Jewelry Items Made Legendary by the Rich and Famous

Jewelry is a type of art. And just like paintings and sculptures, there are some pieces of jewelry that are more famous than others—that capture the public imagination like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa or Michelangelo's David. Some of these pieces are housed in museums; some are owned by private collectors. All of them captivate and bewitch with their beauty.

The Hope Diamond is a good example of a world-famous gem. Weighing in at 45.52 carats, it has a curious blue color (from boron atoms present in its composition) that has entranced people for nearly four centuries. At one time it belonged to King Louis XIV, but we believe the Hope Diamond was originally mined in India. It was given its modern name in the 19th century, during the time it belonged to a famous London banking family by the name of Hope. Later, it was sold to Evalyn Walsh McLean, a Washington socialite, but ever since 1958 it's been on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Apparently insured for $250 million dollars, the Hope Diamond is actually so famous that it has its own legend—concerning a curse it allegedly carries.

Then there's the Krupp Diamond. This Asscher-cut diamond is 33.19 carats and is currently mounted into a platinum band, flanked by two baguette-cut diamonds. It once belonged to Vera Krupp, wife of Alfreid Krupp, the notorious steel manufacturer, but it's most famous for belonging to actress Elizabeth Taylor. In fact, it's now commonly called the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond.

The Cartier Turban Ornament is another legendary gemstone. Specifically made by Cartier for Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, it is a gorgeous, opulent piece. Designed around a central emerald weighing 117.40 carats, the ornament also contains other emeralds, diamonds, and pearls.

Perhaps even more famous to modern types, the "Heart of the Ocean" is fashion jewelry that enthralled audiences when it appeared in James Cameron's Titanic. While the impressive Heart of the Ocean is actually completely fictitious, Asprey of London designed a very real, very expensive reproduction. The central heart-shaped sapphire weighs 170 carats, and is surrounded by 30 carats of diamonds. Valued at $2.2 million, the ornament is worth a substantial chunk of the actual Titanic—when it was built to launch in 1912, the doomed ship cost $7.5 million dollars.

Here at Noe's, we believe every piece of jewelry is stunning, from a simple gold wedding band to the most elaborate tiara in the Tower of London. We feature a selection of truly unique designer and estate jewelry that suits almost any occasion, whether it's a film premier going out for a nice evening with your significant other. If you're looking for designer jewelry in Kansas City, we're confident you'll find what you like in our showroom.

If you're looking to find jewelry that will make you or your significant other feel like a movie star or a maharaja, visit Noe's online or in person at our Raymore, Missouri jewelry store.