A fancy deep blue diamond ring that belonged to former child star Shirley Temple is to go up for auction next month and is expected to sell for $25-35 million at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Sale in New York on the 19th April.
Worn by ‘Amercia’s Little Darling’ throughout her life and bought by her father in early 1940, around the time of her 12th birthday & premier of her film The Blue Bird for $7,210. The cushion cut 9.54ct fancy deep blue diamond remained in Shirley Temple’s collection until her passing in 2014. A private buyer bought the ring from her estate, and has offered the ring for sale in its original Art Deco setting..
Frank Everett, Sales Director of Sotheby’s Jewellery Department in New York, commented: “It’s a privileged occasion when we are entrusted with a stone of such exceptional quality and rarity. It’s rarer still that a stone would tell as compelling a story as The Shirley Temple Blue. Shirley Temple helped to lift America’s spirits out of the Great Depression, and served her country in many capacities throughout the remainder of her life. Her ring and its original Art Deco setting recall a time when she was nothing short of the biggest movie star in the world”.
