The 68 Carat Diamond Cut and Its Origin
The stone known as the Krupp Diamond was a 34.65 carat pear-shaped rough before it was cut into a flawless 68 carat equivalent jewelry piece associated with Elizabeth Taylor. The precise cut emphasizes maximum brilliance and a narrow silhouette, a style favored by high end collectors and auction houses. The gem later became part of the Taylor Burton collection and was sold at Christie's in 2011 for over 11 million dollars, with details confirmed by major financial and auction records.
Gemological reports from the time describe the diamond as internally flawless with a color grade in the D to E range and a cut that maximizes light return across the table and crown. The proportions, symmetry, and polish were graded as excellent, contributing to its status as one of the most valuable cuts of colored jewelry diamonds ever offered at public auction. Christie's, the auction house that handled the sale, provides detailed lot descriptions and provenance data on its official site christies.com.
Market Impact and Valuation of the Cut
The cut of Elizabeth Taylor's diamond set a benchmark for large pear shaped stones in the high jewelry market, influencing pricing trends for similar colorless and near colorless stones above 50 carats. Auction analysts and luxury finance commentators note that the record price reflected not only carat weight but also the cut's symmetry, fluorescence grade, and the celebrity provenance attached to the Taylor Burton name. Forbes has covered the sale as a case study in how cut quality and provenance combine to drive valuations in the colored gem and diamond investment segment forbes.com.
Industry reports from Sotheby's and major gemological labs show that pear shaped cuts with length to width ratios near 1.75 and excellent symmetry consistently command premiums in the top tier of the auction market. The Krupp Diamond's cut is cited in post sale analyses as an example of how precise faceting and proportions can enhance the perceived size and brilliance of a stone above 30 carats. Sotheby's maintains a public archive of historic jewelry lots and auction results that include detailed cut and grading data sothebys.com.
Technical Details and Current Ownership
Cut Specifications and Grading
The final cut of the diamond features a brilliant faceting pattern with a high crown, shallow pavilion, and a polished girdle that optimizes face up brightness and fire. Grading reports from the Gemological Institute of America and European Gemological Laboratories describe the stone as type IaAB with no detectable fluorescence and a cut grade that places it among the top percentile of large colorless diamonds.
Proportions and Symmetry
Measurements indicate a length to width ratio that falls within the ideal range for pear shaped stones, with a table percentage and crown angle that align with modern cut standards for maximum light performance. The symmetry is classified as excellent, with precise alignment of the main facets and a balanced silhouette that enhances the stone's visual size and sparkle.
Current Market Position
Post auction, the diamond has remained in private collections and is occasionally referenced in market analyses of high value jewelry assets. Financial news outlets and luxury asset advisors cite the stone as an example of how rare cuts and large carat weights can function as alternative investments with low correlation to traditional asset classes.
Related Investment Context
Institutional investors and family offices looking at colored gemstones and rare diamonds often study the Krupp Diamond's trajectory as a case in provenance driven value creation. The Gemological Institute of America provides public education resources on diamond grading and cut quality that are widely used by collectors and financial professionals