Maria Felix: the day that “La Dona” entered a jewelry store with a crocodile and ordered a necklace in the shape of the reptile

One of the most important personalities in show business of the last century in Mexico was undoubtedly the actress of the Mexican Gold Film era, María Félix, who with her beauty, personality and style, managed to captivate Mexican audiences.

Maria Felix, also known as Maria Bonita, or La Doña, was born on a day like today, April 8, 1914, and one of the most curious facts of her life, is that she also died on a day like today, but in 2002. This Friday marks 20 years since the actress's death, and 108 years since her birth.

She was originally from Sonora, and she was always a woman of strong character, direct and even mysterious. Throughout her life, several myths were told about her. It is said that Felix's arrival in the cinema was merely a coincidence, in a meeting in the center of Mexico City, which would later make her the biggest star in the country.

He had the chance to have a prestigious career in Hollywood, but he decided to start in Mexican cinema. With her career she changed paradigms in the world of cinema, the role of women in films went from being that of the damsel to that of the landowner. She became the woman who chose her own roles, and one of the highest paid in the whole medium.

Beyond his successful career in the world of cinema, with 47 films recorded, his legacy extends outside the cinema. His image was a symbol of luxury, style and eccentricity, and he was the main character not only in his films, but of a whole aesthetic, explainable only with his name.

Maria Felix used to show herself in luxurious garments, not only to dress, but to adorn her body. She had luxury jewels that dazzled everyone who saw them, and she was a star customer of Cartier, for her eccentric jewelry commissions.

The actress made several special requests to Cartier. Felix's fascination with exotic animals led to several myths being told about her. One of these stories is about a crocodile necklace that was seen several times adorning La Doña's neck .

It is said that, one day, María Bonita entered a Parisian Cartier store, in 1975, with a small live crocodile, inside a cage. He placed this one on a counter, and said he wanted an exact copy of the animal made for him, using only precious metals. The actress's request resulted not in one, but in two pieces. In this way, it is said, one of the most iconic creations of the firm was born.

Animals, and especially reptiles, were already a reference source for the French house since the beginning of the 20th century, however, the order turned out to be quite a challenge for the jewelry experts, creators of the piece. After the death of the Mexican actress, her jewelry was put up for sale, and the necklace was purchased again by Cartier to become part of its historical archive. It is said that the French house paid 20 million euros.

However, crocodiles were not the only reptiles that adorned Maria Felix's neck. A few years earlier, in 1968, La Doña commissioned a piece called Snake Necklace. It was created from platinum, white gold, yellow gold and two emeralds that served as eyes. The piece was composed of 2,473 diamonds and a weight of 178.21 carats.

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