping-pong Ring" and "It's Tuesday...I love you (here is a $1 million ring)" are completely and absolutely without taste. I understand that it is a photographic book first, but the commentary is beyond belief. I thought Ms. Taylor had at least an ounce of sympathy in her due to her work with AIDS - but almost every sentance left me thinking, 'what?! How can she write this garbage?!' She describes herself as a 'Broad' and that is the nicest word I can think of to describe her tacky attitude. Her comments to her 'friends' are rude and without class. It is pretty ironic that all her 'trinkets' of love came from men (with one exception) that she dropped (no more money, perhaps?). Only a self-centered person totally out of touch with reality would think this book solid reading material. There are many more wonderful books which describe truly breathtaking museum pieces.
Rating:
Summary: Grandma loved it
Review: I didn't read this book. I bought it as a gift for my 87 year old grandmother. Someone had mentioned this book on another website and I came here to look it over. I was impressed. The photographs I saw and the reviews were impressive. I knew she would love it. I bought it for her for Mother's Day. She phoned me to tell me how much she LOVED it! I've never seen her go on and on about a book. I know if she didn't love the book she would have just said "Thank you sweetheart." But this was a different reaction. Her friends have seen the book on the table in the living room and tell her how much they love it. And how the photographs are superb. I'm sure when I visit her I will spend hours looking at this book at her house. She told me that she spent hours and hours just sitting in the chair looking at all the great photos.
Rating:
Summary: Grandma loved it
Review: I didn't read this book. I bought it as a gift for my 87 year old grandmother. Someone had mentioned this book on another website and I came here to look it over. I was impressed. The photographs I saw and the reviews were impressive. I knew she would love it. I bought it for her for Mother's Day. She phoned me to tell me how much she LOVED it! I've never seen her go on and on about a book. I know if she didn't love the book she would have just said "Thank you sweetheart." But this was a different reaction. Her friends have seen the book on the table in the living room and tell her how much they love it. And how the photographs are superb. I'm sure when I visit her I will spend hours looking at this book at her house. She told me that she spent hours and hours just sitting in the chair looking at all the great photos.
Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous idea, a little sparse on content tho...
Review: I found the idea of a star like Elizabeth Taylor sharing the personal history of her exquisite jewels a truly original idea. As for the person who was offended by the fact that she'd received all her jewellery as gifts from husbands and friends...what's the big deal? The woman has given away millions, she clearly *can* buy any jewel that catches her eye. And when your husband buys you jewellery, technically, he's only buying 50% since you own half of HIM anyway, you're really buying half of it yourself. Back to the book...I found some of the stories touching, some of them just made me smile. The photography is very nice. It's the kind of book you can sit down with at night and savour with a hot cup of coffee. My only complaint was that the text in the book wouldn't fill a chapter of a novel. Perhaps it's best that way, tho. The pictures do speak a thousand words. Taylor's history on her jewels was an eye-opener for me. I never realized she was the rich, frankly. The stories of her shopping the globe's great jewellery shops was wonderful. What seems to permeate (sp?) the book, tho, is Taylor's gratefulness in being just the keeper of such fabulous rocks. She shows a love for her jewels and desire to share them with others. That fact alone makes the book a very pleasant experience. Recommened for the joy of jewellery; I liked it very much.
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite
Review: I have admired Elizabeth Taylor and her love of fine jewelry for many, many years. This book is a visual treat and a must have for anyone who loves jewelry.
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite
Review: I have admired Elizabeth Taylor and her love of fine jewelry for many, many years. This book is a visual treat and a must have for anyone who loves jewelry.
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