Priscilla Presley's new love is jewelry line

For much of her life, people knew her best as "Elvis' ex."

But Priscilla Presley, now 65, eventually made a name for herself as an actress and entrepreneur. She starred in the "Naked Gun" movies with Leslie Nielsen and as Jenna Wade in TV's "Dallas." And she founded Elvis Presley Enterprises, helping turn "Graceland," the home they once shared, into a tourist attraction.

Now, Presley has launched a jewelry line that bears her name.

It was a chance, she says, to combine her business expertise with her love of jewelry. "I've always been interested in fashion and made my own clothes when I was a child," says Presley, speaking from her home in Los Angeles. "I guess there's always been a frustrated designer in me. I always like to buy a piece of jewelry and tweak it and make it my own. I've always wanted to do this."

Presley will show her collection March 18 on QVC, and you can check out some pieces on qvc.com.

Although some of the inspiration for the jewelry line comes from her life with Elvis Presley, the collection isn't a tribute to him, she says.

"He really introduced me to wonderful jewelry and gave me lots of beautiful pieces," says Presley, who was married to the "king of rock 'n' roll" for six years.

"He had a great eye for beauty. But I've developed my own taste and aesthetic. (My collection) has its own glamour and uniqueness."

Presley says Elvis loved to give her crosses, and the line has more modern interpretations, including a pair of gothic cross earrings from which teardrop-shaped simulated diamonds dangle.

"I wore it to a high school reunion at Graceland, and I got so many compliments on it," she says. "It's something you can wear on the red carpet or for a casual day affair."

The collection also includes a remake of a platinum ring her daughter, Lisa Marie, gave her for Christmas one year, which Presley personalized with two rows of simulated diamonds.

Presley says she began working on the line two years ago and designed it with price points for every woman. The line sells for $23 to $75 and includes rings, earrings and necklaces made from metal, crystal, enamel and simulated diamonds.

Presley, who owned a boutique in 1973 and had a clothing line bearing her name, says her focus now is to grow the jewelry line.

"I've designed this line for women of any age to wear," she says. "It's very today and quite hip, but very versatile."

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