Elegant custom-made one-of-a-kind 18k gold handcrafted ring presented to
President Kennedy by his wife Jacqueline in 1963. According to
Kennedy’s secretary Evelyn Lincoln it was crafted by Cartier, though due
to its being privately made, it bears no official maker’s mark. The 18
karat gold ring bears a detailed engraving of the presidential seal on
the outside, and is hand-engraved on the inside, “J. B. K. to J. F. K.”
Accompanied by a November 21, 1982 letter of provenance from Kennedy’s
secretary Evelyn Lincoln, written on White House stationery, which
reads, in part: “The 18K Gold Cartier handcrafted ring with the delicate
and detailed Presidential Seal is a paramount example of a JFK personal
item. After John F. Kennedy was inaugurated on January 20, 1961, it was
approved for design by Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Accordingly, she had
it hand-engraved on the interior band with ‘JBK to JFK’ in an intricate
script design. As I recall, it was meant to be worn by JFK on his left
ring finger or the right pinkie. It was Mrs. Kennedy’s policy that some
personal items could not be marked by the companies chosen by her, if
she selected them to create special items or high quality gifts for
JFK…When the President left his Oval Office for Dallas, I accompanied
him. It was such a horrible time. Anyway, he left the ‘JBK to JFK’ ring
in his desk drawer. I retrieved it upon my return.” A beautifully
crafted and deeply personal gift from the First Lady. In fine, near mint
condition. Provenance: The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection. RR Auction
COA.
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