Betty White’s Wedding Ring Can Be Yours
Julien’s Auctions is holding a sale of the late legend’s personal possessions this fall, including a few pieces of fine jewelry.

On Sept. 23-25, Julien’s Auctions will host “Property from the Life and Career of Betty White” in Beverly Hills, California, a sale of more than 1,500 lots from White, who died at 99 on Dec. 31, just weeks shy of her 100th birthday.
Born in Oak Park, Illinois on Jan. 17, 1922, White broke into TV in the medium’s early days, co-hosting “Hollywood on Television With Al Jarvis” beginning in 1949.
It was the start of a career that would span a record-setting eight decades, with White starring in two critically acclaimed sitcoms—“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Golden Girls”—and winning five Primetime Emmy Awards, two Daytime Emmys, two Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, and a SAG Lifetime Achievement Award.
Julien’s sale from White’s estate includes numerous lots of TV memorabilia—autographed scripts, dresses she wore to various awards shows, her director’s chair from “The Golden Girls” set, etc.—and a few pieces of jewelry that were undoubtedly dear to White.
There is the gold and diamond wedding band she wore throughout her marriage to her beloved third husband Allen Ludden, whom she met as a celebrity guest on the game show he hosted, “Password.”
The ring, pictured above, is estimated to sell for $600-$800.
Also up for sale is Ludden’s matching wedding band, which is gold and engraved with their wedding date, “6-14-63,” and the words “I really do.” Ludden’s band is also estimated at $600 to $800.
One of the highest valued lots in the auction is a vintage gold Van Cleef & Arpels flower brooch set with brilliant-cut diamonds and sapphires.
Believed to be a gift from Ludden, who died in 1981, White was photographed wearing the pin on numerous occasions beginning in 2010, Julien’s said. It is estimated to sell for $14,000-$16,000.
Stay Golden: See Some of the Items Up for Auction
The 14-karat gold timepiece is engraved with “T.C.W. 12-25-40,” the initials of her mother, Tess Curtis White.
“Property from the Life and Career of Betty White” will take place in person Sept. 23-25 at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills and online at JuliensAuctions.com.
Special exhibitions of selected items from the auctions are scheduled for May 12 to July 4 at Museo de la Moda in Santiago, Chile; Aug. 1 to Sept. 11 at The Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware in Kildare, Ireland; and at Julien’s in Beverly Hills from Sept. 19 to 22.
The Sept. 20 exhibition at Julien’s will include a screening of the PBS documentary “Betty White: First Lady of Television.”
In addition, Julien’s is partnering with cruise line Cunard to take White’s possessions on a transatlantic trek.
Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 will set sail from New York on Aug. 5 and arrive in Southampton in the U.K. on Aug. 12.
During the cruise, guests will get to view a daily rotating exhibition of White’s items and attend a Q&A with Julien’s executives Darren Julien and Martin Nolan.
More information on the auction is available on the Julien’s website.
The Latest

The Vault’s Katherine Jetter is accusing the retailer of using info she shared for a potential partnership to move into Nantucket.

Agents seized 2,193 pieces, a mix of counterfeit Cartier “Love” and “Juste Un Clou” bracelets, and Van Cleef & Arpels’ “Alhambra” design.

The designer brought her children’s book, “The Big Splash Circus,” to life through a collection of playful fine jewelry characters.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The trade association has chosen the recipients of the funding initiative it formed to foster the growth and sustainability of the industry.


The organization has also announced this year’s slate of judges.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 additional pieces that stood out to her at the Couture show.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

Lori Tucker started at Williams Jewelers when she was 18 years old.

The “Marvel | Citizen Zenshin” watch is crafted in Super Titanium and has subtle nods to all four “Fantastic Four” superheroes on the dial.

The “XO Tacori” collection was designed to blend luxury and accessible pricing.

Pritesh Patel, the lab’s chief operating officer, will take over as president and CEO of GIA.

National Jeweler and Jewelers of America discuss the standout jewelry trends and biggest news to emerge from the shows this year.

Signatories to the “Luanda Accord” committed to allocating 1 percent of annual diamond revenue to the Natural Diamond Council.

The winning designs captured the “Radiance” theme.

Nominations in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation will be accepted through July 30.

The singer’s ring ticks off many bridal trends, with a thick band, half-bezel setting, and solitaire diamond.

The bracelet references vintage high jewelry and snake symbolism as a playful piece where a python’s head becomes a working belt buckle.

The heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.

The Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.

To mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.

The gemstone is the third most valuable ruby to come out of the Montepuez mine, Gemfields said.

Founder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.

If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.

The top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.

Gizzi, who has been in the industry since 2001, is now Jewelers of America’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.