Ask any jewelry lover about famous celebrity gems and one question comes up almost immediately: where is the Taylor-Burton diamond now? The 69.42-carat pear-shaped stone that Richard Burton bought for Elizabeth Taylor in 1969 has not been seen in public for decades, which only deepens the mystery. The short version: it sits in a private collection, far from any museum case. The longer version is one of the best stories in diamond history, involving a record auction, a payphone in an English hotel, armed guards, and a hospital in Botswana.
This guide covers who owns the Taylor Burton diamond today, whether it was a ring or a necklace, what it might be worth in 2026, and how American shoppers can get the look without an eight-figure budget.
Where Is the Taylor-Burton Diamond Now? The Short Answer
The Taylor-Burton diamond is privately owned. Lebanese jeweler Robert Mouawad purchased it in December 1979 and had it recut from 69.42 carats down to roughly 68 carats to tidy up its edges. It has been held in the Mouawad family's private collection ever since, and the company still features it in its official diamond gallery.
One wrinkle: in 2011, a jewelry trade publication reported that Mouawad had quietly sold the stone to an unnamed private collector, with no date or price disclosed. Mouawad still presents the diamond as part of its collection, so the paper trail goes cold there. Either way, the answer stays the same for the rest of us: the Taylor-Burton lives in private hands and surfaces only for rare exhibitions.
The Story Behind the Taylor Burton Diamond
The stone began as a 240.80-carat rough crystal pulled from South Africa's Premier Mine in 1966, the same mine that produced the Cullinan. Harry Winston bought the rough, and his master cleaver reportedly studied it for six months before making the first cut. The result was a 69.42-carat pear graded internally flawless, among the finest large white diamonds ever cut.
Its first owner was Harriet Annenberg Ames, sister of publisher Walter Annenberg. Too nervous to wear something so valuable around New York, she kept it in a vault and sent it to auction in 1969.
How Richard Burton Lost, Then Won
On October 23, 1969, the still-unnamed diamond went on the block at Parke-Bernet Galleries in New York. Richard Burton's representative dropped out at $1 million, and Cartier won at $1,050,000, a record for any jewel sold at public auction to that point. Cartier promptly named its prize the Cartier Diamond.
Burton refused to accept the loss. The next day, working the phone from a hotel in England, he bought the stone directly from Cartier for about $1.1 million. Cartier kept the right to display it first, and an estimated 6,000 people a day lined up outside its Fifth Avenue store to see it. The couple renamed it the Taylor-Burton diamond, and the name stuck.
Taylor Burton Diamond Ring vs. Necklace:
People search for both the Taylor Burton diamond ring and the Taylor Burton diamond necklace, and the confusion makes sense: it was both. The stone arrived set as a ring, and Taylor wore it that way at first. A 69-carat rock on one finger proved genuinely heavy, so she commissioned a custom necklace at a reported cost of $80,000. The design had a personal purpose too: the pendant hung low enough to cover a tracheotomy scar from her near-fatal pneumonia in 1961. - pear cut diamond engagement rings add keyword naturally Taylor debuted the necklace at Princess Grace of Monaco's 40th birthday party in November 1969, then wore it to the 1970 Academy Awards. Her Lloyd's of London policy capped public wearing's at 30 days per year and required armed guards each time, a condition that eventually drained the fun out of owning it.
Create a Necklace Made Only for You
Bring your vision to life with a truly custom diamond necklace. Choose your diamond, design, and details to create a piece that tells your story.
Design Your Custom NecklaceHow Much Is the Taylor Burton Diamond Worth Today?
Because the stone has not appeared at a public auction since 1979, there is no confirmed market price for the Taylor Burton diamond in 2026. However, its value can be estimated by examining its history, comparable diamond sales, and its unmatched celebrity connection.
The historical record provides an important starting point. Richard Burton purchased the diamond for Elizabeth Taylor in 1969 for approximately $1.1 million. A decade later, Taylor sold it to New York jeweler Henry Lambert for nearly $5 million, which would be around $20 million when adjusted for today’s value. A portion of the proceeds was donated toward building a hospital in Botswana. Lambert later transferred ownership to Robert Mouawad, with the final purchase amount remaining undisclosed. Similar to how collectors compare the value of rare lab-grown diamond rings under $1000 based on quality, certification, and design, the worth of an exceptional natural diamond depends on factors beyond size alone, including rarity, history, and demand.
