Blog ⋆ Katie Callahan & Co.

Great Jewelry Collectors: H.S.H Gabriella Princess zu Leiningen

March 15, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: H.S.H Gabriella Princess zu Leiningen — The Princess wearing the magnificent emerald and diamond necklace by Cartier that was auctioned off in 2016.

What’s the easiest way to amass an amazing jewelry collection? Well, maybe not the easiest, but the quickest way is to marry one of the most wealthy men in the world. When money is no object, it appears like jewels just magically fall from the sky. Or Cartier. Just ask Gabriella Princess zu Leiningen. She married His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, 49th Imam of the Ismaili community, international entrepreneur and horse breeder, and also the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network. And then she divorced him. What happened next was the stuff of legends.

Wedding Wednesday: Angela Lansbury and Peter Shaw

March 13, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Angela Lansbury and Peter Shaw — Angela Lansbury and Peter Shaw on their wedding day in 1949.

It’s not often that we see romance last for long in Hollywood beyond the silver screen. But Angela Lansbury and Peter Shaw were the exaction to that rule. Married in 1949 (second marriages for them both) they were married 54 years before Peter died of heart failure in 2003.

Great Jewelry Collectors: Diana, Princess of Wales

March 8, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Princes Diana — Diana in the Spencer Tiara. Photo: Getty Images

She needs no introduction but just in case you’re reading this fifty years after publication, we’ll clue you in. Diana, Princess of Wales was an amazing woman who gone way too soon. A gentle soul who chose to hold hands with the sick and stand side by side with the poor, she had a jewelry collection that rivaled her true beauty. There are many pieces we could cover, but we’ll hit what we think are the highlights here. And we’ll start with a family piece, The Spencer Tiara. She chose it to wear in her wedding over the Cambridge Lover’s Knot, which had been offered by the Queen. The tiara is still in the family, belonging to her brother, the current Earl Spencer.

Wedding Wednesday: Rita Hayworth and Dick Haymes

March 6, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Rita Hayworth and Dick Haymes — Rita and Dick cut into a large wedding cake presented to them by the Sands Hotel (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

They say the third time’s a charm. But that’s not always the case. Actually, in the case of Rita Hayworth, it appears not the third, fourth nor fifth time sealed the deal. But we find it interesting that she was married to four of her five husbands for five years each. The one exception: Dick Haymes, to whom she was only married for two. And now we know why. Here’s the story of Rita Hayworth and Dick Haymes.

Royal British Tiaras: The Teck Crescent Tiara

March 5, 2019

Royal British Tiaras: The Teck Crescent Tiara — Princes Mary Adelaide in the Teck Crescent Tiara.

Do you have any pieces of jewelry in your jewelry box that you haven’t worn in over eighty years? We didn’t think so. But if you’re the British Royal family and we’re talking about the Royal jewelry vaults… well, maybe things just get a bit lost in there. Apparently the Teck Crescent Tiara is holed up inside, just waiting for the light of day.

Great Jewelry Collectors: Maria Félix

March 1, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Maria Félix — Maria Félix with some of her many jewels.

Once called the “Supreme goddess of Spanish language cinema,” by the New York Times, Maria Felix was no doubt a super star. Maybe not here in the US, but in Mexico and in her adopted France, she was a mega star. And mega stars need? Mega jewels, of course.

Wedding Wednesday: Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu

February 27, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu — Elvis and Priscilla at their wedding in Las Vegas.

She was the woman who on May 1, 1967, married the world’s most eligible bachelor. Unless you’re under the age of ten or have lived in a cave the last 50 years, you know who I’m talking about. The groom maybe more so than bride but she’s still alive and kicking…. and he isn’t. What famous couple could this be? Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu, of course.

Royal British Tiaras: The Boucheron Loop Tiara

February 26, 2019

Royal British Tiaras: The Boucheron Loop Tiara — Queen Mary’s Boucheron Loop Tiara

Another one bites the dust. It was a common refrain when discussing Queen Mary and her tiaras. Just when folks would fall in love with one of her lovely tiaras, she’d get a wild hair and have it dismantled to make a different piece of jewelry. And so goes the Boucheron Loop Tiara.

Great Jewelry Collectors: Andy Warhol

February 22, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Andy Warhol — The rare ‘Beribboned Heart’ bangle bracelet by René Boivin originally created for Millicent Rogers and later owned by Andy Warhol. Photo: Christie’s

When you hear the name Andy Warhol, you think Campbell’s Soup Cans and pop art. Most of us don’t think of fine jewelry, much less an extensive collection that rivaled the most well known of socialites.

Wedding Wednesday: John Lennon and Yoko Ono

February 20, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: John Lennon and Yoko Ono — John and Yoko arm in arm, proudly holding up their marriage license.

Did she break up the band or didn’t she? That’s been the big question for nearly five decades. John Lennon and Yoko Ono met in November of 1966 at an art gallery opening in London where Ono’s work was soon to be on exhibit. Was it love at first sight? Who’s to say. But it was certainly a whirlwind and sometimes controversial relationship.

Royal British Tiaras: The Delhi Durbar Tiara

February 19, 2019

Royal British Tiaras: The Delhi Durbar Tiara — The Delhi Durbar Tiara
Photo: Getty Image

We can always count on Queen Mary when it comes to fabulous tiaras. That woman had a penchant for turning something lovely into one heck of a statement piece. And I’m fairly certain she never ran into a jewel she didn’t like. At least for a while. In today’s episode of #TiaraTuesday, we’ll discuss one of her grande dame tiaras: The Delhi Durbar Tiara. Buckle up, Buttercup. We have quite a ride ahead of us.

