Elizabeth Taylor - A Love Affair with Diamonds and Engagement Rings

A Remarkable Collection of Engagement Rings and Exquisite Jewellery

Elizabeth Taylor is famed for her beauty, acting career, humanitarian work and her love affair with jewellery. Her collection has contained some of the most fabulous jewels and engagement rings in history. Born in 1932, she said "My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked". With a total of eight marriages (to seven different husbands) she has certainly had the opportunity to collect her share of diamond engagement rings and exquisite jewellery gifts.

Taylor-Burton diamond as a necklace

One of her most famous solitaire engagement rings is the 30 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Michael Todd, her third husband. Fourth husband, Eddie Fisher apparently said a $50,000 diamond could keep Taylor happy for approximately four days. But her 5th husband, Richard Burton, who she married in 1964, and again in 1975 gave her some of the most famous and expensive jewellery.

Elizabeth and Richard Burton - Engagement Rings and Diamonds

Taylor and Burton stared together in the lavish production of Cleopatra as the title role and Mark Antony respectively. The movie was released in 1963 and made the highest paid actress at that time, receiving a fee of one million. The romance received much media interest as both Taylor and Burton were married to other spouses at the time.

Among the many gifts given by Burton to Taylor is the 33-carat Krupp Diamond, which she wore in several of her movies. This is apparently one of Taylor's favourite diamonds and she still wears it. Burton also gave her a 17th century Taj Mahal heart shaped yellow diamond necklace.

Taylor-Burton Diamond

But one of her most famous diamonds is the Taylor-Burton Diamond. Weighing in at a massive 70-carats, the flawless pear shaped diamond was initially given to Taylor as a ring. But she decided it was too big for a ring and it now hangs from a diamond necklace.

Taylor-Burton Diamond

After Burton and Taylor split she auctioned some of her engagement rings including her diamond-and-emerald engagement ring from Burton to raise money for an AIDS charity. She also sold the Taylor-Burton diamond to raise funds for a Botswana hospital.

Dame Taylor has recently written a book called "Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewellery" in which she shares her collection of sparkling diamonds, gold engagement rings, platinum engagement rings, princess engagement rings, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. She says "I knew that I wanted to give others a glimpse of the thrills and pure happiness that these beautiful creations have given me." She also said of her amazing collection of engagement rings and diamonds: "I'm fortunate to have some very important pieces of jewellery. I don't believe I own any of the pieces. I believe that I am their custodian, here to enjoy them, to give them the best treatment in the world, to watch after their safety, and to love them."