I am starting this blog with the most famous salt water natural pearl ever in existence; The La Peregrina Pearl. Beautifully adorned with rubies, this lovely salt water pearl has graced the exquisite neck of many queens, noblewomen and a hollywood celebrity.
The History
The La Peregrina literally means 'the pilgrim' or the 'the wanderer'. And true to its name, it has travelled through centuries adorning many beautiful women in the process.
Temez takes the largest pearl in the world, to Spain and gives it to Philip II of Spain who presents it to his new bride Mary I of England.
A part of the Spanish crown jewel, the La Peregrina became the all-time favorite jewel of Spanish Queens.
In 1808, Joseph Bonaparte (Napoleon's elder brother) was crowned as the King of Spain but within five years he had to abdicate due to the revolt. And when he fled Spain, he took La Peregrina and few other crown jewels too. He had it in his possession until his death and then left it to his nephew Napoleon III. Exiled in England, Napoleon sold it to an English nobleman, James Hamilton, who later became the Duke of Abercorn. He bought it for his Duchess Louise.
So from Spain to France and France to England, the 'pilgrim' stayed on with Hamilton's family until they put it up for auction in Southeby in 1969. And it was bought by Richard Burton for his wife Elizabeth Taylor (during their first marriage).
One of the prized possessions of Elizabeth's, the La Peregrina was put up for auction after her death in 2011. Fetching a record amount of $10 Million dollars, the Jewellers Symbolic & Chase are the proud owners of this prized jewel now.
Did you know?
Did you know that once Elizabeth lost the 'pilgrim' and after some frantic searching, found it inside her puppy's mouth who was chewing on it?
The History
The La Peregrina literally means 'the pilgrim' or the 'the wanderer'. And true to its name, it has travelled through centuries adorning many beautiful women in the process.
 |
| La Peregrina - 'The Pilgrim' |
Discovered on the isle of Santa Margarita at the Gulf of Panama in 1513,
by a slave who dutifully gave it to his master, Don Pedro de Temez, the
administrator of the Spanish colony in Panama. Apparently the slave got his freedom for this, which seems to be a fair bargain on the hindsight!
A part of the Spanish crown jewel, the La Peregrina became the all-time favorite jewel of Spanish Queens.
In 1808, Joseph Bonaparte (Napoleon's elder brother) was crowned as the King of Spain but within five years he had to abdicate due to the revolt. And when he fled Spain, he took La Peregrina and few other crown jewels too. He had it in his possession until his death and then left it to his nephew Napoleon III. Exiled in England, Napoleon sold it to an English nobleman, James Hamilton, who later became the Duke of Abercorn. He bought it for his Duchess Louise.
So from Spain to France and France to England, the 'pilgrim' stayed on with Hamilton's family until they put it up for auction in Southeby in 1969. And it was bought by Richard Burton for his wife Elizabeth Taylor (during their first marriage).
One of the prized possessions of Elizabeth's, the La Peregrina was put up for auction after her death in 2011. Fetching a record amount of $10 Million dollars, the Jewellers Symbolic & Chase are the proud owners of this prized jewel now.
Did you know?
Did you know that once Elizabeth lost the 'pilgrim' and after some frantic searching, found it inside her puppy's mouth who was chewing on it?
No comments:
Post a Comment