Blog – Katie Callahan & Co.

Royal Spanish Tiaras: Queen Ena’s Aquamarine Tiara

July 9, 2019

Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and his wife Princess Sibilla, who is wearing the current version of the tiara, featuring aquamarines originally owned by her great-grandmother, Queen Ena.

If it hasn’t already, it should be starting to become clear that royal jewels often change over time. Take Queen Ena’s Aquamarine Tiara as exhibit A. Once upon a time, Queen Ena (Queen Victoria’s granddaughter) gently nudged her husband, King Alfonso, in the direction of the jeweler Ansorena, who made a diamond and pearl tiara at his request. But just like other royals in her family (she was originally a Battenberg princess, after all), Ena decided to re-work the pearl tiara into something a bit more spectacular.

Wedding Wednesday: Princess Grace of Monaco

June 19, 2019

Grace Kelly, soon to be Princess Grace of Monaco, with her second engagement ring (inset) — Wedding Wednesday: Princess Grace of Monaco

When you think of a fairytale romance, who comes to mind? For me, the first to pop in my head is Princess Grace of Monaco. The Philadelphia born actress was in Cannes for the film festival in 1955 and was invited to the royal palace in Monaco for a photo shoot. Things got off to a rocky start (the power went out in the hotel, only one dress to wear that didn’t need to be ironed, running late….) but the event took place and Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier were introduced. The actress was dating someone else, but as the story goes, the Prince was so charmed by Grace that he wouldn’t’ take no for an answer. Given that she ended up with not one but two engagement rings not long after, I’d say that there’s a good chance it was love at first sight.

Wedding Wednesday: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

June 12, 2019

Princess Victoria of Sweden — A very happy Princess with a shot of her wedding set inset.

When you’re marrying a future Queen, all eyes are going to be on the engagement ring with which one proposes. So when Daniel Westling proposed to Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, the glitter crowd was definitely watching.

Wedding Wednesday: Zara Phillips and Mike Tinsdale

June 5, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Zara Phillips and Mike Tinsdale

When you’re a princess’ princess, your engagement ring matters. Especially when you’re a British Royal Princess. Well, maybe only to those of us that follow these things. Even when it’s Zara Phillips and Mike Tinsdale.

Royal Spanish Tiaras: The Prussian Tiara

June 4, 2019

Royal Spanish Tiaras: The Prussian Tiara — The original owner of The Prussian Tiara, Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia.

Every young princess needs a starter tiara. It’s just a fact. But there are rules. It can’t be too over the top or ornate. That would be gauche and tacky. It should be simple and elegant and something that can be used on the reg. Who better to understand that said young princesses parents? Which is likely why Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and his wife presented this tiara to their only daughter and youngest child, Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia. Her parents are on the throne in Germany and her great grandmother? None other than Queen Victorian. The girl needed a tiara.

Royal Engagement Rings: Princess Tatiana Blatnik of Greece

May 29, 2019

Royal Engagement Rings: Princess Tatiana Blatnik of Greece — The engagement ring given to Tatiana by Nikolaos.

I thought I’d mix it up for #WeddingWednesday and for the next several weeks, we’ll focus on royal engagement and wedding rings. We’ll look at royals from all of the world – current and historic – and the engagement rings they received. Rather than starting with the obvious (I’m never that easy), I thought we’d start with a royal that may be a little lesser known: Princess Tatiana Blatnik of Greece.

Royal Spanish Tiaras: Queen Ena’s La Buena Tiara

May 28, 2019

Royal Spanish Tiaras: Queen Ena's La Buena Tiara — Queen Ena in a portrait wearing the La Buena Tiara.

For month’s now, I’ve been featuring a different British Tiara here on the blog each Tuesday (if you’ve missed out, sit down with a big cup of coffee and start from the beginning). But it’s time to switch things up a bit. For the next little while, we’ll look at the Royal Spanish Tiaras, starting Queen Ena’s La Buena Tiara (also called the Fleur-de-Lys Tiara).

Great Jewelry Collectors: Linda Lee Porter

May 17, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Linda Lee Porter — Linda Lee Thomas and Cole Porter.

When you’re the wife of one of America’s best loved composers, it’s expected you’ll have a few pieces of lovely jewelry. But what happens when you’re a wealthy woman in your own right? You buy your own amazing jewelry AND let your husband by you amazing jewelry. Linda Lee Porter did.

Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky

May 15, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky — Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky in London.

They say you don’t get to choose love. It chooses you. And apparently, one doesn’t have much choice on where it strikes either. I guess rehab is as good a place as anywhere else. I bet if you were able to ask Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky they’d agree.

Great Jewelry Collectors: Marjorie Merriweather Post

May 10, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Marjorie Merriweather Post — Mrs. Marjorie Merriweather Post in a 1946 portrait by Frank O. Salisbury, featuring a necklace set with an exquisite 58.33 carat cushion-cut kashmir blue sapphire, which was originally gifted to Marjorie by husband EF Hutton in 1920 and set in a bracelet by Cartier. Like most of her jewelry from this time, the stone was mounted and remounted, coinciding with different decades and marriages and eventually was made to be convertible, allowing it to be taken out of the bracelet and set in this necklace, as well as another ring designed by Harry Winston in the 1950’s.

If you have been following along on Wednesdays, I’ve been covering all eight of Elizabeth Taylor’s weddings. And some of her jewelry. She was quite the collector and one of these Fridays, I’ll discuss her collection in detail. But today, we’ll talk about a woman, Marjorie Merriweather Post, who’s jewelry collection put Liz’s to shame.

Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth Taylor and John Warner

May 8, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth Taylor and John Warner — Liz Taylor, wearing her La Peregrina Pearl necklace, and John Warner.

