John Wayne’s Monogrammed Ring Could Be Yours

By Annie Davidson Watson | April 30, 2026

Here’s something you don’t see every day: a piece of John Wayne memorabilia that isn’t a gun, a hat, or an eye patch.

London auction house Elmwood’s will offer a personal possession of Wayne’s—a 14k yellow gold signet ring, with the initials JW in relief on its oval face—in its May 13–14 sale, A Private Collection of Antique, Vintage, and Modern Jewels. Presale estimate is £2,000 to £3,000, or approximately $2,500 to $3,800.

“This is a rare opportunity to acquire a very personal item once belonging to a true film icon,” said Sophie Padfield, head of Elmwood’s jewelry department, in a statement. “Pieces of this kind provide collectors with more than just ownership—they create a tangible and deeply personal connection to history and the individuals who shaped it.”

One of the most recognized stars in Hollywood history, Wayne appeared in over 170 films across five decades, winning an Oscar for 1969’s True Grit. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the year following his 1979 death.

The Wayne memorabilia market has typically rewarded items tied to his performances, and to his iconic onscreen imagery and Western mythology. His True Grit eye patch went for $47,000, and a cowboy hat he wore in three different movies brought nearly $120,000. And in 2021, a Colt revolver the actor owned and used in multiple films sold for $517,500 (against a presale estimate of $20,000 to $40,000).

The signet ring comes from Yorkshire-based collector and dealer Daniel Towell, with a Fraser’s certificate of authentication. At the asking price, it’s one of the more affordable Wayne pieces to appear at auction in some time.

Wayne was born Marion Morrison, in Iowa in 1907, but his name was changed by studio executives who felt Marion wasn’t sufficiently rugged. As for his nickname, Duke, it came not from any onscreen persona but from a childhood pet: When Wayne was a boy, a local fireman called him Little Duke, to distinguish him from the family’s Airedale terrier, Duke. The Little eventually got dropped. The name didn’t.

(Photo courtesy Elmwood’s)

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