What would it be like to own one not just one, but quite a few historic diamonds of all time? Apart from her beauty and her acting, Elizabeth Taylor’s reputation also includes having a near priceless jewelry box filled with engagement rings, which include some of the most famous engagement rings in history.
Etched with the stories of romance, Elizabeth Taylor’s engagement rings are a peek into the woman’s flurry of love and sparkles. From owning one of the most coveted and structurally perfect diamonds, to having an engagement ring to each one of her many marriages, she may as well be dubbed as a queen of diamond rings.
Indeed, her whirlwind of romances is marked with marvelous engagement rings. Even if not all of them ended in marriage, nor did they end with a very lasting union, each has been a part of Elizabeth Taylor’s history and life story. Let’s allow each of Taylor’s diamonds to tell her stories.
Cushion-Cut for a 17-Year-Old
How many girls can actually say that they have managed to snag a sparkling diamond ring before reaching the legal age of 18? Elizabeth Taylor’s romantic engaged life began at the young age of 17, where her first beau, William Pawley Jr., gave her a cushion-cut engagement ring. This may have been a time of bliss and innocence for the actress. Taylor shared love letters with Pawley Jr. during their engagement.
The ring for this engagement does not make it to the top of the list of most expensive or most controversial ring in Elizabeth’s jewelry box. It is not even one that has a lot of pictures of Elizabeth Taylor’s engagement rings. However, it was the one she had claimed had her heart in it. in one of the letters, she wrote to Pawley about keeping the ring safe, as she wanted to return it to him after their relationship came to an end.
Diamond from a Hotel Heir
Only a year later, when Taylor hit 18, she was set to marry hotel heir Conrad Hilton. According to an article from Vogue, he proposed to her with a four-carat diamond engagement ring. She became her first husband, and even with the high prestige that came with the name, this four-carat platinum-set ring probably became one of the lesser-known of Elizabeth Taylor’s engagement rings.
It does not help that, overall, the entire engagement lasted only a few months, and the wedding itself only withstood eight months before they divorced. Still, compared to her other rings, this one has been pictured in several photos.
A Sapphire Ring from a Fellow Actor
A year after her first wedding, Taylor already allowed her heart to roam free. She and English actor Michael Wilding started dating for at least a year following her previous relationship. In 1952, the couple set off to be married. He proposed to her with a unique diamond-studded sapphire ring.
This may be among Taylor’s longest relationships. It not only lasted five years, but she also had two sons with him. Though the sapphire engagement ring seemed more to be a mature taste, Taylor has said in prior interviews that she may not have been the most mature match for Wildling at the time.
Given that her career suddenly started a flourishing ascent, it’s no wonder that a rather veteran actor who was two decades her senior may not have seen their situation as the most ideal one for married bliss.
Emerald-Cut “Friendship” Ring
After another year, Taylor found herself this time in the company of film producer Mike Todd. Their romance had a little bit of overlap with Taylor’s previous flame, so much so that the infamous emerald ring that Todd gave her had to be dubbed a “friendship ring.”
In reality, the emerald-cut diamond would become known and sought after as one of the most expensive in terms of Elizabeth Taylor engagement ring price. The diamond stands at 29.4 carats and hails from renowned jewelry maker Cartier. As seen in many photos, the emerald-cut diamond may be the biggest in Taylor’s collection. Yet among other celebrities, it may also be among the biggest ever to grace a celebrity finger.
If that’s not enough, Todd also gave Taylor a Cartier tiara. She looked like a literal princess when she attended the 1957 Academy Awards in a simple gown and shawl. The accent of her look was the chandelier-like drop earrings, her emerald-cut ring, and the tiara.
Sadly, her relationship with Todd ended abruptly. Todd died in an airplane crash in 1958. This left Elizabeth and her daughter with Todd devastated. Some celebrity experts speculated that, after her romance with Burton, this is one of Taylor’s relationships that may have lasted longer had it not been for the accident.
50 Diamonds on a Bracelet Instead of a Ring
Taylor moved on with her late husband’s close friend Eddie Fisher. After filing for divorce with his then-wife, Fisher proposed to Taylor. However, the death of her late husband seemed to still linger in her mind, as she continued to wear the engagement ring that he gave her.
In a unique twist and one that would reflect on Taylor’s engagement jewelry collection, Fisher gave his fiancée a diamond bracelet instead. If one were to ask, “How many carats was Elizabeth Taylor’s engagement ring?” then this bracelet may give some of her previous engagement rings a run for their money.
With 50 high-quality diamonds comprising the bracelet, this proposal piece had a whopping 40-carat total for all of the diamonds in the jewelry piece alone. More than the apparent price of this diamond bracelet, their union stood out because of the issue of homewrecking. Some speculated that Taylor ruined Fisher and Debbie Reynolds’ marriage even before the official divorce or engagement.
