Shirley Temple's Blue Diamond Ring To Be Auctioned

[Rockinruby]

Shirley Temple's Blue Diamond Ring To Be Auctioned

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shirley-temples-blue-diamond-ring-876536

The stunner — estimated to sell at $25 million to $35 million — was a gift from her father.

One of Shirley Temple's most prized possessions is going up for auction: A 9.54-carat Fancy Deep Blue diamond ring that the late child star — who rose to fame after starring in Bright Eyes, Curly Top and Heidi — received from her father in early 1940.

 

[Snowdrop13]

Amazing ring and what an incredible investment it has been! Love the picture of her wearing it, too.

 

[VRBeauty]

What a beautiful color, and what a mind-boggling estimated selling price!

 

[kenny]

Wow!

 

[boerumbiddy]

It's so blue that I posted a picture in Colored Stones.

 

[MollyMalone]

It will be on display at Sotheby's NYC for 4 days before the auction, beginning at 10 am on Friday, April 15. A brief First Look video about the ring is embedded on this page, but there's not yet a link to an online catalog for the auction:
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2015/magnificent-jewels-n09495.html

 

[kenny]

Hmmmm.
Gelin Abaci, Steven Kretchmer, or Niessing tension setting?

Decisions Decisions.
Hmmmm.

 

[MollyMalone]

Hmmmm.
Gelin Abaci, Steven Kretchmer, or Niessing tension setting?
Decisions Decisions.
Hmmmm.

A big tax refund must be headed your way!!

 

[KaeKae]

Wow, that's a beautiful stone.

 

[mary poppins]

Lovely stone.

I loved watching Shirley Temple movies when I was growing up.

 

[ckrickett]

Thats a stunning stone!

 

[Tekate]

Sometimes I just wonder why the family gives up such an heirloom... it obviously meant a lot to their Mom. I suppose it's the money, that is a heck of a lot of money. Don't know if she has daughter(s) but I do remember she had at least 1 son... as part of the estate they probably have to divest of it... a beauty... a real beauty.

 

[MollyMalone]

Sometimes I just wonder why the family gives up such an heirloom... it obviously meant a lot to their Mom. I suppose it's the money, that is a heck of a lot of money. Don't know if she has daughter(s) but I do remember she had at least 1 son... as part of the estate they probably have to divest of it... a beauty... a real beauty.

Yes, there are 2 daughters (one from each of her two marriages), in addition to her son, Charles Black, Jr.
http://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/11/local/la-me-shirley-temple-black-20140211
In other news articles, e.g.,
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/blue-diamond-worn-years-shirley-temple-auction-n541516
Frank Everett, of Sotheby's, says that the executors of her estate previously sold the ring to a private buyer & it's that person who now is putting it up for auction.

Her estate & family recently made gifts totaling $5+ million to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for its upcoming Museum; the education center, which will have a special emphasis on workshops, etc. for teens, will bear her name:
http://www.oscars.org/news/late-shirley-temple-black-and-family-give-major-gift-academy-museum-motion-pictures

 

[marcy]

It's a beautiful diamond.

 

[MrsWhitney]

I love this ring but I am going to say something super odd about myself; I like things to match, so unless it is clear, or white (aka pearl), I like my jewelry to match my clothing (or not compete)....so I suppose I have to turn in all my black and white monochrome wardrobe for some blue in there ? JK.

I hope to see the diamond IRL. If feeling well enough.

 

[Rockinruby]

Oh, I hope a PSer gets to see this in person! I'd love to know what the display is like, etc.

 

[MollyMalone]

Just realized this thread could use an update:
The auction ended without the ring being sold; bidding did not go above $22 million, which was below the reserve price:
http://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/jewelry-and-watches/news/a5871/shirley-temple-blue-diamond-auction/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2016/04/19/no-buyer-for-the-shirley-temple-blue-diamond/#222775fa2a53

Having seen the ring at the pre-auction exhibition, I'll say this Reuter's video more accurately captures (at least on my iMac and iPad) its real life appearance than any of the publicity "glamour shots" and videos from Sotheby's itself:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-shirleytemple-ring-idUSKCN0WK049
Getty Images makes a point of pointing out in the credit captions for the ring photos in its files that Image was digitally altered, and retouched, at request of Sotheby's . E.g.,
http://www.gettyimages.com/license/516308874

For anyone tempted to bid on a stone or jewelry piece that Sotheby's has up for auction, here's the current chart showing the buyer's premium you're expected to pay, on top of the "hammer price" (and sales tax if applicable), plus delivery charges:
http://www.sothebys.com/content/dam/sothebys/PDFs/buyerspremium/Buyers_Premium_2015.pdf
And although it's not clearly spelled out on the web site, auction house policy is that returns are not accepted.

 

[kenny]

Dang it! I thought my 22 million dollar offer was fair.
Grrr!

I'll have to keep shopping for rough for my 5 ct Blue Octavia.
I must out-Octavia DF.