A collection of jewelry once owned by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein has fetched over $500,000 at the “Legacy of a Stateswoman” auction held by Bonhams in Los Angeles. The sale greatly surpassed expectations, bringing in more than three times its estimated value. In total, the auction, which also featured furniture, design objects, and American art from Feinstein’s three homes, raised nearly $1.9 million.
The top-selling item from the jewelry collection was a platinum and diamond ring, featuring a 4.14-carat diamond with E color and VS2 clarity, flanked by tapered baguette diamonds. It sold for $108,450, well above its estimate of $45,000 to $65,000. Another standout was a 14k gold and diamond brooch shaped like California’s state flower, which sold for $19,200, exceeding its expected value of $600 to $800.
Senator Feinstein, a Democrat, made history as the first woman to represent California in the U.S. Senate, serving from 1992 until her death in September 2023 at the age of 90. Her wealth, estimated at $70 million, was largely due to her marriage to billionaire investment banker Richard Blum, who founded Blum Capital Partners.
The auction, which lasted nearly 12 hours, drew significant interest. Many items sold for far more than their estimates, contributing to the auction’s total of $1.85 million—double the expected amount. Bonhams also reported record-breaking participation, with the highest number of registrations for a U.S. auction in its history and the most for any global auction in the past 15 years.
Feinstein’s legacy as a pioneering stateswoman and the appeal of her personal collection played a key role in the auction’s success.
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