Recent auction results for extraordinary pear-shaped diamonds help provide further context. A 54-carat flawless pear-shaped diamond achieved approximately $5 million at Christie’s in 2021, while a 101-carat flawless pear-shaped diamond reached around $13 million in 2022. The Taylor Burton diamond carries an additional factor that standard auction stones do not: historic provenance. Elizabeth Taylor’s association significantly increased the value of the Krupp diamond, which sold for $8.8 million in 2011—far above expectations because of its connection to the legendary actress.
Considering its flawless quality, impressive 68-carat size, iconic history, and association with one of Hollywood’s most famous figures, experts would likely place the Taylor Burton diamond’s potential value in the tens of millions. If the diamond ever returned to auction, a price exceeding $25 million would be considered a realistic possibility among collectors and luxury jewelry specialists.
Taylor-Burton Diamond Price and Ownership Timeline
How the Taylor-Burton Compares to Other Famous Diamonds
Big numbers mean more with context. Three useful comparisons:
The Hope Diamond (45.52 carats). Famous for its deep blue color, the Hope sits on permanent display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., where anyone can see it for free. It is the mirror image of the Taylor-Burton: one legendary stone everyone can visit, one almost nobody can.
The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, formerly the Krupp (33.19 carats). Taylor wore this one nearly every day as a ring. Her estate sold it at Christie's in 2011 for $8.8 million against a far lower estimate, the clearest proof on record of what her name adds to a stone's price.
The Rock (228.31 carats). This pear-shaped giant sold for $21.9 million in 2022 and shows what sheer size commands at auction. The Taylor-Burton is much smaller but far finer in quality, with a love story The Rock cannot match.
Want the Taylor-Burton Look? A Buyer's Guide for US Shoppers
You cannot buy the original, but the pear shape Elizabeth Taylor made famous is having a real moment in the American engagement ring market. Pear cuts typically cost 10 to 20 percent less per carat than round brilliants while facing up larger, one of the smartest value plays for US buyers.
For context, recent wedding industry surveys put the average US engagement ring spend around $5,500. At that price, expect a well-cut natural pear close to one carat, or go noticeably bigger with a lab-grown pear, where two carats often costs less than a one-carat natural stone. A GIA- or IGI-graded two-carat natural pear with strong color and clarity generally runs $15,000 to $30,000 at major American jewelers, while a lab-grown equivalent often comes in under $4,000.
Two practical tips come straight from the Taylor-Burton playbook. First, check the bow tie, the dark shadow across the center of a poorly cut pear; Harry Winston's cutters minimized it, and your jeweler should show you a stone that does the same. Second, insure anything you would hate to lose. Taylor's policy was extreme, but a jewelry rider on a US homeowners or renters policy costs little and covers loss, theft, and damage.
If you are starting your search, our guides to pear shaped diamond engagement rings, the diamond carat size chart, and lab grown vs natural diamonds are good next steps.
The Bottom Line
So, where is the Taylor-Burton diamond now? Tucked away in one of the world's great private collections, still whole, still flawless, and quietly gaining value every year it stays out of sight. Few objects tie together Hollywood's golden era, a record auction, and genuine philanthropy the way this stone does. And if the pear shape has won you over the way it won over Elizabeth Taylor, a version scaled to a real American budget is easier to find than ever.
FAQs
Where is the Taylor-Burton diamond now?
It is held privately and has been associated with the Mouawad family collection since 1979. It is not on public display, though it occasionally appears at special exhibitions.
Was the Taylor-Burton diamond a ring or a necklace?
Both. It started out as the Taylor Burton diamond ring, but Taylor found it too heavy for daily wear and had it reset into a custom necklace in 1969.
How big is the Taylor-Burton diamond?
It was originally cut to 69.42 carats and later recut to about 68 carats after Mouawad acquired it.
How much is the Taylor-Burton diamond worth?
There is no official figure, since it last changed hands publicly in 1979 for nearly $5 million. Comparable auction results and its celebrity history point to a value well into the tens of millions.
Why did Elizabeth Taylor sell it?
After her second divorce from Richard Burton, she sold the stone in 1979 and put part of the proceeds toward building a hospital in Botswana.
Can I see the Taylor-Burton diamond in person?
Not at the moment. Unlike the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian, it is kept in a private collection and comes out only for rare exhibitions.
