Diamonds Drama and an Icon The Story of Elizabeth Taylors Engagement Ring from Richard Burton
Diamonds Drama and an Icon The Story of Elizabeth Taylors Engagement Ring from Richard Burton
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had a love affair that was nothing short of cinematic. Their relationship lit up the tabloids in a time when Hollywood stars were the gods and goddesses of the earth, living out their extravagant lives for all to see. Among the relics of their storied romance is a symbol that echoes with grandeur: the engagement ring Burton gave to Elizabeth, a piece of jewelry that set a precedent for opulence and passion.
This legendary ring, famously known as the Krupp Diamond, is as much a character in their love story as the two actors themselves. The diamond, a dazzling 33.19 carats, was originally mined in 1926 and once belonged to Vera Krupp, whose name it retains. Richard Burton purchased it for Taylor at an auction in 1968 for a whopping $307,000—a hefty price tag in those days, but worth every penny for a stone that would become part of the mythology of their relationship.
I remember seeing a picture of the diamond when I was a teenager, thumbing through a vintage magazine at a flea market. My mother, an ardent fan of old Hollywood, pronounced the diamond as “the pinnacle of glamour.” There was something universally fascinating about it. Not just because of its size, which was indeed hard to ignore, but because it encapsulated a time when love stories seemed larger than life, played out against the backdrop of lavish sets and Monte Carlo sunrises.
The ring is a rarity not only because of its sheer size and clarity but because of what it represents. It's more than just a piece of jewelry; it's a chapter in a love story that was as tumultuous as it was beautiful. Burton and Taylor married and divorced each other twice, their passion famously intense and their reconciliations equally dramatic. The ring remains a testament to their love's enduring legacy, a symbol of a bond that was unbreakable, if not unchallengeable.
Over the years, the Krupp Diamond became known as Taylor’s favorite piece of jewelry. It was a constant on her hand, a fixture that many associate with her more than any film role or philanthropic endeavor. Its platinum setting and emerald-cut design set trends that still inspire engagement ring styles today. Jewelers often cite it as an example of timeless elegance, a piece that transcends the vagaries of fashion.
In my memory, the allure of the diamond always felt tied to the couple's on-screen and off-screen drama. It was practically a character in its own right, appearing at film premieres, charity events, and on the covers of magazines. There was a certain kind of magic in those stories my mother told—of parties at their villa in Switzerland, where the ring would catch the light just so—and in the way Taylor lived life unapologetically, with a fierceness that resonated with the diamond's fire.
Today, in an era where celebrity engagements are often fleeting, the story of Elizabeth Taylor’s engagement ring given by Richard Burton stands out as an enduring tale of love, lust, and luminous elegance. It reminds us that some things, like a great love story or a perfect diamond, never go out of style. And who knows, perhaps somewhere in a market or an antique shop, another young person is leafing through those same images, dreaming of romances as grand and as glittering as the one behind Elizabeth Taylor's iconic ring.
