AuctionsSep 06, 2022
Elvis’ ‘That’s the Way It Is’ Lion Ring Among Top Lots at Auction AuctionsSep 27, 2022
In Betty White’s Blockbuster Estate Sale, Jewelry Held Its Own
Fine jewelry comprised three of the auction’s top 10 lots, though it could not top her director’s chair or scripts from “The Golden Girls.”
Betty White’s signed 18-karat gold Van Cleef & Arpels brooch set with sapphires and diamonds sold for $21,875 at Julien’s Auctions recent three-day auction of the late actress’ estate. The brooch is believed to be a gift from her late husband, actor and game show host Allen Ludden.
Beverly Hills, California—It is an auction outcome befitting of one of the best-loved actresses in Hollywood.
From Sept. 23-25, Julien’s Auctions sold more than 1,600 lots of jewelry, clothing, furniture, artwork and assorted memorabilia from the estate of Emmy-winning actress Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021, at age 99.
Every lot in the auction sold, with many soaring past pre-sale estimates and the total exceeding $4 million, blowing away the original estimate of $400,000 to $600,000.
While the top lot of the auction was a piece of memorabilia from “The Golden Girls” set, her jewelry made a strong showing, with three of the actress’ personal pieces landing in the sale’s top 10.
Her 14-karat white gold sapphire and diamond necklace sold for $35,200; only five of the auction’s lots garnered more.
The simple pendant, featuring a sapphire estimated to be between 7-8.5 carats and a half-carat round diamond, soared past pre-sale estimates of $1,000-$2,000, likely due in part to the high-profile screen time it notched.
White wore the necklace on episodes of The Golden Girls and the “A Girl Like Mary” episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” as well as to the Primetime Emmys in 1976, where she won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for playing Sue Ann Nivens on Mary Tyler Moore.
Another sapphire piece—this one a ring White wore on The Mary Tyler Moore show and The Golden Girls—sold for $32,000, against an estimate of $800-$1,200, making it the seventh most expensive lot in the sale.
SEE: Betty White’s Jewelry Sold at Auction
From Sept. 23-25, Julien’s Auctions sold more than 1,600 lots of jewelry, clothing, furniture, artwork and assorted memorabilia from the estate of Emmy-winning actress Betty White, who died Dec. 31, 2021, at age 99.
Every lot in the auction sold, with many soaring past pre-sale estimates and the total exceeding $4 million, blowing away the original estimate of $400,000 to $600,000.
While the top lot of the auction was a piece of memorabilia from “The Golden Girls” set, her jewelry made a strong showing, with three of the actress’ personal pieces landing in the sale’s top 10.
Her 14-karat white gold sapphire and diamond necklace sold for $35,200; only five of the auction’s lots garnered more.
The simple pendant, featuring a sapphire estimated to be between 7-8.5 carats and a half-carat round diamond, soared past pre-sale estimates of $1,000-$2,000, likely due in part to the high-profile screen time it notched.
White wore the necklace on episodes of The Golden Girls and the “A Girl Like Mary” episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” as well as to the Primetime Emmys in 1976, where she won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for playing Sue Ann Nivens on Mary Tyler Moore.
Another sapphire piece—this one a ring White wore on The Mary Tyler Moore show and The Golden Girls—sold for $32,000, against an estimate of $800-$1,200, making it the seventh most expensive lot in the sale.
SEE: Betty White’s Jewelry Sold at Auction
Betty White wore this 14-karat white gold sapphire and diamond pendant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” to the Primetime Emmys in 1976, and on “The Golden Girls.” A buyer paid $35,200 for it at Julien’s Auctions’ recent sale of the late actress’ estate.
Although not a September baby (White was born in January), she seemed to have an affinity for sapphires. This white gold ring featuring a cushion-cut sapphire and 35 round diamonds weighing about 2 carats sold for $32,000. White wore it on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and on the season 2 episode of The Golden Girls titled “Ladies of the Evening.”
White’s gold and diamond ring from her marriage to Allen Ludden sold for nearly $26,000.
Ludden’s ring went for $12,800. It is engraved with “6-14-63,” the date of his marriage to White and the words, “I really do.”
White’s vintage Ruser 14- and 18-karat gold fortune cookie brooch sold for $5,760. The cookie’s retractable 18-karat white gold fortune reads, “And he’ll be short, gray, and then some.”
These cream-colored enamel clip earrings and matching ring sold for $12,800. White wore the suite on multiple episodes of The Golden Girls.
Rounding out the auction’s top 10 at No. 9 was White’s diamond and gold wedding band from husband Allen Ludden, while his plain gold band landed at No. 25 out of the more than 1,600 lots.
Ludden and White married at the Las Vegas Convention Center on June 14, 1963, and they remained married until he died of cancer in 1981. White never remarried.
