Elizabeth Taylor was a legendary British-American actress renowned for her timeless beauty and powerful screen presence in cinematic classics such as ‘Cleopatra’, ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ and ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’.
Beyond her extraordinary film career, she captivated the world with her opulent lifestyle, headline-making romances – including two marriages to Richard Burton – and an unmatched love for fine jewellery, securing her place as a true icon of Hollywood glamour.
Among the many dazzling pieces in her famed collection, one stands out above the rest: the famed Krupp Diamond. But few know that the 33.19-carat gem once came dangerously close to being lost forever.
Leading diamond experts at UK retailer Steven Stone have taken a closer look at the remarkable ring, uncovering everything from its storied past to its staggering estimated value.
Often called the Elizabeth Taylor diamond, the Krupp diamond is a 33.19 carat Asscher cut stone. According to a report from the Gemological Institute of America, the diamond is graded as D colour and VS1 clarity. This places the diamond at the highest grade for colour – completely colourless with no trace of tint – and among the upper tier for clarity, containing only minute inclusions that are nearly impossible to detect, even under magnification.
The diamond originally belonged to a German actress named Vera Krupp, who received it from her wealthy industrialist husband sometime between 1952 and 1956. After Vera’s passing in 1967, the diamond went up for auction at Parke-Bernet Galleries in New York City, where it was purchased by Richard Burton for $305,000.
Following Elizabeth’s passing in 2011, her estate auctioned it at Christie’s, along with 80 other prized pieces from her collection. Proceeds from the sale supported the Elizabeth Taylor Foundation, which funds a range of charitable causes and medical research initiatives.
How did she nearly lose it?
Elizabeth famously came close to losing the prized possession during a stay at a hotel, when she absentmindedly left it behind in her suite. Thankfully, a quick-thinking staff member discovered it and returned it safely before it could disappear. The near-miss only added to the legend surrounding the dazzling stone, which she wore almost daily and treasured deeply.
“The Krupp Diamond is a 33.19 carat Asscher-cut stone, distinguished by its sizeable culet facet – a hallmark of antique craftsmanship that suggests the diamond was likely cut prior to the 1920s, when such facets were beginning to fall out of fashion. According to a report from the Gemological Institute of America, the diamond is graded as D colour and VS1 clarity. This means it ranks at the very top of the colour scale, with absolutely no detectable hue, and has only very slight inclusions that are extremely difficult to see even under magnification.
With their square shape and clipped corners, Asscher cut diamonds symbolise elegance, clarity, and timeless sophistication – qualities that perfectly reflect Elizabeth Taylor’s own iconic style and enduring legacy.
Although Richard Burton originally purchased the diamond for Elizabeth Taylor at auction for $305,000 – and it later sold for $8.8 million – today, its value is estimated to have soared to an astonishing $20 million.”
maxwell stone, creative director, steven stone
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