Events & AwardsMay 27, 2026
5 Security Tips for Las Vegas Jewelry Market Week 2026This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.
AuctionsJul 20, 2016
Christie’s to Auction Jewelry Owned by the Reagans
Among the lots are a Bulgari ring designed to look like the American flag and a Van Cleef & Arpels suite Nancy Reagan wore on a state visit to the U.K. in 1988.
This 18-karat gold and diamond lion suite from Van Cleef & Arpels is predicted to top the jewelry sales at Christie’s upcoming auction of the late Ronald and Nancy Reagan.
New York--Christie’s will bring some American history into the spotlight this fall when it puts the estate of a former president and first lady up for auction.
On Sept. 21 and 22 in New York, the auction house will offer The Private Collection of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan to coincide with its “Americana Week” sales series.
Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989. He died in 2004 at the age of 93. His wife, Nancy, died earlier this year at 94.
The Christie’s sale of their estate includes a number of pieces of jewelry.
Expected to lead the jewelry sales is a Van Cleef & Arpels suite--a diamond and gold lion pendant-brooch necklace and an accompanying diamond and gold lion ear clips that the First Lady wore on a state visit to the U.K. in 1988.
The Reagan sale also encompasses furniture, decorative works of art, books, memorabilia, paintings, drawings and prints from their home in Los Angeles.
The collection will be sold in both live and online auctions. Estimates on individual items range from $1,000 to $50,000, and the sales are expected to realize more than $2 million in total.
This 18-karat gold, platinum and diamond Bulgari bracelet was worn by Nancy Reagan at state dinners. It is expected to sell for between $5,000 and $7,000.
A Bulgari ring, octagonal in shape and set with square-cut sapphires, rubies and diamonds in an American flag motif, could garner up to $8,000. It was worn by Nancy Reagan on July 4, 1986, on board the USS Iowa for Liberty Weekend, the celebration of the restoration and centenary of the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
Each of the ear clips in this Van Cleef & Arpels pair was designed as an 18-karat gold lion’s head with circular-cut diamond eyes and a suspended textured gold hoop. Worn by Nancy Reagan during a visit with Margaret Thatcher in 1988, they could go for between $15,000 and $20,000.
The matching Van Cleef lion pendant-brooch necklace with 18-karat gold and diamonds, worn on the same occasion, is expected to sell in the range of $30,000 and $50,000.
Other notable items in the sale include personal mementos with exceptional provenance, such as a Tiffany American Marine Chronometer given as an inauguration gift from Frank Sinatra and his wife that could sell for up to $10,000, and a pair of Elizabeth II silver beakers from former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her husband, Denis, with an inscription.
The complete catalogue will be available in late summer.
Proceeds from the sale will benefit The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization created by Reagan that maintains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Presidential Learning Center and its Discovery Center, and the Air Force One Pavilion.
More on Auctions
The Latest
ColumnistsMay 27, 2026
What Jewelers Can Learn From Luxury Fashion’s Digital PlaybookHigh-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
Events & AwardsMay 27, 2026
Couture’s ‘The Iridescence’ Will Showcase 7 Emerging Jewelry DesignersThe designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
ColumnistsMay 26, 2026
The Key Mindset for Better Trade Show BuyingBuying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
Weekly QuizMay 21, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
12 JCK Talks Sessions to Add to Your Las Vegas ScheduleThe trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
CBG Brings Its Curated Designer Project to Las Vegas ShowThe Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
TrendsMay 26, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Cooldown Is ComingBring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.
Events & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York ShowThe deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
MajorsMay 22, 2026
Stuller’s New Packaging, Display Catalog Is Out The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
IndependentsMay 21, 2026
Springer’s Jewelers’ New Flagship Will Serve Next-Gen Luxury ShoppersFourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.
Events & AwardsMay 21, 2026
JA Announces Nina Pugliese Memorial ScholarshipThe new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Metal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