Her wedding ring was white and yellow gold with 1.15 carats of round diamonds. It sold for $25,600, topping the pre-sale estimate of $800 to $1,200.
His is engraved with the words “6-14-63 I really do” and went for $12,800. It was estimated at $600-$800.
“You would be hard-pressed to find an individual as iconic and well-loved as Betty White, whose impact is absolutely multi-generational,” Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions, said.
“This auction represented a collection unlike anything we have ever seen before which brought in record-breaking results and thousands of Betty’s most loyal fans from all over the world who participated.”
Related stories will be right here …
Ludden and White married at the Las Vegas Convention Center on June 14, 1963, and they remained married until he died of cancer in 1981. White never remarried.
Her wedding ring was white and yellow gold with 1.15 carats of round diamonds. It sold for $25,600, topping the pre-sale estimate of $800 to $1,200.
His is engraved with the words “6-14-63 I really do” and went for $12,800. It was estimated at $600-$800.
“You would be hard-pressed to find an individual as iconic and well-loved as Betty White, whose impact is absolutely multi-generational,” Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions, said.
“This auction represented a collection unlike anything we have ever seen before which brought in record-breaking results and thousands of Betty’s most loyal fans from all over the world who participated.”
Other notable jewelry lots from “Property From the Life and Career of Betty White” include a signed vintage 18-karat gold Van Cleef & Arpels flower brooch set with sapphires and diamonds.
Believed to be a gift to White from Ludden, the brooch had one of the highest estimates among the jewelry in the sale at $4,000 to $6,000 and did not disappoint, garnering $21,875.
Another signed piece, a vintage Ruser 14- and 18-karat gold fortune cookie brooch, sold for $5,760, near the top of its estimated range, while a costume jewelry set—a pair of cream-colored ear clips and a matching ring White wore on several episodes of The Golden Girls—sold for $12,800.
The suite was estimated at $800 to $1,200.
While White’s jewelry did well, it could not top the actress’ Golden Girls memorabilia.
The auction’s top three lots were all related to the sitcom, which remains popular 30 years after it went off the air.
The top lot overall was White’s director’s chair from The Golden Girls, which sold for $76,800 against an estimate of $1,000.
Two lots containing teleplays for both the pilot and final episodes of the show signed by White and the three other “Girls”—Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty—sold for $57,600 and $51,200, respectively.
And a buyer paid $32,000 for a lavender-colored silk dress with a bow collar and skinny belt White wore in 1986 publicity photos for the series. The pre-sale estimate was $600 to $800.
To see the full auction results, visit the Julien’s website.
The auction’s top three lots were all related to the sitcom, which remains popular 30 years after it went off the air.
The top lot overall was White’s director’s chair from The Golden Girls, which sold for $76,800 against an estimate of $1,000.
Two lots containing teleplays for both the pilot and final episodes of the show signed by White and the three other “Girls”—Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty—sold for $57,600 and $51,200, respectively.
And a buyer paid $32,000 for a lavender-colored silk dress with a bow collar and skinny belt White wore in 1986 publicity photos for the series. The pre-sale estimate was $600 to $800.
To see the full auction results, visit the Julien’s website.
More on Auctions
The Latest
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Weekly QuizNov 14, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
MajorsNov 14, 2024
Saks Fifth Avenue Cancels Holiday Light DisplayInstead of its usual elaborate display, the store will illuminate its façade and frame the windows to highlight its flagship’s architecture.
WatchesNov 14, 2024
Grand Seiko Partners With Ben Bridge on First Hawaii Store The new Grand Seiko boutique is located in Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood.
SourcingNov 13, 2024
Gem Legacy Adventures Announces 2025 Trip Eleven spots are available for travelers to visit Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya from July 25 to Aug. 4.
AuctionsNov 13, 2024
Aga Khan Emerald Sells for $8.8M, Sets RecordThe emerald brooch-turned-pendant returned to auction after 55 years, setting a world record for most expensive emerald sold at auction.
AuctionsNov 13, 2024
‘Exceptional’ Burmese Ruby Ring Tops $5M at Auction Phillips also sold a 1.21-carat fancy red diamond dubbed the “Red Miracle” for more than $1 million at its jewelry auction in Geneva.
MajorsNov 13, 2024
Ariana Grande, Anya Taylor-Joy Star in Holiday Jewelry CampaignsFrom Swarovski to Tiffany & Co., jewelry retailers are enlisting celebrities to highlight their holiday offerings.
MajorsNov 13, 2024
Royal Chain’s New Catalog Is Out NowThe 2024-2025 book introduces hundreds of new designs.
FinancialsNov 12, 2024
Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels Continue to Shine for Richemont Richemont’s jewelry sales ticked up 2 percent in the first half of the year, while watch sales plummeted 17 percent.
GradingNov 12, 2024
GIA’s Next-Day Services Return for the HolidaysOffered by the lab since 2016, the holiday season special is good from now through mid-December.
