Honestly, if you think of Elizabeth Taylor, you probably see those violet eyes first. But a very close second? The rocks. Huge, blinding, "is that even real?" kind of jewelry. When people talk about diamonds and rubies Elizabeth Taylor owned, they aren't just talking about shiny stones. They're talking about a lifestyle that basically doesn't exist anymore. We’re talking about a woman who wore a diamond tiara to a backyard pool party in the South of France just because it was a Tuesday.
Most folks know about the big diamonds, like the Krupp or the Taylor-Burton. But the rubies? That's where the real heat was. Her collection of red stones wasn't just about the carats—it was a literal map of her most intense marriages.
The Cartier Ruby Suite: A Poolside Surprise
In the summer of 1957, Elizabeth was hanging out at a villa she’d rented with her third husband, Mike Todd. She was pregnant with their daughter, Liza, and decided to do some laps in the pool. Naturally, she was wearing a diamond tiara while she swam. Mike Todd walked out to the terrace with a red leather Cartier box.
Inside was what collectors now call the "Ruby Suite." It wasn't just a necklace. It was a full-on "bib" of diamonds and rubies, matching earrings, and a bracelet. Because there wasn't a mirror nearby, she actually used the reflection of the pool water to see how the rubies looked against her skin.
She later said the jewelry looked like "rippling red on blue" in the water.
It was a moment of peak Hollywood glamour.
Sadly, Todd would die in a plane crash just months later.
✨ Don't miss: Old pics of Lady Gaga: Why we’re still obsessed with Stefani Germanotta
That "It’s Tuesday" Ruby Ring
Then there’s the Richard Burton era. If Mike Todd started the fire, Burton poured jet fuel on it. He once promised Elizabeth he would find her the most perfect ruby in the world. He didn't just go to a mall; he spent four years hunting.
He finally found it at Van Cleef & Arpels—an 8.24-carat Burmese ruby.
He tucked it into her Christmas stocking in 1968.
Elizabeth supposedly screamed so loud it echoed across the Swiss Alps.
She called it "the most perfect colored stone" she’d ever seen. When it finally went up for auction at Christie’s in 2011, it didn't just sell; it shattered records. We’re talking $4.2 million for one ring. That works out to over $500,000 per carat.
Breaking Down the Big Sales
If you’re curious about the actual numbers from that legendary 2011 auction, they are kind of mind-blowing. People weren't just buying stones; they were buying a piece of Liz.
🔗 Read more: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes in 2026
- The Cartier Ruby Necklace: Fetched $3,778,500.
- The Ruby Earrings: Went for $782,500.
- The Matching Bracelet: Sold for $842,500.
- The 33.19-carat Elizabeth Taylor Diamond: $8.8 million.
The total for her entire jewelry collection? A staggering $115.9 million. Most of that went to her AIDS foundation, which is exactly how she wanted it. She always said she was just the "custodian" of these pieces, not the owner.
Why Diamonds and Rubies Elizabeth Taylor Still Matters
You might wonder why we’re still obsessed with these rocks decades later. It's because Taylor’s jewelry was never "wardrobe." It was her life. She wore the Krupp diamond (the 33-carat one) while eating fried chicken. She wore the rubies to meet royalty and to walk her dogs.
There’s also the technical side. Most modern rubies are heat-treated to make them look better. Taylor's rubies? They were the "pigeon blood" red variety from Burma—natural, rare, and basically impossible to find in those sizes today.
The Famous "La Peregrina"
We can't talk about her red stones without mentioning the La Peregrina pearl. Burton bought her this 16th-century pearl that used to belong to Spanish royalty. But Liz, being Liz, felt the original setting was a bit "puny." She worked with Cartier to redesign it into a massive necklace of pearls, diamonds, and—you guessed it—rubies.
💡 You might also like: Addison Rae and The Kid LAROI: What Really Happened
It’s probably the most famous piece of jewelry in the world.
It sold for $11.8 million.
One time, her puppy almost ate the pearl. Seriously. She found it in the dog's mouth just in time.
How to Channel Your Inner Liz (Without the Millions)
Look, most of us aren't dropping $4 million on a Burmese ruby this weekend. But the diamonds and rubies Elizabeth Taylor wore actually taught us a few things about style that still work:
- Don't "Save" Your Jewelry: If you have something beautiful, wear it. Even if you're just at home.
- Mix Your Metals and Stones: Taylor loved the contrast of the "fire" in a ruby against the "ice" of a diamond. It’s a classic combo for a reason.
- Know the Story: Part of why her collection was so valuable was the provenance. If you’re buying a piece, even a small one, keep the box and the history.
If you're looking to start your own collection or just want to find a high-quality "Taylor-inspired" piece, start by looking for lab-grown rubies or vintage Cartier pieces from the late 20th century. Lab-grown stones offer that same "pigeon blood" saturation without the $500k-per-carat price tag. For the real deal, keep an eye on specialty auctions at Sotheby's or Christie's, though expect intense competition from private collectors in Asia who have been snapping up Taylor’s former pieces lately.
The best way to appreciate her legacy is to treat your own jewelry with the same "custodian" mindset she had. Document your pieces, wear them with confidence, and never be afraid to jump in a pool wearing a tiara.
Next Steps for Jewelry Collectors:
To verify the authenticity of a ruby or diamond, always insist on a report from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF). These labs provide the definitive word on "origin" (like whether a ruby is actually from Burma) and whether the stone has been heat-treated.