Elizabeth Taylor's wedding ring, given to her by Richard Burton, could fetch a £1 million when it is auctioned at Christie's in New York next week - but its London-based Jewish jeweller has revealed the actor paid just £8,000 for it.

The actor bought the band of white gold from Ivor Gordon in South Africa in 1975, the week before he married Dame Elizabeth a second time.

Mr Gordon, who ran a jeweller's in Sloane Street, recalled: "He was absolutely charming. He was absolutely devoted to her."