Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 additional pieces that stood out to her at the Couture show.
Barbara Sinatra’s Diamond Ring Sells for $1.7M at Auction
Ol’ Blue Eyes proposed to her with the 20.60-carat carat emerald-cut stone in a glass of champagne.

New York—The 20-carat diamond ring with which Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, proposed to his wife by presenting it in a glass of champagne went for $1.7 million at a jewelry auction Tuesday.
The 20.60-carat emerald-cut stone, flanked by two triangular-shaped diamonds, was part of a collection of Barbara Sinatra’s jewelry headlining Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale in New York.
The auction house said the ring sold after an “intense competition” between two telephone bidders.
Her jewelry collection was 100 percent sold Tuesday, garnering a total of $4.7 million.
Other notable jewels included a mystery-set ruby and diamond butterfly brooch from Van Cleef & Arpels that realized $567,000, going for well above its high estimate of $175,000.
Additional items from her collection will be offered in two more dedicated auctions: “Lady Blue Eyes: Property of Barbara and Frank Sinatra” today (Dec. 6) in New York and an online-only sale, open for bidding through tomorrow (Dec. 7).
Meanwhile, Tuesday’s Magnificent Jewels auction totaled $46.4 million, pushing Sotheby’s jewelry sales for 2018 past the $400-million mark.
It featured a number of other important pieces, including an F color, internally flawless 51.52-carat cushion-cut diamond set in a Harry Winston ring, the auction’s top lot at $4 million.
At No. 2 was a 25.03-carat D color, flawless emerald-cut diamond that sold for $3.5 million.
A number of colored gemstones appeared in the top 10 lots sold by value, including a gold ring centered on an 8.11-carat oval-shaped Burmese ruby that went for $2.8 million, a 16.46-carat Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring that garnered $1.8 million, and a 12.03-carat Colombian emerald and diamond ring that sold for $1.5 million, all three of which are seen below.
Interestingly, what didn’t sell Tuesday was a ring set with a 10.62-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond accented by round diamonds. The second-largest vivid blue diamond to go up on the block in New York, according to Sotheby’s, was called “highly important” by the auction house and estimated to sell for between $20 million and $30 million but failed to find a buyer.
To see the full list results of Tuesday’s jewelry auction, visit Sothebys.com.
The Latest

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

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.

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

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.

Luca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.

Following visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.

The “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.

The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.

The New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.