Soul on Ice: Diamonds Are a Lovely Donation
Invited To: Women With Heart, a benefit auction of celebrity-designed jewelry presented by Platinum Guild International and Sotheby’s at Sotheby’s Beverly Hills.
Vital Signs: “It’s always been somewhat of a girlish fantasy to design a piece of jewelry and work with my two favorite materials, diamonds and platinum,” says actress-about-town Thora Birch, though she wonders, “How many variations of a heart can you do?” Well, 22, it turns out, each conceived by a female celebrity and auctioned for that starlet’s pet cause. Birch has chosen Best Buddies, which aids the mentally disabled. Britney Spears’ faceted bead thingy, whose pendant displays a briolette diamond, benefits the Britney Spears Foundation; Cameron Diaz’s platinum choker helps Adopt-A-Classroom; Gwyneth Paltrow’s tiny diamond-encircled heart with platinum chain benefits the Robin Hood Foundation. Tara Reid recalls, “It didn’t take that long. I drew a necklace.” And, presto! Thanks to one of the Rodeo-caliber jewelry makers who executed the designs, her fetching studded heart with dangling rubies has made AmfAR $4,600 richer.
If I Can Just Call Your Attention To: “I don’t think we’ve had this much blond hair in the room since I’ve been here, at least this much natural blond hair,” goes the lead-off bon mot from Sotheby’s auctioneer Richard Wolf. Four pieces are auctioned live (the rest will be sold online over the next few days.) Candy Spelling’s creation fetches $5,000 for the John Wayne Cancer Institute, which she credits with saving the life of her husband, Nielsen titan Aaron Spelling. “I’d have bid, but I got her heart years ago, so what’s the sense?” cracks the still-feisty TV baron, patriarch of a Spelling presence tonight that also includes Randy and Tori. “My heart is to benefit the N.Y. Fire and Police Widow and Children’s Benefit Fund,” announces Kristin Davis. To drive the point home, the “Sex and the City” kitten sports a member of Manhattan’s Engine Co. 23 on each arm--and she matches the $9,000 high bid. But the-heart-that-broke-the-bank (at $21,000) turns out to be Catherine Zeta-Jones’
“Hope”--inscribed pendant (on a platinum chain pave set with fine diamonds) to benefit Planet Hope. In Zeta-Jones’ absence, Melissa Joan Hart says a few words. Ironically, TV’s Sabrina hasn’t created any jewelry herself (“I wasn’t asked,” she pouts, “and my name is Hart!”). Finally, and with some fanfare, Dylan McDermott of “The Practice” steps up for a “surprise” auctioneer cameo. He spurs bidding to an anticlimactic $5,500 for a Renee Zellweger, and then he’s gone.
Celeb Quotient:
The cream of the designing women--Britney, Cammy, Catherine Zeta, Drew--only give their hearts. Others bring their bods as well.
Wow Factor:
Sotheby’s, with its above-Wilshire patio, could have real party venue potential were people not being directed to a restroom four stories higher.
Grazing Level:
Sold on the shrimp pancake hors d’oeuvres and “carousel of caviar” buffet; pass on the funky-tasting beef with Stilton and the take-out boxes of bland Chinese chicken salad.
