In the history of jewelry there is perhaps no pearl more famous than La Peregrina (Spanish for "the Wanderer" or "the Pilgrim") that earned its name for a good reason. Found on the Pearl Islands near Panama, it started its long journey through the treasuries of European rulers in the 16th century.
The pear-shaped pearl was first found on the coast of Santa Margarita Island in Panama.
The original weight of La Peregrina was 223.8 grains (55.95 carats/11.2 g), and at that time it was recognized as the largest pearl ever found. In 1913 its weight was reduced due to processing, but its shape remained the same.
The pearl was brought to Europe and gifted to Prince Philip, son of Emperor Charles V of the Hapsburgs. When Philip, later King of Spain, contracted a dynastic marriage to his third cousin, Queen Mary Tudor, his wife got the pearl. Mary, madly in love with her husband, who was 11 years her younger, wore it as a pendant for a brooch. One of her portraits with La Peregrina by the Dutch artist Antonis Mor is in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
When Maria passed away, her jewelry was inherited by her half-sister Elizabeth I. In her will, the late queen asked Elizabeth I to return La Peregrina to the Spanish crown. So she did. La Peregrina remained in Spain as part of the crown jewels for 250 years.
The French history of the jewel
In 1808 Napoleon Bonaparte's brother Joseph was proclaimed king of Spain. He ruled for five years, and was not popular with the people. After the French forces were defeated at the Battle of Vitoria by the British allies, Joseph abdicated and left the kingdom, taking with him some of the Spanish crown jewels, including La Peregrina. Because of his poor health and financial struggles, he was forced to sell the jewel to James Hamilton, Duke of Abercorn.
The wanderings continued...
Until 1969 the Hamilton family owned the jewel, but then sold it at Sotheby's auction, where Richard Burton purchased the jewel for $37,000.
He gave the rare pearl to his wife Elizabeth Taylor on Valentine's day.
In her memoirs, Elizabeth Taylor recounted a comical incident. She had once lost a pearl and was desperately looking for it, when it was found in the mouth of the actress's dog. Fortunately, the puppy did not chew up the jewel.
The actress gave La Peregrina to Cartier where its size was reduced by removing several layers of mother-of-pearl and put in a necklace surrounded by diamonds and rubies. The jewelry was kept in the family until 2011. After Taylor's death, the pearl was auctioned at Christie's in New York and went to a private collection for $11 million.
Until now there is still debate as to whether Elizabeth Taylor got the real pearl as a gift. There is even a version that the Pearl of Kuwait, the second largest after La Peregrina, is Maria Tudor's legacy. This jewel now belongs to Symbolic & Chase. It is said that the Pearl of Kuwait was worn for the first time by Charles V's wife Isabella, mother of Philip II, and from her it passed to Mary Tudor. No one can yet confirm this fact and perhaps the truth about La Peregrina will never be revealed.
Did you know there was such a famous pearl in Taylor's collection?
Source: thevintagenews
You might be interested in:
Starting over three times: Liz Taylor and Richard Burton's love story