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The Stone That Sparked a Scandal
The Asscher-cut Krupp Diamond started as mere rock. Richard Burton bought it for Elizabeth Taylor during the filming of Cleopatra. He slipped it onto her finger in early 1962. A public scandal erupted instantly.
Burton knew Taylor was married. The affair burned white-hot. The diamond became their silent accomplice. It screamed of defiance and reckless desire. The press labeled it the "Taylor-Burton Diamond" immediately.
A Rough Stone, A Perfect Setting
The original rough crystal weighed 33.19 carats. Asscher Brothers in Amsterdam cut it down carefully. They preserved a distinctive star pattern across its surface. The result felt old Hollywood. It felt dangerous.
Taylor rarely wore it safely. She kept the ring on set for weeks. Its cushion shape caught every ray of sunlight. People stopped in the street just to stare.
The Auction That Shook the World
Taylor announced plans to sell the jewel in 1969. Christie's organized the auction. The bidding war between two anonymous phone buyers lasted minutes. The final price hit $1.1 million. That figure smashed every record.
Richard Burton bought it back for his wife. The gesture proved one simple fact. Money meant nothing without the drama.
Life After the Diamond
Taylor remarried Burton in 1975. The ring followed her through many moves. She eventually sold it again years later. The proceeds funded a hospital in Botswana.
The Krupp Diamond remains a symbol. It stands for an era of unapologetic excess. Its legacy continues to fascinate collectors. No other piece of jewelry tells this specific story.