Jackie Kennedy’s Brooch Sells for Over Twice Its Estimate at Auction

A brooch once worn by Jacqueline Kennedy during her years as first lady soared past expectations at Freeman’s | Hindman’s inaugural Important Jewelry auction, achieving more than twice its high estimate. Initially valued between $6,000 and $8,000, the 18k gold brooch, featuring a Grecian coin at its center surrounded by an intricate leafy wreath with emerald embellishments, sold for $20,955 in New York City last Thursday. The lot included a photograph of Kennedy wearing the brooch on April 19, 1961, at a White House reception for the wives of American Society of Newspaper Editors members, adding both provenance and historical significance to the piece. Also included were the original Sotheby’s auction tag, catalog, and the book Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years. The brooch was previously sold in Sotheby’s Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis sale in 1996 and most recently came from the private collection of a Lake Forest, Illinois, resident. Freeman’s | Hindman’s 378-lot auction totaled an impressive $3.8 million, with Kennedy’s brooch serving as a standout piece. However, the top lot of the sale was a platinum ring featuring a 10.89 ct. round brilliant-cut diamond, flanked by yellow gold infinity bands set with approximately 6 cts. of princess-cut diamonds. Estimated between $80,000 and $120,000, the ring achieved $190,500, showcasing the enduring demand for exceptional diamonds.