Ann Getty’s Jewels Go Up For Auction

By Annie Davidson Watson | May 24, 2022

Ann Getty wasn’t your average socialite. In fact, the moniker itself seems to belittle her. She was a publisher, author, and paleoanthropologist who dedicated her life to scientific and cultural exploration. As such, the jewels she wore—and the unique way she wore them, sometimes trading brooches for earrings—were all part of her story. And now, her personal collection will go up for auction in the Christie’s June 8 Magnificent Jewels sale, including 12 jewels by JAR—it’s the opportunity of a lifetime to obtain some jewels from the estate.

“Ann Getty was a trained scientist whose personal collection of JAR reflected her innate curiosity and impeccable taste for jewelry that was both beautifully crafted and evoked memories of her family and research trips abroad,” Daphne Lingon, Christie’s head of jewelry, Americas, said in a statement. “Her jewels tell the story of a woman pursuing ideal beauty and a lifelong appreciation of craftspeople. Only works by JAR achieve the balance of nature, color, and form that she loved so much.”

Among the pieces is a zebra brooch that represents her African anthropological digs, and many other floral pieces that emphasize the devotion she had to her work. Every piece has a very specific and intentional meaning, beyond mere beauty.

Below are a few of the truly exceptional pieces on offer—that are fit only for someone looking to continue Ann Getty’s story. Joel Arthur Rosenthal (JAR) couldn’t have put it better himself: “From the very beginning, this lady, you, dear Ann, imagined the future of my imagination, seeing and picking the cherries that became your collection.…”