Celeste Holm Jewelry Collection Debuts at Auction
A starlet of Hollywood and Broadway, the actress’ jewelry collection hit the auction block at Doyle.

The “Stage & Screen” auction kicked off with the Celeste Holm collection, which included her jewelry as well as scrapbooks from her performances, scripts with notes scribbled on them, costumes she wore on stage, and her 1947 Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Performance.
The Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actress may be best known for the 1947 film “Gentleman’s Agreement,” which centered on antisemitism in post-war America, and the 1950 film “All About Eve,” in which she co-starred with Bette Davis.
Away from the silver screen, she was part of the Golden Age of Broadway, starring in “Oklahoma!,” “Bloomer Girl,” and “The King & I.”

The top-selling lot of her jewelry collection was a gold Van Cleef & Arpels compact, set with five round cabochon sapphires and four small round diamonds, signed by Celeste Holm. It sold for $5,670, well above its $2,000 to $3,000 estimate.

The second top-selling lot was a 14-karat gold lipstick holder with an Oscar statuette on the front, inscribed “To Celeste Holm. Gratefully, Ralph Edwards.” It sold for $4,410, far exceeding its $500 to $700 estimate.
She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for “Gentleman's Agreement" in 1947. Edwards was the host of the TV gameshow “Truth or Consequences,” where Holm was a frequent celebrity guest.

A pair of 14-karat yellow gold stick pins topped with the letters “C” and “H,” her initials, sold for $756, surpassing the $300 to $500 estimate.

A triple-strand cultured pearl necklace with a gold and garnet floral clasp sold for $2,016, soaring past the $500 to $700 estimate.

A silver Cartier compact, with “Celeste” engraved on the front and “His and Hers,” the name of a 1954 show she starred in, on the back sold for $598, just above the $300 to $500 estimate.

Also at on the auction block was a 14-karat yellow gold charm necklace, featuring two Tree of Life charms, a cultured pearl studded locket, an “NBC” charm, and a disc charm that reads “Golly! It’s been 15 or 20 years mon, darling, Wes.” She was once married to actor Wesley Addy.
It sold for $2,142, above the $1,200 to $1,800 estimate.

The cast of ABC soap opera “Loving” presented her a Tiffany & Co. silver jewelry box, inscribed “To Celeste, With all our love” as well as their 14 signatures on the inside cover. Her own signature is also on the bottom.
It sold for $693, surpassing the $400 to $600 estimate.
All 12 jewelry lots sold for more than $23,000 total, with only one selling below the high-end of its estimate.
Additional items from the Celeste Holm collection will be featured in a later auction.
“This sale has taken off tremendously. The interest is truly worldwide,” said Louis Webre, senior vice president of marketing and media at Doyle, in an interview with National Jeweler.
Webre noted how the yearn for the performing arts, sadly lacking during the COVID-19 pandemic, has spurred interest in the auction.
The auction also featured memorabilia like a jacket worn by Hugh Jackman in “Wolverine,” a pair of boots from “Hamilton” signed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, a dress from Dolly Parton, and several Bob Mackie dresses worn by Carol Burnett.
With Broadway still shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Doyle is donating 10 percent of the proceeds from the auction of select lots to The Actors Fund.
Founded in 1882, The Actors Fund provides help to performers and behind-the-scenes workers, including financial assistance, affordable housing, health care, and senior care.
Actress Christine Baranski helped collect the celebrity memorabilia to benefit the charity.
With costume designers also feeling the impacts of the shutdown, 100 percent of the proceeds from select lots will go to the Costume Industry Coalition, which benefits the custom costume industry in New York City.
The Latest

Watch as Edahn Golan, Sherry Smith and Avi Levy join Michelle Graff to talk pricing and trends in this controversial corner of the market.

The two companies initially partnered during the pandemic and had just signed a 10-year sales agreement in November 2022.

A classic diamond tennis necklace gets a whole lot cooler with a removable pendant.

Awareness is essential to proactive protection. Learn how to promote and maintain safety and security awareness in your business.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently spoke with Columbia Gem House’s Eric Braunwart about the uptick in non-traditional gemstone cuts.


“Pre-Owned Luxury by Rocksbox” offers secondhand jewelry from Kay, Zales, and Jared to members and non-members.

The museum is asking for the public’s help in finding thousands of pieces of ancient gold jewelry and gemstones stolen from a storeroom.

Do you always want the right diamonds at the right price in your store? Introducing Dialog, the world’s first diamond subscription service.

The company was recognized for one of its private-label, consumer-focused jewelry care lines.

The plea comes against a backdrop of declining demand and falling prices.

Shoppers also expressed concern about rising prices, higher interest rates, and political uncertainty.

Participants from the first round of grants saw up to a 900 percent increase in their platinum sales.

According to the watchmaker, it features the first light-powered atomic timekeeping moon phase movement.

The former teacher, described as “a pioneer for women-owned businesses,” opened her own jewelry store in 1980.

The contest is now open for submissions until Oct. 10.

The annual event will return to Rosemont, Illinois next August.

According to SpendingPulse, retail sales will increase in November and December but not necessarily for jewelers.

Police say Douglas Wayne Gamble also swapped natural diamonds for synthetic stones and failed to return customers’ repairs.

The designer just launched a new bridal range at Kay Jewelers.

Yunjo Lee has also worked on collections for Tiffany & Co. with Paloma Picasso and Frank Gehry.

Steve Levine joins the family-owned company, while his brother Gary has a new position.

The company has filed complaints against Royal Chain and Samuel B.

The two-stone style benefits from two-toned metal.

The event is moving just outside of Denver.

The company just rolled out “Timex Rewound,” a new takeback and resale program.

The lab confirmed it did not send the message.

The second installment of “To Treasure Now and Forever” is intended to emphasize diamonds’ versatility.