Miss Goldfinger - Bronwyn Cosgrave's love affair with gold

Bronwyn Cosgrave10 April 2012

I have always adhered to the rule proposed by Mr T of The A-Team at New York's Plaza Hotel in the mid-90s. Detaching a knife, fork and spoon – all solid gold – from a gold neck chain, he tucked into a piece of cake and declared: Everything is more fun with gold'.

And so each morning, reaching into my vintage crystal jewellery box which stores my own horde, I adorn myself with at least five pieces. This is the moment of playtime I add to my day. At work, I slip my gold on and off periodically; my 22-carat pavé diamond ring slows down my typing. But, until I go to bed at night, I wear gold because its shimmer, glow and silky texture make me feel like the queen that a Los Angeles psychic once told me I was in a former life – glamorous and invincible.

A few years ago, having decided there was not enough gold in my life, I diversified my professional interests to include a sideline consulting for jewellers, which means I can affordably satiate my desire for gold; brands I advise want me to wear their work to deliver accurate feedback relating to its design.

Because high metal prices stimulate jewellery crime waves, I can't divulge exactly what I own and wear but when I asked my boyfriend if he felt I flaunt a lot of gold, he briskly responded: Are you kidding? You're like Nefertiti!'Though the ancient bust of the Egyptian queen, currently on display in Berlin's Neues Museum, shows her bereft of jewels, Evelyn Wells, Nefertiti's biographer, describes her Pharaonic jewellery chest as my ultimate treasure trove. Bracelets, amulets, earrings [and] necklaces so wide they lay on the shoulders,'she notes. Nefertiti was one of the first women to wear earrings in large loops, pendants, buttons or studs. Nearly all were gold.'

Ancient Egyptians associated gold with the sun, believed it was the flesh of the gods', and pioneered techniques which define modern jewellery, from the production of gold leaf and gold chain to lost wax casting'(pouring molten metal into a wax mould to achieve a unique form), as well as the mixing of alloys to improve its hardness and achieve its beauteous colour variations. But I only wear jewels made of yellow gold as it is the perkiest shade, created by mixing in silver and copper alloys.

The mask of Tutankhamun's mummy is the bauble that first ignited my interest in gold. Composed of ten kilos of solid beaten and burnished yellow gold, I first spied it, aged 13, on tour with the 1979 Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibition, and the impact of that golden, god-like face remains with me to this day.

Shortly after I viewed King Tut's treasures, my mother provided me with my first memorable fashion moment. Setting off to claim her front row seat at a Frank Sinatra concert, her lithe frame was clad entirely in gold. She had accessorized a floor-length gold kaftan bought in a Tangier souk with matte gold sandals, a gold chain evening bag and a chunky gold charm bracelet which weighed half a kilo. Off she went, trailing a heady cloud of Joy by Jean Patou, the Bulgarian rose and jasmine perfume that was then the costliest in the world. The bottle my father had bought in Paris was adorned with golden thread entwined beneath its Baccarat crystal stopper. It stood stately atop my mother's jewellery box until I tipped it over.

Joy remains my favourite scent and my wardrobe references my mother's gilded 1970s style, too. I own dresses, coats, sweaters and even a vintage Lanvin kaftan made from rich golden fabrics. Upon my gold-painted toes I wear white gold J Crew flats, rose gold Rupert Sanderson courts or a pair of Nikes emblazoned with golden swoosh symbols. I first spied the gold python Sergio Rossi evening bag I take everywhere with me in the Gritti Palace hotel in Venice and, overcome with desire, suggested to the French journalist toting it that we switch. Luckily she preferred my silver python version and, handing over her gold model, described it with utter disdain as bling'. Music to my ears, as my gold, embellished fingers clutched the glittering prize.

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