TrendsFeb 02, 2022
Did Rihanna Just Make #BellyMess a Thing?EditorsSep 30, 2022
The Best of Betty White’s Jewelry Sold at Auction
Michelle Graff recaps the cats, fortune cookies, and charm bracelets that caught her eye while covering the late actress’ estate sale.
PHOTO Betty White wore two vintage gold bracelets when she married Allen Ludden, one set with sapphires (pictured) and one set with diamonds. (Photo credit: Julien’s Auctions)
PHOTO The diamond bracelet was engraved with their wedding date, June 14, 1963, and the words “From this Day On.” Ludden and White were married until his death in 1981. The actress never remarried. (Photo credit: Julien’s Auctions)
While the late, great Betty White might not have had a jewelry collection on par with Elizabeth Taylor’s, that doesn’t make her jewelry any less interesting or personal.
My two favorite pieces from Julien’s Auctions’ recent white-glove sale of White’s estate were, in fact, extremely personal: they are the bracelets she wore on the day she married Allen Ludden, her third husband and the self-professed love of her life.
Pictured above, the gorgeous vintage pair are 18-karat gold.
One is set with sapphires, perhaps White’s nod to “something blue” or just a gemstone preference.
Although she was not a September baby (White was born in January), there were quite a few pieces in the sale of her estate set with sapphires, and who can blame her? They are beautiful.
The other bracelet is set with diamonds. Engraved on the side is “June 14, 1963 From This Day On,” referencing the date she married Ludden at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The bracelets are signed “E. Pearl,” which Julien’s attributes to “Edwin Pearl” but more likely were crafted by Erwin Pearl, who designed fine jewelry before getting into fashion. (I did not receive a reply from Julien’s by press time regarding the discrepancy.)
The bracelets sold for $10,240 each, more than five times their highest individual estimates.
Related stories will be right here …
My two favorite pieces from Julien’s Auctions’ recent white-glove sale of White’s estate were, in fact, extremely personal: they are the bracelets she wore on the day she married Allen Ludden, her third husband and the self-professed love of her life.
Pictured above, the gorgeous vintage pair are 18-karat gold.
One is set with sapphires, perhaps White’s nod to “something blue” or just a gemstone preference.
Although she was not a September baby (White was born in January), there were quite a few pieces in the sale of her estate set with sapphires, and who can blame her? They are beautiful.
The other bracelet is set with diamonds. Engraved on the side is “June 14, 1963 From This Day On,” referencing the date she married Ludden at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The bracelets are signed “E. Pearl,” which Julien’s attributes to “Edwin Pearl” but more likely were crafted by Erwin Pearl, who designed fine jewelry before getting into fashion. (I did not receive a reply from Julien’s by press time regarding the discrepancy.)
The bracelets sold for $10,240 each, more than five times their highest individual estimates.
(Photo credit: Julien’s Auctions)
Medallions are timeless ways of expressing oneself through words, symbols, or some combination thereof. The talismanic energy they bring never goes out of style.
I love this one belonging to White that’s engraved with the encouraging words, “Bets The Door Will Open.” It reminds me of another medallion with an empowering message that’s been on my wish list forever, Monica Rich Kosann’s “Dorothy” medallion, which reads, “You had the power all along, my dear.”
No word from Julien’s on when or from whom White might have received this 14-karat gold pendant with a halo of cultured pearls, though it really could have come at any point over the course of her long career, which spanned the 1940s to present day.
While White was much celebrated in her later years, it’s safe to assume her career had its ups and downs and, like anyone else, she needed encouragement at times.
A buyer paid $4,480 for the piece, well above its highest estimate of $600.
(Photo credit: Julien’s Auctions)
There were more than half a dozen charm bracelets included in the sale of White’s estate, which makes sense given the style’s long history and the resurgence it enjoyed in the 1940s and 1950s, when White was in her 20s and 30s.
There was a collection of silver charm bracelets from her childhood (sold for $2,560), a vintage charm bracelet featuring military charms (White served in the American Women’s Voluntary Services during World War II), and a bracelet with enamel charms from The Robbins Company that look like they belong in a showcase at the Couture show today (sold for $1,152). (Bonus: The backs of the enamel charms spell out the phrase, “Damn, but you’re a doll.”)
But my personal favorite is this 12-karat state charm bracelet featuring the outlines of nine U.S. states.
It reminds me of a bracelet that belonged to my late grandmother, who was around White’s age. My grandma had silhouette charms made to mark the birth of each of her eight grandchildren, with our names and exact birth dates engraved on the back. That bracelet was fabulous.
It also makes me wonder, did White get these on visits to each state, and was her goal at some point to have outlines of all 50 states on different charm bracelets?
