You may recognize Dame Joan Collins as the English actress who had roles in Dynasty, the Batman TV series, the Star Trek series from the 1960s, and more—but also for her romantic history (it’s Hollywood, after all). Married five times and engaged six, she’s collected a few rings along the way. Now, two of her early engagement rings (from actor Warren Beatty in 1960 and singer-songwriter Anthony Newley in 1963) are hitting the auction block in Bonhams’ London Jewels sale on April 27.
A textured bombé ring encrusted with cultured pearls and diamonds, Collins’ ring from Beatty was created by none other than jeweler David Webb. It was given to her in the couple’s New York apartment “laden with Jewish delicatessen delights,” per Collins, which included her favorite dish, chopped liver. “He must have known that I would consume that first, so imagine my surprise when I found that massive ring inside the container as I greedily ladled myself a spoonful,” she said, according to Bonhams. After their engagement, Collins wore the ring while filming the religious picture Esther and the King, “since it [fit] in with the biblical costumes.”
After just 18 months together, Collins and Beatty called off the marriage, and not long after that, the actress was engaged to Newley, who proposed with a pear-shape diamond surrounded by marquise-cut diamonds. “Shortly after, I told him that I never had any diamonds. It was my first diamond ring,” Collins said. A seven-year marriage and two children later, Collins and Newley decided to go their separate ways. After that, she had a 10-plus-year marriage and another child with film producer Ron Kass, followed by a two-year marriage to Swedish singer Peter Holm. Currently, she’s married to Hollywood producer Percy Gibson (whom she wed in 2002), but that engagement ring is one she’s keeping!
(All photos courtesy of Bonhams)
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