But there is more wonderful history and re-use of this spectacular jewel than just in various films. The pearl and the necklace has a fabulous history that spans almost five hundred years!

The pearl attached to the marvelous necklace is called La Peregrina, which in Spanish means “The Pilgrim.” or “The Wanderer.” This pearl lives up to its name, having had many owners and traveled the continents, appearing first in paintings, a coin, and finally in film.

Originally the pearl weighed 223.8 grains, and upon its discovery around 1513 off of the Pearl Islands in the Gulf of Panama, was the largest pearl ever found.

From there, the Pearl was given into the hands of Charles Louis Napoleon, who eventually sold it to the 2nd Marquess of Abercorn, in whose family it would remain for some years.

On two occasions the pearl was very nearly lost by the wife of the Marquess. The first time was for a formal occasion at Buckingham Palace, when it was discovered missing from her necklace and was soon discovered having fallen on the train of another woman’s gown. The second time it went missing was at Windsor Castle, where it was eventually found on a sofa.

In 1969 the pearl was put up for Auction at Sotheby’s in London, where it was purchased for $37,000 by Richard Burton for his wife Elizabeth Taylor. Burton lavished jewels on Elizabeth, but especially enjoyed pieces with historical significance.

Not long after the purchase, the pearl went missing again, much to the horror of Elizabeth, who concealed its disappearance from her husband. After a quick search, she soon found the pearl in the mouth of one of her dogs - thankfully, the pearl was not damaged.

That same year, Elizabeth would wear the pearl for her small, unbilled role as a courtier in Anne of the Thousand Days, where it appears on a small platinum strand with several smaller pearls spaced throughout. Not long after this time, both Elizabeth and Richard agreed that the pearl needed a more secure and magnificent setting, and so it was given over to Cartier to create a fantastic necklace that would properly display the jewel.

The result was a glittering confection of diamonds and rubies, which Elizabeth later wore in Divorce His - Divorce Hers in 1973 and then again in 1977 in A Little Night Music.

The La Peregrina was then on display at the Cartier Boutique in Beverly Hills, on loan from Elizabeth Taylor for the 100th anniversary of Cartier in America. When Elizabeth Taylor passed away her jewelry was auctioned off at Christie’s. The necklace, expected to sell for two to three million dollars, wound up fetching a record 11.8 million.

To learn more about the history of this fantastic pearl, go here. Or for it’s later history in the hands of Elizabeth Taylor, where it appeared in three films, read Elizabeth Taylor’s My Love Affair With Jewelry.

Costume Credit: Katie S.

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