Sure, big girls need big diamonds.
Kathy Hilton has just launched her own venture, a jewelry line in collaboration with jeweler Anna Zuckerman. The glamorous socialite was inspired by her late friend and notorious diamond fanatic, Elizabeth Taylor.
“she [loved it]The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 65, spoke exclusively to Page Six Style while showing off pieces from her collection at her Bel Air, California, mansion.
Hilton, in particular, Getty Diamond Crystalline Statement Necklace ($2,875) — the piece that most reminds her of is a gemologist who died in March 2011 at age 79.
“This was inspired by Elizabeth Taylor, someone I absolutely love and admire,” said Hilton, a longtime friend of the late Michael Jackson and a member of the same Hollywood socialite circle as the legendary actress.
A self-described “jewelry lover,” she also referenced her own collection when creating the 50-piece collection. Kathy Hilton and Anna Zuckerman These are collaborations, but the prices are certainly more affordable than what you’d find in Taylor or Hilton’s closets.
“The pieces that I own become my main sense of inspiration because I can talk about them,” she said, admitting that many of her favorite pieces, from Harry Winston, Tiffany & Co., and Cartier, were gifts from her husband, Rick Hilton.
“I’ve been collecting for a long time, and my husband, through our children, [he gave me a] “I buy them gifts,” the mother of four continued, “and then birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day… so my collection is quite large.”
Several years ago, Kathy – who has adult children with Rick Hilton, 68, Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton, Barron Hilton II and Conrad Hughes Hilton – stored their mementos in a Los Angeles bank.
But she did break into the vault with Mr Zuckerman to recreate the opulent look of her own jewels.
“It was like going back to the bank. I said, ‘Look, feel, take your own photos and make a little sketch for me’. From there I chose 70. Twenty didn’t meet the criteria but now I’m at 50 and there’s more to come,” she joked.
“I used to call it travel jewelry, but now it’s jewelry I wear,” she said of her affordable line.
Prices for the Cathy and Zuckerman line range from $125 to $3,000, providing plenty of style and sparkle without the exorbitant price tag.
Zuckerman’s designs are made from diamond crystals, as well as recycled lab-grown diamonds and gemstone materials set in precious metals, an approach intended to not only keep costs down but also extend the lifespan of the pieces.
Cathy told Page Six Style that she wore several pieces from her collection during Oscars weekend in March. Pairing them with designer gowns, the “Parisian” madam gushed that “no one would know” that her accessories didn’t cost tens of thousands of dollars.
“When I wear this, I feel more confident. [collection]”I’m a sharer. If someone compliments me I say, ‘That’s not Harry Winston,'” she said.
She added, “[Zuckerman] I used to work in high-end jewelry, so I have a sense of luxury.”
Zuckerman, who met Cathy three years ago after she bought some items from his brand on Instagram, said the socialite was the “perfect person” to co-design the collection for a few reasons.
For more from Page Six Style, click here.
“I feel like we’ve known each other for a long time and we created this line together. She’s the ultimate goddess, she’s an icon, she has a vision and she has style, and everyone wants to have a piece of Kathy Hilton and her closet,” she said.
Zuckerman also emphasized that Taylor’s timeless sense of jewelry is woven throughout the line.
“We wanted to capture that old Hollywood glamour,” she says. “Elizabeth Taylor was definitely an inspiration for us.”
Kathy told Page Six Style that her favorite item from the collection was: Soleil D’or Canary Yellow Necklace ($1,125), Worth Avenue Statement Necklace ($2,165) and angel wing crystal earrings ($255).
“[Zuckerman’s] “With the advancements in technology and what’s going on in the jewelry world, the jewelry pieces are taking it to a whole new level, which is really amazing,” she said. “Everything is truly one-of-a-kind. It’s been a ton of fun doing this.”
Hilton is bringing a whole new meaning to diamonds this year on “RHOBH.”
