It's a real treat to catch glimpses of the notorious star sapphire, gifted by William Powell. Too bad no one knows what became of it. I'd love a reproduction of it. (The Hollywood Collection does not carry it, though they have repros of her other sapphires.)
I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since May 2006:
I am so excited to find this post! I am a big fan of both William Powell and Jean Harlow...and enjoyed knowing that he gave the ring to her the Christmas before she passed away.
I have a ring, that is identical in design. Mine has a pale pink Rose Quartz stone between 96 & 100 carats.....same setting. When I bought the ring about 10 years ago.....I didn't wear it although I love HUGE/GIGANTIC cocktail rings and look for them in all the old black and white movies! Anyway.....I put it away and never wore it...until about last year when I bought the book "Harlow," by Irving Shulman, and discovered a picture of Jean with the ring on, realizing mine was just like the one given to her by William Powell! Of course, I'm sure her's was far more valuable.....being a Star Sapphire!
I wear it quite a bit now....and enjoy telling people the story about Jean's beautiful, blue Star Sapphire. I also often wonder what happened to that ring. Did Mama Jean give it back to William Powell? In the book it states that after Jean died, her mother would take out the jewelry to look at it and hold it in her hands, remembering when Jean was alive. I have tried to research the whereabouts of that ring; but to no avail. I would think that a ring that valuable and one of a kind would be in someone's collection...appreciated and preserved for the special historical piece that it is.
I am formerly known as HillieBoliday.......Member since May 2006:
I don't have a photograph of it, and I'm not that savvy with electronics, but I will take a photo with my phone and send it to you. You want me to post it here or email it to you?
I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since May 2006:
I am so excited to find this post! I am a big fan of both William Powell and Jean Harlow...and enjoyed knowing that he gave the ring to her the Christmas before she passed away.
I have a ring, that is identical in design. Mine has a pale pink Rose Quartz stone between 96 & 100 carats.....same setting. When I bought the ring about 10 years ago.....I didn't wear it although I love HUGE/GIGANTIC cocktail rings and look for them in all the old black and white movies! Anyway.....I put it away and never wore it...until about last year when I bought the book "Harlow," by Irving Shulman, and discovered a picture of Jean with the ring on, realizing mine was just like the one given to her by William Powell! Of course, I'm sure her's was far more valuable.....being a Star Sapphire!
I wear it quite a bit now....and enjoy telling people the story about Jean's beautiful, blue Star Sapphire. I also often wonder what happened to that ring. Did Mama Jean give it back to William Powell? In the book it states that after Jean died, her mother would take out the jewelry to look at it and hold it in her hands, remembering when Jean was alive. I have tried to research the whereabouts of that ring; but to no avail. I would think that a ring that valuable and one of a kind would be in someone's collection...appreciated and preserved for the special historical piece that it is.
I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since 2006:
You're probably right. It serves to reason that it maybe residing in a very valuable collection somewhere...with the owner not knowing what they have or just doesn't want to publicize it.
Although I do wonder if it could be re-cut. Would that alter the way the 'star' would shine from the stone?
Again...if Mama Jean didn't give it back to W.P.; whoever acquired Harlow's clothing (that was kept in Bekins Storage/Hollywood), may have also acquired the jewelry as well. May be I'll try and do some research on the William Powell side, and see if it surfaces there.......will let you know....it's so much fun to find someone who knows and appreciates that beautiful piece of 'jeweled' history connected to both of them. Thanks for your link to Google. There are several pictures of her with the ring on her finger, and I especially enjoyed the animated one with her moving the ringed hand across her forehead!
I'm glad the link worked for you. Isn't it a stunner?
I was obsessed about finding that ring. I know I could never afford to own it if I found it, but hey, it's my fantasy, I might as well make it a big one right?
Anyway, some pay off it exists out there somewhere, but we may never know.
Incidentally, I had hoped that that Hollywood jewelry line that reproduces old Hollywood actresses' jewelry would carry a reproduction, but interestingly, it does not. Maybe it means they don't know what it looked like, or maybe someone holds the right to its design and it can't be reproduced.. Who knows?
But it's one of the old Hollywood artifacts I'd love to own. That, and the Maltese Falcon. :)
I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since May2006.
I love the Hollywood Jewelry Line as well, and visit it from time to time. I want to order the Marlene Deitrich Huge Emerald Solitaire. I think it's only about 14 carats....not quite as large as I prefer. I spoke to someone there a few years back, and he said that particular ring was much larger and customers were complaining that it was too large....so they reduced the size.
With Emerald Green being my favorite color/stone....I am wondering what happened to and obsessing over the huge Emerald Solitaire that Cyd Charisse wears in "The Band Wagon", starring Fred Astaire...now that is THEE Hollywood Artifact I would love to get a reproduction of!
Yeah, I'm familiar with that article, which is one of the reasons I let go of my obsession with it.
Not my fascination, just my obsession in trying to track it down.
The author made reasonable points on why it might not be possible to track it down. I'd be happy with a good reproduction of it, if I could find one.
When I got engaged, I hoped we could have afforded a reproduction, what an awesome engagement ring it would make, but we couldn't touch the price of any 80+ carat Star Sapphire. I had to settle for a garnet, lol
I am formerly known as HillieBoliday.....Member since May 2006.
Now...that's a thought...and a strong possibility! She and William Powell were very much in love, and I think the Star Sapphire was an unofficial engagement ring. I've read that she was never without that ring from the time he gave it to her at Christmas, until her death that following spring/summer. He was devastated by her death...and maybe he did bury it with her as a final gesture of his love. You may have solved the "Whatever happened to the Star Sapphire Ring that William Powell gave Jean Harlow Mystery!
I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since May 2006.
Thanks for sharing...today was the first time I'd run across that article....and now may be I can let go of my obsession with it as well!
His article does make a lot of sense, and he has helped to appease my lingering curiosity! I have long suspected that my Rose Quartz just may be a lab created stone too..but I love it just the same!
Thanks again...this has been such fun! Usually in my circle of friends...they have no idea what I'm talking about when I bring up that ring...LoL!