Steve McQueen's First Wife Sells Jewelry Collection
February 20, 24
(IDEX Online) - Jewelry belonging to Steve McQueen's first wife, Neile Adams, sold at auction for just over $200,000 at Bonhams' California Jewels sale.
Leading the sale was a platinum ring (pictured) set with a a 3.80-carat old European-cut diamond. McQueen, best known for The Great Escape in 1963, bought it for himself, then decided it would suit his wife better, so he gave it to her.
It sold for $83,050, more than double its presale estimate of $25,000 to $35,000.
Adams and McQueen wed just four months after meeting in 1956, and were divorced in 1972. McQueen remarried twice before his death in 1980. Adams also remarried. She carried on acting and is now aged 91.
Other lots included a platinum ring with a pear-shaped brilliant-cut fancy light yellow diamond weighing 5.92 carats, accented by tapered-baguette diamonds ($40,960) and a platinum necklace with 8.25 carats of diamonds ($19,200).