Christie’s to offer ring that belonged to Gloria Swanson
PARIS, March 12, 2011 – Christie’s will offer for sale on May 23 a rectangular-cut diamond ring weighing 5.1 carats (estimate: €70,000-100,000) that belonged to Gloria Swanson, the American silent movie star.
By the mid-1920’s Gloria was the highest paid actress in Hollywood.
It was reported that she made and spent over $8 million in that decade.
Her studio contract required her to wear the latest clothes and jewellery whenever she appeared in public, at her own expense.
Gloria hardly needed this incentive because of her extravagant taste in jewels.
She wore so much expensive jewellery that she had to rent it.
Gloria Swanson is sometimes credited with starting the fashion for wearing colourful jewellery. For instance, she wore an important, emerald, amethyst and gold necklace by Paul Iribe in the movie “Affairs of Anatole” (1922).
