AuctionsFeb 21, 2023
At Auction, Talley’s Chanel Jewelry Is Tops AuctionsMar 27, 2023
Jewels to Shine in Upcoming ‘Golden Age’ of Hollywood Auction
The Kruse GWS Auctions sale will include the replica “Taj Mahal” necklace Elizabeth Taylor made with Avon as well as a costume piece Marilyn Monroe wore.
This rhinestone necklace worn by Marilyn Monroe is up for auction at Kruse GWS Auctions’ upcoming “Artifacts of Hollywood” sale.
Los Angeles—Kruse GWS Auctions will showcase impressive costume jewelry from legendary stars of Hollywood’s “Golden Era” in its upcoming auction, including Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Ava Gardner.
“The Artifacts of Hollywood” sale is highlighting the personal collections of some of the era’s most glamorous women, as well as iconic musicians like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin and Whitney Houston.
The auction will feature a variety of personal memorabilia, including jewelry, clothing, purses, shoes, movie props, and more.
These are a few of the auction’s most interesting jewels.
Marilyn Monroe’s Rhinestone Choker Necklace
The 15-inch necklace, seen at the top of the article, was owned and worn by Marilyn Monroe. It’s made of silver with round- and cushion-shaped rhinestones.
It comes from the collection of her personal hairstylist, Sydney Guilaroff, who worked at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios for more than 40 years on more than 1,000 films, said the auction house.
Guilaroff was the first hairstylist to receive an on-screen credit in a film and was a confidante to many of the day’s stars, including Monroe, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, and Hepburn.
A number of celebrity-worn jewels from his collection are heading to the upcoming auction.
In a provenance letter, the late hairstylist wrote, “Marilyn gave me this costume ‘Weiss’ multi-shaped rhinestone choker necklace around 1954. No one has worn it since Marilyn.”
Albert Weiss was a notable costume jewelry designer, getting his start at costume jewelry manufacturer Coro in the 1930s before starting his own company in 1942, which is still around today.
There were no pre-sale estimates given for any of the items up for auction.
There are other jewels said to belong to Monroe up for sale, including another rhinestone necklace and a pair of rhinestone drop earrings.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Avon “Taj Mahal” Necklace
“The Artifacts of Hollywood” sale is highlighting the personal collections of some of the era’s most glamorous women, as well as iconic musicians like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin and Whitney Houston.
The auction will feature a variety of personal memorabilia, including jewelry, clothing, purses, shoes, movie props, and more.
These are a few of the auction’s most interesting jewels.
Marilyn Monroe’s Rhinestone Choker Necklace
The 15-inch necklace, seen at the top of the article, was owned and worn by Marilyn Monroe. It’s made of silver with round- and cushion-shaped rhinestones.
It comes from the collection of her personal hairstylist, Sydney Guilaroff, who worked at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios for more than 40 years on more than 1,000 films, said the auction house.
Guilaroff was the first hairstylist to receive an on-screen credit in a film and was a confidante to many of the day’s stars, including Monroe, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, and Hepburn.
A number of celebrity-worn jewels from his collection are heading to the upcoming auction.
In a provenance letter, the late hairstylist wrote, “Marilyn gave me this costume ‘Weiss’ multi-shaped rhinestone choker necklace around 1954. No one has worn it since Marilyn.”
Albert Weiss was a notable costume jewelry designer, getting his start at costume jewelry manufacturer Coro in the 1930s before starting his own company in 1942, which is still around today.
There were no pre-sale estimates given for any of the items up for auction.
There are other jewels said to belong to Monroe up for sale, including another rhinestone necklace and a pair of rhinestone drop earrings.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Avon “Taj Mahal” Necklace
Elizabeth Taylor wore the necklace during a photoshoot for Avon promoting her jewelry collection.
The Avon “Taj Mahal” necklace is a replica of one of her own jewels.
This necklace was given to Elizabeth Taylor in the early 1990s by cosmetics company Avon just before the company announced they would be partnering on a jewelry collection.
Well known for her outstanding jewels, Taylor helped the brand create costume replicas of some of her most famous pieces.
This necklace is the prototype for the reimagining of her “Taj Mahal” diamond necklace. She wore it for an Avon photoshoot.
The real “Taj Mahal” necklace, a gold, ruby and diamond Cartier creation Richard Burton gave to Taylor when she turned 40, sold for $8.8 million in 2011 as part of Christie’s record-setting sale of Taylor’s massive jewelry collection.
Taylor’s collection became the most popular of all Avon jewelry lines, continuing to sell well on secondary websites at high markups, said the auction house.
“The collection took nearly three years, as Elizabeth Taylor scrutinized every piece to make sure it was of the best quality,” it said. “Taylor had a hand in every facet of the manufacturing process and production to create the replicas of her cherished jewelry pieces.”
The necklace is accompanied by a seven-page letter from her friend, Ken Studdy, to whom Taylor gifted the piece in 2010.
Studdy said Taylor wore the necklace many times, including to dinner with Michael Jackson.
He said, “Taylor would regularly wear this necklace in replacement of her original as her Lloyd’s of London insurance policy stipulated that the necklace could only be worn for a select number of days each year and that she had to be followed by a team of armed guards, similar to the policy for her famous Taylor-Burton Diamond.”
Greta Garbo’s 1950s Rolex ‘Precision’ Watch
This 9-karat yellow gold Rolex “Precision” watch belonged to actress Greta Garbo.
The back of the watch is engraved with Garbo’s initials, “GG.”
The star’s 9-karat yellow gold Rolex “Precision” watch, in working condition, is up for sale.
The back of the case is engraved with her initials, “GG.”
