MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
AuctionsJul 12, 2017
Jewelry of Hollywood Icon Vivien Leigh Up for Auction
The actress became a public figure after playing Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind,” but a sale at Sotheby’s London will offer a look at her private life.
This photo of actress Vivien Leigh was taken by Cecil Beaton at the British Embassy in Paris in 1947.
London--She became a well-known public figure when she portrayed Scarlett O’Hara “Gone with the Wind” in 1939. Now, an auction scheduled for this fall will take a look at her private life.
The Vivien Leigh Collection comprises paintings, jewelry, clothing, books, furniture, porcelain, objets d’art and other items from her life, spanning her pre-war years in London to her Hollywood days and beyond, up to her death in 1967.
Many pieces will offer a new look at Leigh’s private life, including from the city and country homes she shared with her husband, actor Laurence Olivier, and showcasing her appreciation of art and patronage of British artists, books, entertaining and interior design.
It also will take a look at her style with some jewelry lots.
The auction house said that Leigh was not afraid to mix historic jewels with contemporary couture, with the bow motif appearing in her wardrobe a number of times.
The ultimate representation of this is a large mid-19th century diamond bow brooch or pendant, which is estimated to sell for between $32,100 and $45,000 at the fall auction.
Another notable jewelry lot in the sale is a gold ring from Olivier, to whom she was married from 1940 to 1960. The piece is expected to garner between about $514 and $771.
This mid-19th century diamond bow brooch or pendant is estimated to sell for between $32,100 and $45,000 at Sotheby’s in September.
This ring was given to actress Vivien Leigh by her husband of 20 years, the actor Laurence Olivier. It features an inscription that says “Laurence Olivier Vivien Eternally.”
Outside of jewelry, other highlights of the auction include Leigh’s personal copy of “Gone with the Wind,” given to her by its author Margaret Mitchell and inscribed by the latter with a handwritten poem: “Life’s pattern pricked with a scarlet thread / where once we were with a gray / To remind us all how we played our parts / In the shock of an epic day.”
It’s expected to sell for between about $6,400 and $9,000.
There also will be a copy of the “Gone with the Wind” film script presented to Leigh by members of the cast, circa 1939, which could sell for $3,200 and $4,500; an engraved silver cigarette box from the man credited with securing her the role of Scarlett O’Hara (between $514 and $771); and the wig she wore when she
played Blanche DuBois in the film adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire,” which has a high estimate of $771.
More information about the sale, along with a catalogue of all lots, will be available later this summer, Sotheby’s said.
“This is our chance to discover the real, and unexpected, Vivien Leigh. We’re all guilty of confusing our favorite actresses with the heroines they portray, of blurring Vivien’s identity with that of Scarlett O’Hara or Blanche DuBois,” Sotheby’s U.K. chairman Harry Dalmeny said.
“But behind the guise of the most glamorous and talked-about woman of her age we find a fine art collector, patron, even a book worm, who was the intellectual equal of the literati, artists and aesthetes she counted among her coterie.”
More information about the sale, along with a catalogue of all lots, will be available later this summer, Sotheby’s said.
“This is our chance to discover the real, and unexpected, Vivien Leigh. We’re all guilty of confusing our favorite actresses with the heroines they portray, of blurring Vivien’s identity with that of Scarlett O’Hara or Blanche DuBois,” Sotheby’s U.K. chairman Harry Dalmeny said.
“But behind the guise of the most glamorous and talked-about woman of her age we find a fine art collector, patron, even a book worm, who was the intellectual equal of the literati, artists and aesthetes she counted among her coterie.”
More on Auctions
The Latest
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
Weekly QuizNov 06, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
Policies & IssuesNov 04, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case WednesdayAhead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.
MajorsNov 04, 2025
Danny Clark to Become Stuller CEO, Succeeding Matt StullerStuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.
ColumnistsNov 04, 2025
Peter Smith: What Do Birds Have to Do With the Price of Gold? Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.
TrendsNov 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Fall Colors for November BirthdaysCitrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.
IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleThe family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.
CrimeNov 03, 2025
Men Dressed as Construction Workers Burglarize Jeweler’s Home The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.
MajorsNov 03, 2025
Matthew Rosenheim Takes Over as JA Board ChairThe trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.
CollectionsNov 03, 2025
Muse’s ‘Have a Heart’ Collab Returns, Now With DDGThe “Have a Heart x Diamonds Do Good” collection is championed by model and humanitarian Flaviana Matata and will benefit her foundation.
AuctionsNov 03, 2025
Kashmir Sapphire Ring Tops Christie's Online AuctionThe ring, set with a nearly 17-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire, sold for $1 million.
TrendsOct 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.
CrimeOct 31, 2025
5 More Arrested in Louvre Heist, Jewelry Still Missing The suspects were rounded up in Paris and its suburbs on Wednesday night, but none of the stolen jewels were recovered with them.
Recorded WebinarsOct 31, 2025
Watch: How to Master Google Reviews for Your BusinessExperts share top tips on how to encourage positive reviews and handle negative feedback.
Supplier BulletinOct 30, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
