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Deepen the well of love in the world.
The Elizabeth Taylor Engagement Ring is one of the most famous diamond rings in history. But, did you know this stunner had a famous past before making it onto the actress’ finger? Let me introduce you to the mysterious history of the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond…
Elizabeth Taylor Diamond or Krupp Diamond?
Before actor Richard Burton slipped the infamous 33.19ct onto Elizabeth Taylor’s hand, this emerald cut stunner was known as the Krupp Diamond. Vera Krupp was a German actress, baroness, and Las Vegas rancher, born in 1909. During her life, she married four times, divorced a baron for her childhood sweetheart, and wore a 33ct diamond along with her leather chaps as she worked land alongside cowboys.
On April 10, 1959, thieves raided Vera’s ranch and made off with the jewel. The ring was whisked across the country, taken apart, and sold in pieces on the black market. The FBI was hot on the trail, tracing whispers from Utah to Louisiana, even down to Florida. Ultimately, they found the diamond in the lining of a coat pocket in New Jersey! In fact, they even found the side stones. So, Vera rebuilt her beautiful ring!
After Vera’s passing, Richard Burton purchased the diamond, giving it to his wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor. The diamond was in good company. Liz was also quite the dynamo, marrying eight times – twice to Burton himself – also being awarded a damehood by the Queen and countless Hollywood accolades for her illustrious acting career.
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s engagement ring like?
Liz referred to the diamond as her little “skating rink” – and for good reason. The 33.19ct antique style emerald cut measures a whopping 21.77 x 18.74mm! Given the average finger width is 17mm, you can be sure that this diamond completely covers the lower knuckle when worn. In addition to being enormous, the stone is a top D color. So, it is completely colorless. And as a Type IIA stone, it is extra rare! Interestingly, despite receiving a VS1 clarity in 2011, the stone is rumored to be internally flawless. Either way, the stone is definitely eye clean. GIA reports that the diamond is currently being re-graded!
Want more? In addition to the beautiful center, the Elizabeth Taylor diamond ring also boasts two tapered baguettes in its classic platinum setting.
What happened to Elizabeth Taylor’s engagement ring?
Upon Elizabeth Taylor’s passing, Christie’s sold the diamond at an auction commemorating her life. The stone was a crowning jewel of the event. It sparkled in its own glass case at the center of the significant collection. In fact, Taylor’s collection was so vast, an entire room was dedicated only to her jewelry boxes. In life, Liz thought of herself as her jewels’ “custodian,” once stating, “I have never thought of my jewelry as trophies. I am just here to take care of them.”
Fun fact: I was at the preview of this auction in 2011. Christie’s did a magnificent job showcasing the absolute adoration that Liz had for these remarkable jewels.
How much is Elizabeth Taylor’s diamond ring worth?
The value of the Elizabeth Taylor Engagement Ring has increased significantly over time. Back in 1959, the ring was estimated to be worth of $275,000. Richard Burton purchased the ring for $307,000 in 1968. And, when it was sold following Liz’s death in 2011, the winning bid was $8,818,500!
Want more? While the value of most stones would appreciate with the raising of a clarity grade from VS1 to IF, the Elizabeth Taylor diamond’s spectacular value is a result of its “provenance.” In other words, its famous history and ownership.
Why this inspires us…
I love the idea of this jewel empowering two powerful, self-confident women! Jewelry has a unique ability to make people feel love, appreciation, and power. I think this is why it makes such a great achievement gift, in addition to representing engagement. It makes me want to design a big ring for myself! What about you?
Want your very own ice skating rink?
I’d love to help you design one! Reach out to me, Corinne, at care@doamore.com, drop me a note here, or give me a call! I would love to help you find the perfect powerful center stone to make your dreams come true! In the meantime, check out this stunning 5.02ct F/VS1 Emerald cut lab diamond– available as of writing for $23,630. Pairing this stone with the Tapered Baguette Ring is a classic Liz Taylor look.
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Verifiably Ethical & Sustainable
Guaranteed 1:1 Impact
Personalized 1:1 Customer Service
handcrafted & american-made
you before us, always
Diamonds, Gemstones, & Metals
Verifiably Ethical & Sustainable
Every piece of Do Amore jewelry begins by not hurting the world. All our natural diamonds are either ethically sourced in Canada, recycled to eliminate additional demand, or accompanied by a blockchain ledger showing every hand your diamond passed through, proving your stone is truly conflict-free.
We also offer sustainable lab-created stones and guarantee all precious metals are recycled to eliminate the environmental impact of mining. Since March 2022, we carry absolutely no Russian diamonds and continue to urge the industry to follow suit.
Clean Water
Guaranteed
1:1 Impact
We desire to deepen the well of love in the world. We guarantee that every single purchase—whether engagement ring, wedding band, or piece of jewelry—directly impacts one person’s life by giving them access to clean water.
We do this by directly matching jewelry purchases to people in communities to ensure our funding has a one-to-one impact. We also show you the exact GPS coordinates and a photo of the water well your ring or piece of jewelry helped fund.
Customer Service
Personalized
1:1 Support
As a small, 100% founder- and employee-owned team, one-to-one encounters are at the heart of our values. Whichever way you want support throughout your engagement ring or jewelry purchase process, our team is here to accommodate you.
From high-touch to hands-off, video calls to text messages, you have our dedicated, responsive team on your side from the moment you start your search, to the day your well is built, to the time we meet again.
Engagement Rings, Bands, & Jewelry
Handcrafted & American-Made
Every Do Amore design, whether one of our own or unique to you, is beautifully handcrafted in America and made specifically for you. Each ring is made to order, every time.
From classic to custom, you have the option to select from dozens of gorgeous settings or work with our design team to create something entirely bespoke. Plus, you are always covered for free inspections, polishing, cleaning, stone tightening, rhodium-plating, and resizing for life.
Our Promise
You Before Us, Always
We care about what matters most to you, not what’s easiest for us. If it’s a minor change to a setting or arriving at a completely custom design, we work to ensure you get precisely what you love.
From statement-making to understated, we have options at any price point. Plus, you always have our team on your side searching to bring you every stone within your specifications. We also offer 30-day returns and a limited lifetime warranty to cover you in the rare event of a manufacturing defect.