The watch’s provenance letter is courtesy of the son of Swedish watch collector Hjalmar Mattison.
Translated from Swedish, it reads, “It is hereby certified that this Rolex watch with ‘GG’ engraving belonged to Greta Garbo. My father Hjalmar Mattison worked as an accountant for a well-known director at Dramaten who was a close friend with Garbo, and through him managed to buy Garbo’s watch in the 1980s, meaning only a few years before Garbo passed away.”
Elvis Presley’s Many Jewels
This 14-karat yellow gold “TCB” ring is said to have belonged to Elvis Presley.
A 14-karat yellow gold and diamond Capricorn ram’s head ring with red stone accents, with 1.30 carats of diamonds. Elvis was a Capricorn.
Elvis Presley has a number of jewels up for sale at the upcoming auction, including multiple rings and a necklace.
A notable highlight is a 14-karat yellow gold “TCB” ring.
The ring will be accompanied by the original 7.56-carat VS2 round brilliant diamond and a GIA report.
A cubic zirconia was set in the ring while the diamond was being graded and is the stone seen in the image above. The halo of round-cut diamonds and accent diamonds have a total carat weight of 2.25.
The ring was worn by Elvis, who then gave it to gospel singer J.D. Sumner on stage in 1975 during the first night of a concert in Asheville, North Carolina, according to a statement of authenticity from Sumner prior to his passing.
The ring has hit the auction block before, garnering $440,625 in a 2020 sale held by Kruse GWS Auctions.
The auction house shares a long story about its provenance that would certainly be of interest to fans of “The King.”
The ring also comes with a letter from his late wife, Priscilla Presley, and a letter and sketches from jeweler Lowell Hayes.
The auction house describes the ring as “a once-in-a-lifetime piece and a must have for the serious Elvis collector as a piece of this magnitude may not surface again for many decades. This is arguably the most significant and well documented piece of Elvis’ jewelry on the planet, as even Graceland has not had a piece of this magnitude.”
There is other Elvis memorabilia up for auction, including a guitar, a jacket, a pair of glasses, and sheet music.
Audrey Hepburn’s Earrings
A pair of gold-tone screw-back pinwheel earrings worn by Audrey Hepburn
Hepburn’s faux pearl clip-on drop earrings also are up for auction.
Two pairs of earrings belonging to Hepburn are heading to the auction block, a pair of gold-tone screw-back pinwheel earrings and a pair of faux pearl clip-on drop earrings.
Both pairs were given to the aforementioned hairstylist Guilaroff. He was Hepburn’s hairstylist for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” as well as other films.
Other items belonging to Hepburn up for auction include a gown and evening bags.
Ava Gardner’s Jewels
A pair of black and white rhinestone and faux pearl clip-on earrings worn by actress Ava Gardner
A matching necklace and earrings set, belonging to Gardner
Guilaroff’s sizable collection also included jewelry belonging to actress Ava Gardner.
This pair of black and white rhinestone and faux pearl clip-on earrings were worn by Gardner in the 1980s, according to his provenance letter.
There is also a matching necklace and earrings set worn by Gardner. The gold-tone jewels are set with amber, brown, and green iridescent rhinestones.
No one has worn the jewels but Gardner, he said.
Jewelry Worn by Music Legends
In addition to silver-screen celebrities, the auction also will highlight legendary women in music, including Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Madonna.
This copper and leather necklace belonging to rock ‘n’ roll icon Janis Joplin is up for auction.
This gold-tone rhinestone floral necklace, made by White House Black Market, belonged to Whitney Houston.
These black and silver metal chainmail wrist cuffs were custom made for Janet Jackson, who wore them during her 2008 “Rock Witchu” tour during her performance of “Doesn’t Really Matter.”
A faux pearl necklace belonging to Madonna is also up for auction.
The auction will highlight jewels from a number of other stars, including Johnny Cash, Faye Dunaway, and Betty White.
Live bidding for the online auction begins April 8.
For more information about the auction, visit Kruse GWS Auctions’ website.
More on Auctions
The Latest
CrimeNov 17, 2025
Police Searching for 2 Suspects in Murder of Father, Son Jewelers Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.
GradingNov 17, 2025
IGI Announces New President of North AmericaTiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.
MajorsNov 17, 2025
Look Inside Robbins Brothers Fine Jewelers’ New Pasadena FlagshipThe showroom is located in a historic 1920s building in the Playhouse District.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
Policies & IssuesNov 14, 2025
U.S., Switzerland Reach Deal That Drops Tariff to 15%The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.
Weekly QuizNov 13, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
Events & AwardsNov 14, 2025
JCK Names New Event DirectorJennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
127-Year-Old New Orleans Jeweler to CloseAdler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
Green Lake Jewelry Works to Move to New Seattle StudioFounder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.
MajorsNov 13, 2025
Vahan Jewelry Founder Leon ‘Sacha’ Der Calousdian Dies at 85The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.
CrimeNov 12, 2025
Father, Son Jewelers in Chicago Victims in Double Homicide JSA and Cook County Crime Stoppers are both offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved.
AuctionsNov 12, 2025
Historic Rolex Oyster Fetches $1.7M at Sotheby’sMercedes Gleitze famously wore the watch in her 1927 swim across the English Channel, a pivotal credibility moment for the watchmaker.
GradingNov 12, 2025
It’s Time: GIA’s Express Holiday Service Is Back GIA is offering next-day services for natural, colorless diamonds submitted to its labs in New York and Carlsbad.
MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
AuctionsNov 10, 2025
300+ Colored Diamonds Up for Auction at Christie’sLate collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.
EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