Great Jewelry Collectors: Countess Albina Du Boisrouvray

February 15, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Countess Albina Du Boisrouvray — An outstanding diamond necklace.

Albina Du Boisrouvray is an anomaly. A woman from incredible means, who gave up a significant part of it, including some otherworldly jewels, to help those with nothing.

Wedding Wednesday: Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones

February 13, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones — Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones on their wedding day.

We wouldn’t be doing Wedding Wednesday justice if we didn’t bring you the first royal wedding to be televised. Princess Margaret, the sister of the current Queen Elizabeth and Antony Armstrong-Jones married at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 1960 in front of 2000 guests and hundreds of millions of TV viewers worldwide. But theirs wasn’t to be an easy marriage and it had actually already gotten off to a rocky start.

Royal British Tiaras: Princess Alice’s Diamond Palmette Tiara

February 12, 2019

Royal British Tiaras: Princess Alice’s Diamond Palmette Tiara — Princess Alice’s Diamond Palmette Tiara

I bet you think that the current Queen, Elizabeth the II is the longest living British royal princess. And you’d think wrong. She’s the longest reigning royal. But the longest living royal princess, a woman who was a first cousin twice removed and the great aunt to Elizabeth, holds the honor. Her name was Alice* and she lived to be almost 98 years old. And this is the story of her life and her favorite tiara: Princess Alice’s Diamond Palmette Tiara.

Great Jewelry Collectors: Mona von Bismarck

February 8, 2019

Great Jewelry Collectors: Mona von Bismarck

There are women who marry well. And then there are women who make it an art. Countess Mona von Bismarck (also known at Mona Bismarck) Was the latter.

Wedding Wednesday: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard

February 6, 2019

Wedding Wednesday: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard — Clark Gable and Carole Lombard on their wedding day. Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

We know him as the man that didn’t give a damn. And her for her screwball comedies. Theirs was a short lived love but one that changed him until his last breath.

Royal British Tiaras: The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara

February 5, 2019

Great Royal British Tiaras: The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara — The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara with the Cambridge Emerald Drops

Ooooooo. We love it when we run into some royal tiara drama. The intrigue. The mystery. The did she or didn’t she! As with any royal family, the British Royals aren’t without a little drama when it comes to some of the royal jewels in the vaults. And the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara certainly provided a little drama.

A History of Engagement Rings, Vol. 7: The 1920’s

February 2, 2018

A History of Engagement Rings, Vol. 7: The 1920’s

A History of Engagement Rings, Vol. 7: The 1920’s Norma Shearer engagement ring

Norma Shearer with her Art Deco engagement ring from movie exec Irving Thalberg.

We were packing up for our weekend show last night and couldn’t bring you the history of engagement rings from the 1920’s. But don’t worry – we weren’t going to make you wait too long for the era that has a firm grasp on our heart. [Read more…]

A History of Engagement Rings Vol. 6: The 1930’s

January 28, 2018

A History of Engagement Rings Vol. 6: The 1930’s

A History of Engagement Rings Vol. 6: The 1930’s - Barbara Hutton We’ve been patiently waiting to get to this edition of the History of Engagement Rings because….. ART DECO! Yes, the 30’s were smack dab in the middle of the Art Deco period and this is one of our favorite times for engagement rings. And we also get to talk about two of the world’s greatest jewelry collectors, as they married during the 30s. Let’s dig in. [Read more…]

A History of Engagement Rings, Vol. 5: The 1940’s

January 16, 2018

A History of Engagement Rings, Vol. 5: The 1940’s

As we continue to step back in time, exploring the history of engagement rings, we find ourselves discussing the 1940’s today. The decade could be described as a decade of extremes. The first half brought the end of The Great Depression, followed up by war-time, which meant resources like metals were scarce and extravagances like diamonds were few and far between for most, if they existed at all. [Read more…]

A History Of Engagement Rings, Vol. 4: The 1950’s

December 7, 2017

A History Of Engagement Rings, Vol. 4: The 1950's

Princess Margaret’s Wedding (Queen Elizabeth’s Sister)

A History Of Engagement Rings, Vol. 4: The 1950’s

Last week in A History Of Engagement Rings we talked about one of the greatest jewelry collectors of modern times: Liz Taylor. Oddly enough, or maybe not so oddly given that she was married 8 times, she shows up again here with us in the recap of the 1950’s. Four times (Conrad Hilton, Michael Wilding, Mike Todd and Eddie Fisher). 🙂

A History Of Engagement Rings, Vol. 3, The 1960’s

November 25, 2017

A History Of Engagement Rings, Vol. 3, The 1960's

Liz Taylor and The Krupp/Taylor Diamond Ring

A History of Engagement Rings, Vol. 3: The 1960’s

It’s time for another ride in the ‘what did engagement rings look like back then’ machine. Tonight’s decade? The groovy 60’s! The 1960s were dominated by the Vietnam War, Civil Rights protests and The Cuban Missile Crisis and also saw the assassinations of President John F Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. but they ended on a good note with the landing of the first man on the moon. And the engagement rings. Oh the engagement rings.

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