Senator Dianne Feinstein’s jewelry collection set to be auctioned off one year after death

Meredith Clark
·3 min read
Senator Dianne Feinstein’s jewelry collection set to be auctioned off (AFP via Getty Images)
Senator Dianne Feinstein’s jewelry collection set to be auctioned off (AFP via Getty Images)

The personal collection of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein is expected to go on auction for a jaw-dropping amount.

Bonhams, an international auction house, will showcase an array of artworks, furniture, and more than 70 pieces of jewelry from the Democratic politician’s homes in San Francisco, Washington, DC, and Aspen. The live auction, titled “Legacy of a Stateswoman,” will take place on Tuesday, October 8, at its location in Los Angeles, California.

Among the auction items includes a 4.14 carat platinum and diamond ring, estimated to be worth between $45,000 to $65,000. The ring features a center round diamond, flanked by tapered baguette diamonds weighing approximately 0.50 carat.

An 18K yellow gold ring, set in the center with an emerald weighing approximately 4.40 carats, is also expected to fetch up to $15,000. Multiple Tiffany & Co pieces owned by the San Francisco native are also up for auction, such as an 18K gold rose petal necklace and pair of clip-on earrings for up to $3,000. Meanwhile, Feinstein’s gold and pearl torsade necklace from Tiffany & Co is estimated to reach up to $2,500 at auction.

Senator Dianne Feinstein’s 4.14 carat platinum and diamond ring, worth up to $65,000, and an 18K yellow gold ring, worth up to $15,000 (Bonhams)
Senator Dianne Feinstein’s 4.14 carat platinum and diamond ring, worth up to $65,000, and an 18K yellow gold ring, worth up to $15,000 (Bonhams)

In addition to her jewelry, the politician also owned a vast collection of fine art, kitchenware, and political artifacts throughout her life. An oil painting on canvas made by Irish-American artist William Alexander Coulter is worth between $70,000 to $100,000, while a 15th century tempera on panel by Neri Di Bicci could be auctioned for up to $70,000.

The San Francisco native owned a Tiffany & Co 18K gold rose petal necklace and pair of clip-on earrings, worth up to $3,000 (Bonhams)
The San Francisco native owned a Tiffany & Co 18K gold rose petal necklace and pair of clip-on earrings, worth up to $3,000 (Bonhams)

The “Legacy of a Stateswoman” will begin with a public preview from September 23 to 26 at Bonhams’ San Francisco gallery, followed by the live auction at 10am PDT on October 8.

Feinstein – who made history as first woman to represent California in the US Senate – died on September 29, 2023, at age 90. She became the first female mayor of San Francisco in 1978 after the assassination of George Moscone, a position she held for 10 years. Feinstein was later elected to the US Senate in 1992, where she served as senator to her home state of California until her death.

A 2016 photograph of Dianne Feinstein at the White House, inscribed by Joe Biden, estimated between $800 and $1,200 (Bonhams)
A 2016 photograph of Dianne Feinstein at the White House, inscribed by Joe Biden, estimated between $800 and $1,200 (Bonhams)

Throughout her career, Feinstein was an advocate for civil rights, women’s reproductive rights, environmental issues, and gun reform. She authored the 1994 ban on assault weapons, as well as pushed for the CIA to declassify the committee’s report on US treatment and torture of detainees after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Feinstein was married three times. She was first married to Jack Berman from 1956 to 1959, before divorcing. They had one daughter, Katherine. She then married Bertram Feinstein in 1962 until his death in 1978. Feinstein subsequently married investment banker Richard Blum, until his death in 2022.

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