Sunday, August 9, 2009

President Kennedy's Last Present for Jackie




Shortly before his death in November 1963, President John F. Kennedy purchased a stunning 47 carat kunzite ring for his wife. His plan was to give it to Jackie to celebrate their 10th Christmas together. After his assassination, a friend who'd been holding on to the ring for safekeeping presented it to the President's widow. It has been reported she refused to take it off for a very long time because of its sentimental value. In 1996, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg and John F. Kennedy Jr. included the ring in the first Sotheby's auction where it sold for more than $420,000.00 (appraised at $8,000).


There is another story circulating about the ring and that is then-Senator Kennedy gave a kunzite ring to Jackie for their engagement, later replacing it with an emerald and diamond ring. In fact, neither Jack nor Jackie were involved in the purchase of her engagement setting. That honor belonged to Joe Kennedy, Jack's father, who selected it after looking at a tray of bands at his favorite jeweler, Van Cleef & Arpels.

1 comment:

Mairead said...

Papa Joe picked out the engagement ring as well? Didn't he also pick out Jackie's wedding dress?