“Liz Taylor settles for a simpler life with the county farmer.” So read the headlines (or something similar) in December of 1976 when Elizabeth Taylor and John Warner tied the knot.

Royal British Tiaras: The Portland Sapphire Tiara

May 7, 2019

Royal British Tiaras: The Portland Sapphire Tiara — Ivy Cavendish-Bentinck, when she was still Marchioness of Titchfield, wearing both the tiara and the brooch.

While this over-the-top tiara is listed in as a Royal British Tiaras by us today, it wasn’t truly worn by royalty. Aristocrats and nobility? Yes. Royalty? Nah. But when you have a tiara as stunning as The Portland Sapphire Tiara to talk about, who wants to get caught up in the little details?

Great Jewelry Collectors: Marlene Dietrich

May 3, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Marlene Dietrich — Marlene Dietrich wearing her Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Stage Fright” c. 1950 (Photo Getty Images)

Marlene Dietrich came by her jewelry obsession honestly. The German-born actress’ mother came from a well-heeled family that had owned a jewelry store in Berlin’s Unter den Linden neighborhood – a very fashionable area. Marlene learned early on that jewelry purchased from the best retailers would not only hold its value, it would end up proving invaluable in her life.

Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton

May 1, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton — Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at their first wedding in March 1964.

It was a love for the ages. Or so it seemed for a while. It was definitely one for the history books! When Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton got together, both were married to others. Liz to Eddie Fisher and Richard to Sybil Williams. But apparently theirs was a love not to be denied. And thank goodness because just wait until you see the jewelry.

Royal British Tiaras: The Ladies of England Tiara

April 30, 2019

Royal British Tiaras: The Ladies of England Tiara — Queen Mary (then the Duchess of York) in the now dismantled Ladies of England Tiara.

We’re getting down to the nitty gritty now and to some of the tiaras that haven’t been seen in decades and decades. Today, I’m just going to break your heart right out of the gate. This tiara exists no more. Sadly, the Ladies of England Tiara was broken up over 100 years ago and some of its diamonds used to create the Cambridge Lover’s Knot and the Honeysuckle Tiaras. But…. that won’t stop me from drooling over the photos of it.

Great Jewelry Collectors: Hélène Beaumont

April 26, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Hélène Beaumont — An undated photograph of Hélène Beaumont.

There are famous folks who want to remain in the shadows. I get that. What I don’t get are those that become ghosts. In trying to research today’s post, I looked high and low for information and images about American Socialite Hélène Beaumont but there was little to find. Thank goodness there’s a magnificent piece of jewelry being auctioned off by Sotheby’s in May, having once belonged to her, or she may have slipped into obscurity for most of us commoners.

Great Jewelry Collectors: Grace Wilson Vanderbilt

April 19, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Grace Wilson Vanderbilt — Grace Wilson Vanderbilt in her Cartier Tiara and an amazing diamond necklace.

Great Jewelry Collectors: Grace Wilson Vanderbilt — A close up view of Grace’s necklace.

Depending on your age, the Vanderbilt you most associate with the name may be different. But I bet that if it’s not Anderson Cooper, it may be his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, that comes to mind. And if you’re of the age where you have millennials as grandkids, you may even remember the last of the gilded days, where the New York elite still had grand parties in their even more grand mansions. In that case, Grace Wilson Vanderbilt, one of the last (if not THE last) to host such gatherings, may just be the Vanderbilt in your mind’s eye.

Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher

April 17, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher — Elizabeth and Eddie at their Vegas wedding.

It’s slightly scandalous to be married four times. But when your fourth husband is your now deceased third husband’s best friend, who was married at the time you started your relationship with him….. well THAT’S scandalous. And so goes the marriage of Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher.

Royal British Tiaras: The Honeysuckle Tiara

April 16, 2019

Royal British Tiaras: The Honeysuckle Tiara — The Honeysuckle Tiara

Choices. It’s all about choices with this tiara. What’s that you say? You don’t like how the central element clashes with your red dress? Well, just swap it out, dear. Indeed, the Honeysuckle Tiara is one of the best kinds – it’s convertible!

Great Jewelry Collectors: Mrs. George Washington Kavanaugh

April 12, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Mrs. George Washington Kavanaugh — Mrs. Kavanaugh in her home in New York.

There are great jewelry collectors with fantastic pedigrees and great class. And then there was Mrs. George Washington Kavanaugh. Born Maria Magdalena Muller in Richmond, Virginia, she first married William Haberle, who was a brewery heir from Syracuse. Little is known about how she met Mr. Haberle or for how long they were married. But by all accounts, they didn’t lead a very glamorous life, instead living in a drab, typical upper middle class Queen Anne house on Prospect Avenue in Syracuse.

Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd

April 10, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd — Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd. This was the third marriage for each of them.

The third time is a charm. That’s what they say, right? For Elizabeth Taylor, she thought she’d found true love with husband number three, Mike Todd. Fresh from marriage number two, she fell hard for the 47 year old Todd (she was only 24). He was also twice divorced. What drew Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd together? Was is the multiple marriages and an understanding of what happens when a marriage falls apart? Was it her beauty that drew his to her? Maybe it was the engagement ring that won her over (see it below). Maybe it was his larger than life personality. Sadly, we’ll never know.

Royal British Tiaras: The Fife Tiara

April 9, 2019

Royal British Tiaras: The Fife Tiara — The Fife Tiara

I’m back with the final chapter in my visit to London and Kensington Palace, where I got to see the three tiaras on display there, as part of the Victoria Revealed Exhibit. And I have to say, this is my favorite chapter. And favorite tiara of the three. In fact, one of my top three tiaras… ever. Yes. Ever. The Fife Tiara.