Taylor Swift’s opals came with more than a six-figure price tag and a Travis Kelce date-night moment. The singer wore jewelry once owned by Elizabeth Taylor during a Brooklyn outing in May. A new report traced the $125,000 suite back to Taylor’s own shopping trip in 1999. The pieces also carry an HIV/AIDS advocacy history, a rare design detail, and a direct link to Swift’s latest Hollywood muse.
Elizabeth Taylor’s longtime assistant shared why the actress loved the opals
As per People, Taylor Swift wore the opals on May 16. She stepped out with Travis Kelce at Honey’s cocktail bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The suite included chandelier earrings, a ring, and a bracelet. The pieces were made in 22K yellow gold with black opals and Australian crystal. Longtime assistant Tim Mendelson said Taylor found them at Crystalarium in West Hollywood. He said, “She liked opals anyway,” but this one was different.
Meanwhile, Mendelson explained what made the stone stand out to Elizabeth Taylor. He said she found it intriguing because “it formed in a clam.” He added that it “retained the shape.” The actress later wore the jewelry to the Project Angel Food Angel Award ceremony in Los Angeles in 1999. At that event, Taylor was honored for HIV and AIDS advocacy. The actress, who died in 2011, also wore an opal necklace she designed herself.
The report said that the necklace featured a personal family detail. Mendelson said Taylor used a tiny starfish from her granddaughter as inspiration. He said, “At that moment, the concept for the necklace was born.” Jeweler David Webb later created the final pendant. The opals were first sold at Christie’s in 2011 for $6,000. They later sold for $125,000 in late 2025. For context, Swift has credited Taylor as a muse. She told The New York Times that the actress “fought for artists’ rights.” Taylor’s chef, Neil Zevnik, also said Swift’s tribute would have earned an Easter invite.
Originally reported by Santanu Das on Reality Tea
