LOS ANGELES — Margot Robbie wore Elizabeth Taylor’s Cartier Taj Mahal diamond necklace to the world premiere of “Wuthering Heights” at the TCL Chinese Theatre Wednesday night. The rare loan, confirmed by the Elizabeth Taylor Archive and Estate, renewed attention on the late star’s jewels and the record-setting sale that followed her death, Jan. 28, 2026.
Robbie paired the pendant with a sculpted Schiaparelli gown and said she and stylist Andrew Mukamal try to be “intentional” with every look, People reported. “This necklace … feels like a very romantic history,” she said.
That romance is literally etched into the jewel. The heart-shaped diamond bears an inscription in Parsee that reads “Love is Everlasting,” along with the name of Nur Jahan, a Mughal empress, details Vogue wrote after the premiere. The diamond later passed through royal hands before Cartier set it in the necklace that became one of Elizabeth Taylor’s most recognizable pieces.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Taj Mahal diamond returns to the red carpet
Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor the Taj Mahal diamond necklace for her 40th birthday in 1972, and it quickly became part of her public image — a piece that blended celebrity spectacle with museum-grade provenance. Its latest appearance underscored how carefully the Taylor estate is managing access to the collection: Town & Country reported the estate was approached months in advance about the loan, and a trustee described the request as a natural fit for a gothic love story premiere.
“We were thrilled when Andrew got in touch,” trustee Tim Mendelson said, according to the magazine, calling the Taj Mahal diamond a symbol of “epic” love. Town & Country also reported that the pendant sold at Christie’s in 2011 for about $8.8 million before questions from the buyer led to a return and a dispute, leaving the piece with the Elizabeth Taylor estate.
Elizabeth Taylor’s $137 million auction legacy still sets the pace
Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry didn’t just break records; it reset expectations for what celebrity provenance can do to a price tag. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2011 that Christie’s two-day jewelry sale topped $137 million, with La Peregrina — the pearl necklace associated with Taylor — selling for $11.8 million and the Taj Mahal diamond reaching $8.8 million.
CBS News reported days later that the broader Christie’s auctions totaled $157 million and that the gems accounted for $137 million — then billed as the most valuable private jewelry sale in history. More than a decade later, that figure still functions as shorthand for “unrepeatable” in the auction world.
That staying power shows up in industry comparisons: National Jeweler noted in 2023 that Elizabeth Taylor’s private collection remained the benchmark at about $137.2 million. And while many pieces are now in private hands, some have resurfaced through loans or brand archives, as a 2025 People report on where the jewels ended up described.
For collectors and fans, Robbie’s red-carpet moment served as a reminder that Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels aren’t just expensive — they’re portable mythology. One necklace, one night, and the legend is back in the spotlight.