The Infamous Krupp Diamond
The highlight of Elizabeth Taylor’s many engagement rings is, ironically, a ring that was not meant to be an engagement ring in the first place. The Krupp Diamond, its first moniker, held history before it even became the centerpiece of one of the most expensive and highly admired rings in Hollywood and in history.
Some speculate that the diamond harks back to the 1920s due to its Asscher cut large open culet style of faceting. Its striking clarity earned it a rare classification Type IIa. In diamond language, this means a totally colorless, flawless, and structurally perfect diamond. It holds the same status as the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which set the stage for a blue white diamond classification.
While the diamond’s history following the divorce did not go through the same rough patches as the others in Taylor’s collection, its history says otherwise. It took its name “Krupp” diamond from its first owner, a German actress named Vera Krupp. It also served as an engagement ring, but because the divorce had been public, Krupp moved to the United States to set up her own private home where she lived in quiet glamour.
She lost the ring in a robbery right in her home, but she got it back and kept it under guard. From there, the ring went up on auction where no other than Richard Burton bought it for over $300,000. What’s more, he gave the ring as a present for Taylor on a yacht ride, but it became quite the favorite.
So what were the official engagement jewelry that Burton gave Taylor? For their first marriage, Burton gave her a Bulgari necklace. The necklace showcased a 32-carat Burmese sapphire. One can only imagine how great her collection became for the combined 11 years of marriage. Of all the men in her life, Burton may have had the most effect on Taylor.
A Three-Stone-Type Ring
Even after six marriages, Taylor still found herself gravitating towards a new relationship. Republican John Warner stepped up to the plate and became her next husband. To mark the turn of their relationship, he gave her an engagement ring set with rubies, diamonds, and emeralds. This is apart from the fact that the piece has one of the best diamond settings one can find.
A lot of the elements in Taylor’s seventh marriage stood out from her previous relationships. For starters, the ring seemed more low-key and fitting for the more conservative stance that their relationship had. They held the marriage ceremony at Warner’s estate in Virginia as well.
Over time, however, it seemed that Taylor did not find herself filling in the shoes of a politician’s wife. Or rather, she may be too big a personality to be stuck in a conservative and quiet life. This may have led to the divorce in 1982.
From Engagement Rings to Friendship Rings
After her divorce, she became engaged to Mexican lawyer Victor Luna. This engagement came with a 16-carat sapphire ring. After a year together, their relationship did not end up in marriage. However, both parties maintained an amicable stance and decided to remain friends.
Within two months, Taylor found herself another beau, Dennis Steinman. The businessman also gifted her an engagement ring even with the short whirlwind. Steinman proposed with a sapphire and diamond ring, which Taylor even wore to the Golden Globes. However, at the beginning of 1985, the two called it quits and also remained friends.
It’s quite fascinating how the sapphire diamond seems to play out as a ring in Taylor’s relationships.
A Simple Engagement Ring, A Grand Wedding in 1988
Taylor’s final engagement and marriage came from Larry Fortensky, a construction worker. They met when she stayed at the Betty Ford Centre. This last engagement ring was a simple pave diamond ring, like the one in this Blue Nile Niviera review.
Even with a low-key engagement ring, Taylor and Fortensky celebrated a grand wedding that cost almost $2 million. Even though the two divorced five years later, Taylor did not sever their connection even until she died in 2011.
Where are her rings now?
In 2011, Elizabeth Taylor died at age 79 due to congestive heart failure. If you’ve ever wondered “What happened to Elizabeth Taylor’s diamond ring?” then you’d be surprised to know that it’s been auctioned off. In the same year, her entire jewelry collection became available for auction at Christie’s. All sales totaled $16.8 million.
Elizabeth Taylor’s engagement ring Richard Burton was sold alongside the auction as a centerpiece. In fact, almost half of the price of the jewelry collection alone came from the Elizabeth Taylor diamond sales. Given its size and clarity, this is not surprising even in this day and age. So who has Elizabeth Taylor’s diamond ring? A Korean company came out as the winner of Christie’s auction.
Their union also produced another historical diamond, termed the Taylor-Burton diamond. Weighing 68 carats, the diamond came into the couple’s possession after getting the bidding win at a Cartier auction. Burton reportedly paid $1.05 million for the diamond alone, which set a record back in 1969. Taylor had the necklace customized for her fit.
Elizabeth Taylor’s collection is definitely one for the books. Admittedly, it’s hard to aspire to a similar way to acquire rings in their lifetime. However, other celebrities also have equally colorful stories for their own rings and jewelry collection.
Are you a fan of celebrity rings? Check out our article on fashion icon Jackie Kennedy’s own jewelry collection.
