You could have done better! Julianne Moore fails to do justice to Elizabeth Taylor's $6.1M emerald and diamond necklace in coral cocktail dress

She is the first person to wear the necklace after the late Elizabeth Taylor.
But Julianne Moore failed to do justice to the stunning emerald and diamond pendant formerly owned by the screen legend.
The exquisite Bulgari piece, which sold at auction last year for $6.1million, was styled with a coral cocktail dress better paired with a cardigan for Sunday Mass than such a glamorous affair.   

The main attraction: Julianne Moore wore a $6.1million necklace given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton as a wedding gift in 1964

 

Given to Elizabeth Taylor as a wedding gift from Richard Burton in 1964, the necklace was the toast of the evening at an exhibition of her Bulgari jewels at the Italian jeweler's Beverly Hills boutique on Tuesday.

 

More than a year after the late star's world-class collection fetched record prices at auction, eight of Talor's pieces from the sale went on display.

An honour: The actress is the first person to wear the necklace since the late Elizabeth Taylor

 

 

Not quite right: Julianne paired the coral frock with nude heels, which although a pretty pairing, was not appropriately styled to match the presence of the exquisite necklace

All were obtained and wore during well-documented times in her storied life, including the filming of Cleopatra, which launched her romance with Richard Burton, Bulgari said.
That includes the emerald and diamond necklace which sold at the Christie's auction for $6.1million, far more than its appraisal at between $2.5 and $3.5million.
A glass case inside the venue gave details on the exquisite piece of jewellery, which instead of being encased laid in the collarbones of Julianne.

 

Hollywood legend: Elizabeth Taylor wearing the emerald and diamond necklace as she sits with her husband, actor Richard Burton, in Brussels, Belgium, on November 1968

 

Stunning: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton attend the BAFTA Awards dinner at Grosvenor House in London on April 26, 1967

But rather than match its presence in a floor-sweeping gown or pretty neckline, Julianne instead played in safe in a strapless number and nude heels, her ironed straight around her shoulders.
Joining the actress at the event were a host of Hollywood's leading ladies, Drew Barrymore, Kirsten Dunst, Naomi Watts and Kate Walsh among them.
But it was Taylor's jewellery that was the true star.

Time for a toast: EVP of BVLGARI Sabina Belli poses with Julianne
Also featured at the event was a diamond and gold sautoir set with six ancient Roman coins acquired for $5.9million, and Taylor's first piece of Bulgari jewelry, an emerald-and-diamond brooch which achieved a record per-carat price for any emerald at the Christie's sale.
The brooch sold for $6,578,500, setting a record price for an emerald jewel and emeralds per carat at $280,000.
'There couldn't have been a more appropriate celebrity to have fallen in love with Bulgari,' it said in announcing the display.

 

Candy coloured: Drew Barrymore and Julianne Moore went for bold colours - Drew with her lipstick and jewellery, and Julianne with her dress and necklace

 

Bejewelled: Drew Barrymore and Naomi Watts wore understated outfits and let their necklaces do the talking

Noting Taylor's 'grounded' nature in contrast to her impossibly glamorous life, it said Bulgari is known for creating jewels that pair precious stones with items of no intrinsic value such as antique coins, ceramics and silk cords.
The Italian luxury house was founded in 1884 in Rome by Greek Sotirios Voulgaris, known in Italy as Sotirio Bulgari.
It was acquired in 2011 for 4.3 billion euros ($6.01 billion) and other considerations by the French luxury house LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA.

 

Style set: Drew Barrymore proudly showed off her Bulgari jewellery at the Celebration of Elizabeth Taylor's collection of BVLGARI jewelry at BVLGARI Beverly Hills on Tuesday

Statement piece: Drew was radiant, and matched her lipstick to compliment the stunning piece of jewellery

 

 

 

Pretty in pink: Naomi draped her dress with rose coloured tassels
Taylor died in 2011 aged 79 of congestive heart failure.
The Christie's auction of her gems took in a record $116 million.
The collection will be on display at Bulgari Beverly Hills until March 10.

Classic black: Kirsten Dunst wore a floor-sweeping tiered dress with embellished ties at the shoulder

 

Pucker up: Kate Walsh sent off a kiss, showing off her gorgeous bracelet, matching ring and earrings