Hollywood icon, Jane Fonda celebrates her 85th birthday on 21st December 2022, but did you know that the date is also the anniversary of another special occasion?
Jane married her third husband, cable television tycoon and CNN founder Ted Turner, on 21st December 1991. The actress had already been married twice to French director Roger Vadim and politician Tom Hayden.
Following a 10-year marriage, a divorce petition was filed in April 2001 citing a marriage that was “irretrievably broken.”
Engagement ring specialists at Steven Stone have revealed everything you need to know about Jane’s unusual engagement ring from Ted – including how much it’s worth and where it is now.
How did Jane Fonda and Ted Turner meet?
In 1989, after a nearly year-long trial separation, Jane Fonda and her second husband, Tom Hayden reached a divorce settlement and it wasn’t long before the Oscar winner started receiving phone calls from would-be suitors. Ted Turner was one of those callers and he even sent flowers.
Unfortunately for Ted, Jane declined his request for a date as she was grieving her breakup. Reportedly smitten, Ted persisted and six months later, Jane accepted.
One of A-List couple’s first major public appearances together was at 1990s Oscars ceremony. In October of the same year, they appeared together for a rare interview on CNN employee Larry King’s TV talk show.
The power couple got married on 21st December 1991 at a ranch near Capps, Florida, about 20 miles east of Tallahassee.
What do we know about the ring?
The couple reportedly went together to Tiffany’s on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills in the fall of 1990 to shop for Jane’s engagement ring.
Jane’s 18-karat yellow gold engagement ring from Ted features an oval shaped black opal centre stone, flanked by two round-cut diamonds that total approximately 0.30 carats.
Although opals have been greatly admired and widely traded throughout history, their popularity has long been overshadowed by rumour and superstition. They’re not the most romantic choice for an engagement ring, due to their reputation for bringing bad luck.
Black Opal gemstones are said to strengthen your character – something that’s particularly interesting as in Jane’s autobiography ‘My Life So Far’, she explains how alongside the frantic life that the couple shared, she was living a parallel inner life, where she took care of her own needs.
Where is it now?
In 2016, five decades after she found stardom, Jane auctioned off 800 personal items – including her wedding dress and engagement ring from Ted.
It was estimated to sell for $2,000 to $4,000, but it went for $19,200 – almost five times its top estimate.
“Jane Fonda and Ted Turner were a real power couple – so much so that they were named People Magazine’s ‘Power Couple of 1990’.
Reportedly bought from Tiffany’s, Jane’s 18 karat yellow gold engagement ring from Ted features an oval shaped black opal centre stone, flanked by two round cut diamonds that total approximately 0.30 carats.
Though not the most popular choice for an engagement ring due to its reputation for bringing bad luck, black opal is a magnificent stone that is said to strengthen your character – something that’s particularly interesting as when discussing the breakdown of the couple’s relationship, Jane has previously stated that alongside the frantic life that they share, she was living a parallel inner life, where she took care of her own needs.
Despite the ring being sold at auction for $19,200, I’d estimate the ring to be worth $10,000. It’s likely that it went for a higher value at auction due to its celebrity status.”
maxwell stone, creative director, steven stone
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