It takes a diva to fill in the shoes of another diva. Erstwhile supermodel Carla Bruni, former first lady of France, graced the Tuesday launch of Bulgari’s latest jewelry collection in Paris dubbed as “Diva.”

The collection is said to be a modern interpretation of actress Elizabeth Taylor’s Bulgari collection, including a necklace with a humongous detachable emerald pendant given her as wedding gift by then husband Richard Burton. The necklace, which is adorned with diamonds and numerous smaller emeralds ranging from six to 15 carats each, was the same piece Taylor wore in a scene in “Cleopatra.”

Bulgari recently bought back a substantial number of pieces from the late actress’ jewelry collection, including the jaw-dropping number she wore as queen of Egypt. This same collection became the inspiration for Bulgari’s jewelry designers in fashioning chunky but intricate pieces combining rubellites, emeralds, colored sapphires and, of course, diamonds.

According to a company insider, Bulgari bought the pieces back last year in an auction arranged by the late actress’ family. Total price tag? “Confidential,” said our source.

Rich, worldly

He also surmised that Bulgari tapped Bruni to be its current muse because she embodies the rich, worldly and independent woman of today. In other words, Bruni, who also graced an earlier launch of the Diva collection in Portofino, Italy, is a diva in her own right.

Looking chic in a black strapless top and pantsuit, and wearing a diamond-encrusted necklace with a green pendant from the Diva collection, Bruni kept mostly to herself and her group, as they sat in a quiet corner of the Chambre de Commerce et D’Industrie’s sprawling garden courtyard.

Several polite but firm bodyguards loomed over them and made sure Bruni and her friends weren’t disturbed. But this didn’t stop us from shooting her, paparazzi-style, while she smoked.

Apart from Bruni, also gracing the event were actors Bradley Cooper, Mila Jovovich and Virginie Ledoyen, and supermodel Liu Wen.

Meanwhile, models wearing some of the selected pieces from Bulgari’s 200-piece Diva collection emerged from several curtained niches inside the Chambre’s huge hall. In true Bulgari fashion, they were draped in neutral and nondescript jersey numbers with plunging necklines to better show  off those eye-popping colored baubles. Not a few models also wore matching rings and bracelets that echoed the dangling necklaces and collars wrapping their necks.