Bonhams reports “fierce bidding” for Dianne Feinstein’s Jewels

The auction house said the collection fetched more than $500,000, more than tripling its estimated value.

The top piece of jewelry was the late senator’s platinum and diamond ring, featuring a 4.14-carat E color, VS2 clarity diamond flanked by tapered baguettes.

A buyer paid $108,450 for the ring while the estimate was $65,000.

Two pieces, an 18-karat white gold and diamond necklace (estimate: $12,000-$18,000) and a 4.40-carat Colombian emerald ring (estimate: $10,000-$15,000), were sold for $25,600 each sold in US dollars.

One buyer paid $19,200 for a gold brooch in the shape of California, Feinstein’s home state and the state she represented in the Senate for three decades. The two-tone 14-karat gold brooch features a flower set with four marquise-cut diamonds.

A two-tone 18-karat gold Buccellati bangle sold for $17,920, more than seven times its low presale price.

SEE: The best lots of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s jewelry

The San Francisco native also served as the city’s mayor for a decade, succeeding George Moscone, who was assassinated in 1978 along with City Manager Harvey Milk.

She was the first female mayor of San Francisco.

When Feinstein died in September 2023 at age 90, she was the oldest serving U.S. senator. She also holds the title of longest-serving senator.

“Jewelry was very special to Dianne Feinstein, and it is rare to find images of her without classic pearl strands, diamond studs and her signature Senator pin,” said Emily Waterfall, head of jewelry at Bonhams in Los Angeles.

“Her collection embodied refined sophistication and included pieces from renowned jewelry houses such as Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., Cartier and Buccellati, as well as some unsigned pieces, all of which were highly sought after. Her jewelry box was a testament to her style—elegant yet understated—and ensured that her jewelry complemented rather than overshadowed her role as a leading figure in American politics.”

Feinstein’s jewelry was offered as part of a larger auction of personal items belonging to the longtime lawmaker.

The sale, “The Legacy of a Stateswoman: The Personal Collection of Senator Dianne Feinstein,” included artwork, furniture, decorative items and political memorabilia.

It grossed $1.9 million, with only one ticket remaining unsold. The auction house said it had set a new record for Bonhams for the number of registrations for a US auction.

The top lot of the entire auction was a painting by Irish-American artist William Alexander Coulter (1849-1936) of ships in San Francisco Bay.

A buyer paid $229,100 for the painting.