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When I speak of famous pearls today, I am speaking of pearls that are famous enough to have a name. The one that always comes to my mind first is La peregrine (The Pilgrim) probably the most famous pearl today. This pearl has a very interesting history. And it brings many associations to my mind. This Pearl is huge, it weighs 203 grains. There are 4 grains to a carat, about the size of a medium sized olive. It is brilliant white with a near perfect pear shape. Richard Burton gave this to Elizabeth Taylor, during the filming of the film Cleopatra, which they filmed together. He paid $37,000.00 for this pearl in 1969. One story concerning this pearl and Elizabeth Taylor is that she had lost it for a while. Staying in Caesars Palace with Burton, she was distraught upon realizing it was missing. She surmised that it was lost in the shag rug, and spent several hours in her bare feet gliding around the room trying to feel for it. She finally noticed that one of her puppies was chewing on something, and did a double take when she saw that it was chewing on the pearl. After retrieving the pearl to find it without a scratch, she must have breathed a sigh of relief to know that she prevented a fit of anger from her husband, infamous for his Welsh temper.
Supposedly found around Panama, in the Caribbean. The story says it was found by a slave diving for pearls and was granted his freedom when his owner saw the value of this pearl. According to its story this pearl then became part of the Spanish Treasury. It was worn by Mary Queen of Scots on her Wedding day, as a gift from her husband King Phillip 11 of Spain. This pearl can be seen in many paintings by the famous artist Velasquez of Phillip 1V’s wives. The pearl then left to belong to become the possession of Joseph Bonaparte, who sold it to the Marquis of Abercorn of England to help ease some serious financial problems. The Marquis gave it to his wife who also lost it one evening at a ball, only finding it when she spied it in the velvet folds of another ladies gown at dinner.
And back to Elizabeth Taylor and another association is that she played Cleopatra in the movie with Burton. And if you have read my other story about another famous pearl and Cleopatra you will see why. This pearl reminds me of why the pearl is often called the “queen of gems”.
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