Jewelry and movies are two of my very favorite things to talk about, so I am very excited about this post. While I am one of the few people in
By Ben Sutherland [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The original pendant was designed by London jewelers Asprey and Garrard, and was actually white gold set with a heart-shaped blue cubic zirconia. After the film's release, the necklace rapidly became iconic, and Asprey and Garrard were commissioned to create to create a "real" Heart of the Ocean, which was worth about 3.5 million dollars, and was set with a sapphire. Famed jeweler Harry Winston then decided to make his own variation of the necklace, which featured a 15 carat blue diamond and was reputedly worth 20 million dollars. Clearly, no one does expensive jewelry quite like Harry Winston.
According to multiple sources, including the Washington Times and Scientific American, James Cameron's Heart of the Ocean was inspired by Kate Phillips, a young passenger on the Titanic. Kate left England in the company her married lover, who gave her a sapphire necklace shortly before the trip. Different sources have supplied vastly different endings for Kate, ranging from dying aboard the ship to carrying a child that was born roughly nine months after the sinking of the Titanic. Kate's sapphire necklace can be seen here.
What do you think happened to Kate Phillips? Which of the two necklaces do you prefer?
Personally, I like Kate Phillips'... but that could have something to do with my love of antique jewelry! ;)