A jewelry collection owned by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein fetched over $500,000 at Bonhams’ Legacy of a Stateswoman auction in Los Angeles, far surpassing its pre-sale estimate.
The total auction, which included furniture, design items from her three homes, and American art, raised nearly $1.9 million—more than three times its expected amount.
The highlight of the jewelry collection was a platinum and diamond ring, which sold for $108,450. The ring, which had been estimated at $45,000 to $65,000, features a 4.14-carat diamond with E color and VS2 clarity, flanked by tapered baguette diamonds.
A 14k gold and diamond brooch, shaped like the California state flower, sold for $19,200, far exceeding its estimate of $600 to $800.
Feinstein, a Democrat, made history as California’s first female U.S. senator, serving from 1992 until her passing last September at the age of 90. Her estimated net worth was around $70 million, largely due to her marriage to Richard Blum, a billionaire investment banker. Blum founded Blum Capital Partners and owned a vast portfolio of assets, including Carlton Hotel Properties.
Bonhams noted that the auction saw “immense interest,” lasting nearly 12 hours. Many lots sold for well above their estimated value, doubling the total estimate to $1.85 million. It also set records for Bonhams, with the highest number of registrations for a U.S. sale and the largest in the past 15 years globally.
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