Elizabeth Taylor’s Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby and Diamond Ring

Throughout their epic romance, Richard Burton’s gift-giving to Elizabeth was often an act of spontaneity rather than expectation. He was known for a good “It’s Tuesday, I Love You” gift and reveled in seeing Elizabeth’s genuine excitement over any thoughtful gift big or small. However, it was well-known that jewelry held a special place in her heart — a passion Richard deeply understood.

In 1968, on Christmas Day, Richard departed from his usual spontaneous style and meticulously laid out plans that began several years prior for an unforgettable surprise. He knew Elizabeth’s generosity in giving gifts matched her infectious joy in receiving them, and this time, he would create a moment to resonate through their legendary love story.

During her lifetime, Elizabeth amassed over 40 Van Cleef & Arpels jewels, though one piece in particular made her scream from the mountaintops. As Elizabeth readied herself for dinner that night in ‘68, her daughter Liza burst in, hiding a jewelry box that had been “left” in Elizabeth’s stocking, a departure from the adults' usual lighthearted Christmas traditions. When Liza opened her hands to reveal the smallest of boxes, Elizabeth instinctively knew what was in store. 

“I knew I was staring at the most exquisite ruby anyone had ever seen.” - Elizabeth Taylor

Inside that box lay the culmination of Richard’s quest. Years earlier, Richard had vowed to find Elizabeth the most beautiful ruby in the world, driven by his deep affection for the color red — a symbol of both love and his patriotic Wales spirit. Four years later he found the Puertas Ruby, a gem with royal origins, at Van Cleef & Arpels. While arranging the purchase, Richard secretly wrote letters in French to Pierre Arpels from The Palace Hotel near Chalet Ariel, where he and Elizabeth were staying in Gstaad, Switzerland. 

For Elizabeth, a connoisseur of fine jewelry, the Puertas Ruby with its pigeon blood hue, surpassed all expectations. “I screamed, which probably echoed over the mountains, and I couldn’t stop screaming,” Elizabeth writes in My Love Affair with Jewelry. 

In the grand romance of Elizabeth and Richard, it wasn’t only their love that sparkled. With the Puertas ruby in Elizabeth’s collection, she didn’t just own a piece of history – she had a ring that echoed with the passion of a legendary love story. Elizabeth's love affair with jewelry is a saga in itself, one that resonates through the ages alongside her immortal love for Richard Burton.