Carol Kotun in Ohio received the following message regarding the upcoming sale of Elvis' wedding band:

The ring has a chain of ownership from Elvis, to his step-brother David Stanley and his wife Angie.  Angie Stanley (later Angie Ford) had possession of this ring until the 1980s, when she sold it to Jimmy Velvet, whereupon it was displayed at the Elvis Presley Museum for a number of years.  It was then sold at auction (Butterfield and Butterfield) in June, 1994, to a private collector, in whose possession it has remained until consigned with Profiles in History for our upcoming auction.

The full catalog description is here:

Elvis Presley’s diamond and platinum wedding ring from his 1967 marriage to Priscilla at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas.   From Elvis Presley’s marriage to Priscilla Ann Wagner on May 1, 1967, this platinum wedding band is decorated by eight baguette-cut diamonds set within a border of sixteen full-cut diamonds, for a total weight of approximately 1.65 carats.  The ring size is 8 ½.  According to those close to Elvis, he wanted the ring made with a row of eight baguettes down the center and two rows of eight round diamonds on each side, as “8” was his lucky number. 

After the dissolution of his marriage to Priscilla, Elvis gave the ring to his step brother David Stanley and his wife Angie on August 6, 1977 — just ten days before he died — with his wish that it would bring them happiness in their own marriage.  The couple later parted ways.

The ring comes with an exceptional array of provenance from those associated with The King and this beautiful wedding band, including two letters of provenance from Angie Stanley Ford stating the circumstances through which Elvis presented this ring to her and her husband.  In addition to Ms. Ford’s testament, the ring also comes with signed letters of authenticity and/or provenance from Richard E. Davis; Joe Esposito (one of Elvis’ groomsmen who was present when he ordered the ring from Harry Levitch and to whom Elvis mentioned giving the ring to the Stanleys); two from jeweler Harry Levitch, verifying that this is the ring he made for Elvis; and one from George Klein, a high school friend of Elvis’ who was one of Elvis’ groomsmen and also a pallbearer at his funeral.  Finally, the ring comes with a certificate of authenticity stating that this ring was previously part of the Jimmy Velvet Collection at the Elvis Presley Museum, and was sold at auction in June, 1994 through Butterfield & Butterfield.

Pre-sale estimate:  $100,000 - $150,000

Images of the ring will be available in approx. 10 days when the catalog is published.  As of right now, the ring is on display at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, part of our pre-auction publicity.  If anyone is in Vegas this week, they’re more than welcome to swing by and take a look at it.

Thanks for your interest in this piece.  I’ll be happy to answer any further questions you may have.

Kind regards,

Kevin Hasely, Editor, Profiles in History

19 Nov 2006