Taylor-Burton Diamond

The most expensive gift in the world - the story of the Taylor-Burton diamond and the love that changed Hollywood

In honor of Valentine's Day - a tempestuous love story: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton - a 69-carat love story that became the world's most famous declaration of love.

There are Valentine's gifts, and then there is Richard Burton's gift to Elizabeth Taylor. Richard Burton's answer to the question "What is love?" was clear - a rare and precious stone, one that cannot be ignored - just like his woman, Elizabeth Taylor.

It all began in 1969 at an auction in New York. A flawless, pear-cut diamond weighing 69.42 carats was put up for sale. Burton, who would not allow anyone but his beloved Elizabeth Taylor to wear this stone, sadly lost the bidding war to the Cartier jewelry house.

Richard would not accept defeat; he called the auction house and shouted into the receiver: "I won't let this diamond be on anyone else's neck!" - The next day, he purchased the diamond from Cartier for a record sum of $1.1 million.

For Liz Taylor, every day was Valentine's Day, and she said of it: "This diamond reminds me that Richard sees me as the most precious thing in the world."

The diamond was so heavy that it was converted from a ring into a magnificent diamond necklace, so that it would "rest" exactly over Elizabeth Taylor's heart.

Elizabeth Taylor used to say about diamonds: "I believe you can't really own a diamond. We are only taking care of it for the next generation."

It is the same at the Albertina Gallery; every piece of jewelry is rare and one-of-a-kind, having passed from generation to generation, and we pass it on to the next generations.