Jennifer Tilly Talks Collecting Vintage Jewelry From Famous Hollywood Stars

Actress Jennifer Tilly is happy to showcase some of her most beloved collectibles this season on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. In a show that flaunts an expensive lifestyle, Tilly certainly has the money and the iconic jewelry to show off. She shared that she loves to attend jewelry auctions and collect pieces from famous classic Hollywood starlets like Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Crawford, but only if they match her taste.
She explained, “I collect what I love. The pieces were historical but not to my taste. I like big, sculptural pieces.” Tilly added that “jewelry has energy. Before you buy anything, try it on. You will feel it.”

Phylicia J. L. Munn/Bravo
Some of the pieces in Tilly’s collection include a charm bracelet owned by Joan Crawford, a brooch that Eddie Fisher gave to Elizabeth Taylor, the Duchess of Windsor’s Cartier minaudière, a 1935 Paul Flato aquamarine and ruby bowtie necklace (pictured above) and many more.
She continued, “I like things that belonged to famous people, powerful women and movie stars. And often the stories associated with the pieces are about those forging their own way. And I wear it all. It gives me joy and feels like a statement of who I am.”

Jerod Harris/Getty Images for the Elton John AIDS Foundation
Tilly shared that she feels like it is a “treasure hunt” to find pieces at an auction that may never come up again. She can even recall some of the beautiful pieces she missed out on, including Taylor’s Bulgari and Marlene Dietrich’s Van Cleef rubies.
While she loves owning special pieces of jewelry, she added that she adopts Taylor’s philosophy on jewelry: “We are only temporary custodians of beauty.” Meaning that she is just taking care of pieces for now until someone else has the opportunity to own them.

Top Dollar Collectibles
August 2023
Find the most valuable — and fun — keepsakes in the worlds of sports, toys and superheroes
Buy This Issue