Can diamonds help the needy, ill or poor? If some famous donors (and an anonymous one) have their way, then certainly diamonds can work wonders!For proof of that fact a person would have only look to Elizabeth Taylor. The oft-married, and divorced, super star has a nearly legendary affection for jewelry of all kinds. She even named her famous perfumes after some of her favorite stones, including diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
She is usually seen wearing one of her most precious gifts, a ring presented to her by Richard Burton, and known as the “Krupp” diamond. This stone fared better than another, distinctly more expensive, diamond presented to Taylor by her husband of two separate marriages.
Taylor decided to ease the pain of divorce by using the proceeds from one of her largest gems to help thousands of needy people. This situation came about in an interesting way when on the occasion of her fortieth birthday Richard Burton had determined to acquire a recently discovered diamond of fantastic size and value as a gift for Taylor. It was a sixty-nine carat, pear shaped diamond of remarkable beauty. Though he would eventually lose the auction, he was able negotiate the purchase of the gem from its winning bidder, Robert Kenmore, who was then the owner of the world famous jewelry and design firm known as the Cartier company. Working with their jewelry designers, Burton had the stone set into a fabulous necklace which he presented to Taylor as a birthday gift. It made its first formal, public appearance when Taylor wore it to an event hosted by Princess Grace of Monaco. From that time onward it would be formally known as the “Taylor-Burton” diamond.
In 1978 however, the pair had divorced and Taylor decided to do something dramatic and wonderful with the incredible piece of jewelry. She auctioned it off, earning a remarkable five million dollars in the process, and then she stunned the world by using every cent of the proceeds to construct a hospital in Botswana. Since that time she has continually associated herself with medical and charitable organizations around the world.
While donating millions to build a free medical facility is certainly a gift of some note, there are others using their diamonds in smaller, but equally significant ways as well. On December 1 of 2008 a volunteer “bell ringer” for a Salvation Army donation kettle was counting their day’s collection when they noticed something far different from the standard coins and paper bills that usually appeared in the sealed pot.
On this particular afternoon, the volunteer’s kettle contained a single diamond ring of substantial size and value. An anonymous donor had apparently dropped the valuable ring into the bright red pot as a holiday offering to their local Salvation Army Service Center. Upon having the object appraised, the management of the regional Center was astonished to hear that it has a value of two thousand dollars!
The spokesperson for the agency explained that such a large amount of cash would go a very long way toward the support and assistance of local families and individuals in need. The facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which is the recipient of the ring, said that all donations help to feed and clothe the more than two thousand visitors who seek assistance from their agency.
Finally, those with some cash to direct towards the acquisition of serious “bling” can do some magic of their own by purchasing specialty items intended strictly to benefit a particular charity or foundation. For example, in March of 2008 the “Feast of Albion” fundraising dinner hosted annually in London decided to auction off a unique diamond product whose sale would directly benefit those in need.
They made the “world’s most expensive iPod” their featured item for the event. It was designed by a famous Norwegian jeweler and contained over one hundred and eighteen diamonds on its diminutive headphones (ear buds) alone. In total, the iPod contained a final count of four hundred and thirty diamonds, was entirely constructed of white and pink gold and held a market value of over forty thousand dollars. Bidders included singer Annie Lennox among others.
The attention focused upon this remarkably luxurious iPod has actually created a market for such opulent electronics, and today there are specialty ear buds available in the same format as those created for the charity item. Additionally, there are iPods and “skins” crafted to deliver the same diamond-encrusted appearance as that of the one provided to the celebrity event.
The value of diamonds can go beyond their beauty. They are assets that can help to protect the wealth of the individual, or as those mentioned above, can be used for their cash equivalent to provide essential goods and services to those in need.
Related Posts: