Taylor Swift Albums as Elizabeth Taylor Jewels

Featured Image: MPTV

Both Taylor Swift and Elizabeth Taylor mastered the art of transformation. Taylor, with her musical eras, and Elizabeth, with her dazzling image that endured for decades, have used their respective styles as a form of storytelling. Each era, and each jewel, marks not just a phase but a statement about who they were, what they loved, and how they wanted to be remembered. Here, we’ve paired each of Taylor’s albums with one of Elizabeth’s most treasured jewels, and together, they create a portrait of two women who have turned their personal stories into cultural legacies that will continue to shine for generations.

Taylor Swift - Mike Todd Diamond Ear Pendants

Taylor’s first step into the spotlight was her self-titled debut, introducing her as a teenage country-pop star with an earnest voice and wide-eyed heart. Just like Taylor’s debut, the Mike Todd Diamond Ear Pendants are representative of new beginnings, unexpected change, and the magic of first love. Given to Elizabeth by Mike in 1957, they were originally set with paste imitation diamonds, though she adored them just the same. Ever the earnest romantic, Mike surprised Elizabeth by secretly replacing them with real diamonds. 

Image: Getty

Fearless - The Mike Todd Diamond Tiara

The album that turned Taylor into a superstar, Fearless ushered in a time of sold-out shows, Grammy wins, and her first major crossover success. The Mike Todd Diamond Tiara is the perfect emblem of this time. Inspired by the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II of England in 1947 and her subsequent coronation in 1953, this piece is sparkling, hopeful, and a little nostalgic. Elizabeth proudly wore it to a handful of high-profile events, such as the Oscars, a Golden Globe party, and in Cannes for their film festival, stepping into a bigger, brighter world just like Taylor at this time. 

Speak Now - The Dame Ear Pendants

With all of the songs on this album written by Taylor herself, Speak Now is a declaration of Taylor’s independence as a songwriter. These Van Cleef & Arpels earrings, designed by Elizabeth in collaboration with the jeweler, marked the milestone of her receiving the title of Dame by Queen Elizabeth II. Just as Taylor authored her own narrative with her music, Elizabeth did so as well through jewels — becoming the creator, the storyteller, the architect of her artistry.

Red  - Cartier Diamond & Ruby Suite

Red is a collision of passionate love, devastating loss, and bittersweet chaos. And nothing embodies big, passionate love like rubies. This Diamond and Ruby suite was given to Elizabeth by Mike Todd on a summer afternoon spent poolside in 1957, when the couple was newlywed and she was pregnant with their first daughter. The glimmering set by Cartier radiates intensity, mirroring the way that both Taylor and Elizabeth leaned fully into love’s extremes. Tragically, Mike Todd died in a plane crash just 13 months after he and Elizabeth wed, marking one of the most dramatic and devastating losses of Elizabeth’s life.

Image: Herb Ritts

1989 - The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond

Bold, sparkling, and modern, this album marks Taylor’s full transformation into pop royalty. The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, a defining piece in her collection, is the perfect parallel. This namesake jewel, formerly the Krupp Diamond, is a statement from a moment of reinvention, when Elizabeth was at the center of the world’s attention, just as Taylor was with her first true pop era.

Reputation - Bulgari Serpenti Bracelet Watch

Born from backlash and media scrutiny, Reputation is the result of Taylor retreating from public life, finding private love, and reemerging with a sharp new sound and aesthetic. That same tension surrounded Elizabeth herself – her affair with Richard Burton drew relentless headlines and even condemnation from the Pope. Time and time again, both women transformed scandal into power. With the snake serving as the most recognizable motif of the album, we had to pair it with Elizabeth’s Bulgari Serpenti Bracelet Watch. Sleek, coiled, and a little dangerous, this piece embodies alluring strength and resilient survival

Lover - JAR Ball Earrings 

A pastel daydream after the darkness, Lover celebrates the beauty of leaning into what you love. As multi-faceted as the album’s views of love, these JAR Ball Earrings were made of multi-colored sapphires and diamonds, designed by Joel Arthur Rosenthal to evoke the elusive and shifting hue of her eyes. These unique earrings feature a bombe style that catches the light and reflects a dreamy rainbow of colors.

Folklore - The Cartier Taj Mahal Diamond

Written in introspective isolation, Folklore is a poetic, haunting collection of stories that stretch beyond Taylor’s own life.  A gift rooted in history and storytelling, the Taj Mahal diamond is perfectly paired with the album’s mythic, romantic quality. Previously owned by Nur Jahan, wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahangir, the diamond was passed down to their son Shah Jahan, who gifted it to his most adored wife, Mumtaz Mahal. When she died, the emperor commissioned the iconic Taj Mahal mausoleum as a tribute to her. The monument inspired the naming of the diamond, which found its way to Elizabeth by way of Richard Burton.

Evermore - Bulgari Emerald and Diamond Engagement Brooch

Wistful and melancholic, Evermore is an album about enduring love and intertwined narratives that sometimes end in grief, loss, and consequence. The Bulgari brooch given to Elizabeth by Richard Burton for their engagement is a natural complement, representing a seemingly fated relationship that had a lasting ripple effect in each of their lives.  

Midnights - Harry Winston Diamond Pendant

Moody and glamorous, Midnights shimmers with the energy of sleepless nights and late night intimacy. This Harry Winston Diamond Pendant is the perfect accessory for this era. Tucked inside a midnight blue box, this jewel was given to Elizabeth by Colin Farrell, as the pair spent many nights talking on the phone, sharing midnight musings with one another. 

The Tortured Poets Department - Ivory and Gold Opera Coin Necklace

An album full of songs that can be described as mementos from a life-changing relationship, TTPD is sprawling, literary, and deeply vulnerable. The Opera Coin Necklace, a personal gift from a friend, has a theatrical connection that mirrors the album’s literary depth. Fashioned from ivory theatre tokens circa the 18th and 19th centuries, this one-of-a-kind necklace was bequeathed to Elizabeth by famed costume designer Edith Head in her will. The two became close during the making of A Place In the Sun and remained dear friends until Edith passed away in 1981. Elizabeth was a frequent guest at her Coldwater Canyon home, particularly at a time in 1973 when she and Richard Burton were experiencing difficulties in their marriage.

The Life of a Showgirl - La Peregrina Pearl

A return to addictive pop brilliance with 1989 collaborators Max Martin and Shellback, her forthcoming album The Life of a Showgirl promises sparkle and spectacle. While we wait to see what the track “Elizabeth Taylor” sounds like, we’re pairing this album with La Peregrina. At one time owned by Spanish monarchs, this famous pearl was purchased for Elizabeth by Richard Burton during their first marriage, and was at the time mounted as a simple pendant. Elizabeth commissioned Cartier to redesign it into a spectacular necklace, ostentatiously and unapologetically upping the drama by combining La Peregrina with additional pearls, rubies, and diamonds and creating a piece that demands the spotlight.