Barbara Walters’ 13.84-Carat Diamond Engagement Ring Is Going Up for Auction Next Week

In addition to her groundbreaking career as a broadcast journalist and television personality, Barbara Walters—who passed away in 2022—was also known for her style, namely her jewelry collection. One of her invaluable accessories was a 13.84-carat diamond engagement ring by Harry Winston, which Walters received from former husband Merv Adelson when he popped the question before their first wedding in 1981. (The two ended up getting divorced three years later and then married again in 1986 before calling it quits in 1992). Now, the brilliant sparkler—along with 119 other pieces of her jewelry—is going up for auction. 

On November 6, 2023, Bonhams New York will auction off the engagement ring as part of the “Barbara Walters: American Icon” sale. The design includes an emerald-cut center stone flanked by trilliant-cut diamond side stones, which weigh 1.46 carats. The auction house estimates that the rock will go for $600,000 to $900,000. Walters wore this iconic gemstone to many important events, such as an occurrence in 1985 to honor the American GI liberators of World War II at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

Another significant piece of jewelry going on sale at the auction is an 18K white gold and diamond pendant necklace, which weighs 1.92 carats; it was also hand-crafted by Harry Winston. The accessory has a pavé-set diamond monogrammed “BW” suspended from a cable-chain link. The auction estimate for this piece is $4,000 to $7,000.

According to Jean Ghika, global head of jewelry for Bonhams, the 120 pieces going up for auction has “everything one could want in a jewelry collection.” Some other highlights include pieces from renowned American designers, such as Angela Cummings and Seaman Schepps. “Walters clearly had a genuine love for jewelry, and it reflected a large part of her identity, acting as a form of armor and feminine adornment in a male-dominated world,” Ghika said. “She lovingly wore all of her pieces regularly, both privately and in her professional capacity, where she used the language of jewelry as a signifier.”

Walters’ jewelry of choice was an extension of her personality. Ghika explained that the broadcast legend chose accessories that were “bid, bold, and audacious,” and she often mixed costume pieces with real gems. “For Barbara Walters, jewelry made her feel dressed,” Ghika noted. 

In addition to her 120-piece jewelry collection, Bonhams is also auctioning off many other items in her $8 million Upper East Side estate, including fine art and furniture. All proceeds will benefit charities that Walters supported. “Our home was always filled with interesting and beautiful reminders of her incredible, diverse life,” Walters’ daughter, Jacqueline Danforth, said. “I know she would find comfort that these pieces she cherished so much will be enjoyed and cared for.”