The 9.54 ct. fancy deep blue diamond ring was worn by Temple throughout her life

Sotheby’s will auction the Shirley Temple Blue Diamond (pictured, right), a 9.54 ct. fancy deep blue diamond ring worn by child star–turned–American diplomat Shirley Temple (pictured, above) throughout her life.

The ring, which is cushion-cut and in its original Art Deco–inspired setting, was owned by Temple until her death in 2014.

Temple’s father purchased the ring in 1940 for $7,210; it is estimated to sell at the Sotheby’s April 19 Magnificent Jewels auction in New York for $25 million–$35 million.

“It’s remarkable to have one stone illustrate the dramatic shift in attitude toward colored diamonds over the course of the last century,” said Gary Schuler, head of the Sotheby’s jewelry department in New York. “The Shirley Temple Blue in particular has a traditional cushion cut that gives it a certain softness, charm, and personality, and its saturated, fancy deep blue color imbues it with a mesmerizing oceanic quality.”

Frank Everett, sales director of the Sotheby’s jewelry department in New York, said: “It’s a privileged occasion when we are entrusted with a stone of such exceptional quality and rarity. It’s rarer still that a stone would tell as compelling a story as the Shirley Temple Blue. Shirley Temple helped to lift America’s spirits out of the Great Depression and served her country in many capacities throughout the remainder of her life. Her ring and its original Art Deco setting recall a time when she was nothing short of the biggest movie star in the world.”

(Photos courtesy of Sotheby’s)

JCK