And, what do the gems signify? At first, I thought it was state capitols, but there are three gems in Pennsylvania and the Ohio gem is set where Cleveland is, not Columbus. So, perhaps it’s cities she visited in those states?
We’ll never know, but I certainly hope the person who paid $1,600 for the piece—a bargain if you ask me—enjoys it.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
(Photo credit: Julien’s Auctions)
(Photo credit: Julien’s Auctions)
When I first wrote about White’s jewelry style earlier this year, I noted jewelry is a way to communicate one’s passions and beliefs.
In White’s case, she used her jewels to express her love and compassion for animals, from the big cats I highlighted back in January to the irresistible collection of small cats above.
My favorites—the “gold tone” and black enamel cats with CZ collars sitting side by side at top and their black enamel friend licking his paw to the left. Fun note: the kitty at right in the middle is 18-karat gold with a round diamond and is signed “Tiffany Germany.”
A buyer paid $2,560 for this set of feline pins and pendants, surpassing its $400-$600 pre-sale estimate.
Also, who can resist the adorable otter brooch above? Cast in 18-karat gold, this little guy has a round diamond on his belly and a ruby eye. The otter pin sold for $5,760, against an estimate of $600-$800.
(Photo credit: Julien’s Auctions)
(Photo credit: Julien’s Auctions)
Like the charm bracelet, there’s an air of mystery surrounding this Ruser fortune cookie pin.
The fortune, as you can see above, reads, “And he’ll be short, gray, and then some.”
Was this a phrase White created for her fortune in reference to love of her life Ludden, who was certainly gray by the time they started dating and, at a reported 5-foot-9, not all that tall?
Did a friend gift it to White as a joke? Was it just a random inscription that came in the cookie she picked?
We may never know, but there is one more interesting note about the piece.
Ruser, I learned while chatting with jewelry historian Marion Fasel of The Adventurine earlier this week, was at one time “the name to have in Hollywood,” she said. Formerly located in Van Cleef & Arpels’ current space on Rodeo Drive, the company was helmed by William Ruser, whom everyone called Billy.
Despite being a signed and seemingly unique Ruser piece, the fortune cookie brooch was one of the few items in White’s estate sale that did not blow away its pre-sale estimates, perhaps because it lacked the screen caché of some of White’s other possessions, like the sapphire pendant that was the top jewelry lot of the sale.
Julien’s estimated the brooch would sell for $4,000-$6,000, and the hammer price was $5,760.
More on Editors
The Latest
FinancialsAug 15, 2025
In Q2 Results, Pandora Talks Tariffs, Q4 Plans The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.
WatchesAug 15, 2025
Audemars Piguet Acquires Majority Stake in ManufacturerIts investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.
MajorsAug 15, 2025
Rio Grande Names New Marketing DirectorNicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
CollectionsAug 14, 2025
In Midst of ‘Sardine Girl Summer,’ Pippa Small Looks to ‘Flounder Fall’Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.
Weekly QuizAug 15, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsAug 14, 2025
Casio America Names New CEOLongtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.
SourcingAug 14, 2025
West Coast Orgs to Host Trading Event, Mixer in LAThe full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Proposes With Gigantic Oval-Cut DiamondModel Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
ICA Names 2025 Board of DirectorsThe board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Colorado Jeweler, Whiskey Maker Collab on Ring GiveawayThree winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.
SurveysAug 13, 2025
These Are The 25 Hottest Retailers, Says NRFJD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
Columbia Gem House Launches Winza Sapphires, RubiesThe new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.
SourcingAug 12, 2025
Gemfields Sells Fabergé for $50MAcquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.
Policies & IssuesAug 12, 2025
Higher Tariff on Chinese Imports Paused for 90 Days, Trump SaysPresident Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.
CollectionsAug 12, 2025
Jacquie Aiche’s New Collection Harnesses the Energy of the ThunderbirdThe “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.
ColumnistsAug 12, 2025
Creative Connecting: How to Take a Better HeadshotColumnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.
CrimeAug 11, 2025
Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Death of Colorado JewelerPeter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.
IndependentsAug 11, 2025
Lisa Bridge to Depart Ben Bridge JewelerThe retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2025
Bethenny Frankel to Give Keynote at CBG’s Experience ShowThe Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.
FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
Events & AwardsAug 08, 2025
GJEPC’s Jewellers for Hope Celebrates 10 Years of FundraisingThe organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.
TrendsAug 08, 2025
Piece of the Week: Rahaminov Diamonds’ Bezel BangleThe brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony BennettThe first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown GemstonesThe catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.
TechnologyAug 07, 2025
Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website, Bird CharmsThe company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.
Policies & IssuesAug 06, 2025
Tariff on India to Rise to 50%, Trump Says An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.
