Lot 55303. Gold Bracelets, Van Cleef & Arpels. The 18k gold 'Manchettes' weigh 180.60 grams, marked VCA. Dimensions: 6-1/2 inches x 3-1/4 inches. Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000. © Heritage Auctions

DALLAS, TX.- A pair of dazzling Gold Cuff Bracelets by Van Cleef & Arpels, gifted by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to Nina Straight, her step-sister and maid of honor when she married John F. Kennedy in 1953, are expected to sell for $40,000 in Heritage Auctions' Contemporary Designer Jewels Auction Sept. 26 in Beverly Hills. Kennedy Onassis surprised Straight with the bracelets when she served as Straight's maid of honor 21 years later. 

"They were a gift from Jackie for my wedding to Michael Straight in 1974," Straight said for an exclusive interview with Heritage Auctions' Intelligent Collector Magazine. "We were married at St. John's Cathedral in New York. Jackie gave them to me at the luncheon after the ceremony." 

The cuffs matched a pair Kennedy Onassis often wore. "Jackie loved hers so much that she bought me a pair knowing I would enjoy them equally," Straight said. "I always viewed myself as Jackie's 'Sancho Panza' or sidekick. We had so much fun. Ours was a very close relationship." 

Jill Burgum, Senior Director of Jewelry at Heritage said there is no telling how the collecting public will respond to a pair of cuffs gifted by the First Lady to someone so special to her life. The pair Kennedy Onassis gifted to Straight are marked 47 and 48. A bracelet from Kennedy Onassis' own pair sold previously is marked No. 50, so it is very likely that she purchased both limited edition sets at the same time and gave Straight the earlier pair, Burgum said. 

"Nina was Jackie's step-sister so this was a very important and thoughtful gift by a former First Lady, who was known as an icon of American fashion," Burgum said. "Nina said she hopes they are purchased by someone equally as 'fun loving'." 

Lot 55303. Gold Bracelets, Van Cleef & Arpels. The 18k gold 'Manchettes' weigh 180.60 grams, marked VCA. Dimensions: 6-1/2 inches x 3-1/4 inches. Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000. © Heritage Auctions

Property of Nina Gore Auchincloss Steers Straight

Nina Gore Auchincloss Steers Straight is an American author, journalist, and socialite. She is the mother of writer/director Burr Steers and the late artist Hugh Auchincloss Steers, half-sister of Gore Vidal, step-sister of First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and actress Lee Radziwill.

The bracelets are superbly crafted in the Etruscan style. Their bold, heavily textured surface is emblematic of the sculptural jewels of the 1970s. Gold tests as 18K. Each cuff comes with a signed pouch. One cuff is marked 2V702 47 VCA©; the other cuff is marked VCA© 2V702 48. These numbers are sequential with the ones that Jackie purchased for herself, one of which was numbered 2V702 50.

In addition to the gold cuffs, the auction's 800+ lots include the finest creations from artists ranging from Cartier to Harry Winston. A time-honored Diamond, Gold Necklace by Cartier weighs a total of approximately 25.45 carats set in 18 karat gold (est. $60,000) and a Cartier Panthère de Cartier Diamond, Emerald, White Gold Ring weighing approximately 6.50 carats, is enhanced by blazing pear-shaped emerald eyes and carved black onyx accents (est. $50,000). An emerald-cut Diamond, Platinum Ring by Harry Winston weighs 4.01 carats is flanked by beautiful tapered baguette-cut diamonds (est. $60,000).  

Lot 55183. Diamond, Gold Necklace, Cartier, French. Estimate: $60,000 - $70,000. © Heritage Auctions

The necklace features full-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 25.45 carats, set in 18k gold, marked Cartier, French hallmarks. Gross weight 85.60 grams. Dimensions: 15 inches x 1/2 inch

Diamonds: Avg Color: G-H-I -, Avg Clarity: VS - Shape(s): Full-cut - Count: 100+

Lot 55293. Diamond, Emerald, White Gold Ring, Cartier, French. Estimate: $50,000 - $60,000. © Heritage Auctions

The Panthère de Cartier ring features full-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 6.50 carats, enhanced by pear-shaped emeralds, accented by carved black onyx, set in 18k white gold, marked Cartier, French hallmarks. Gross weight 18.20 grams. Size: 7 (not sizeable)

Lot 55232. Diamond, Platinum Ring, Harry Winston. Estimate: $60,000 - $80,000. © Heritage Auctions

The ring features an emerald-cut diamond measuring 10.23 x 8.97 x 5.25 mm and weighing 4.01 carats, flanked by tapered baguette-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 0.40 carat, set in platinum, marked Winston. A GIA Laboratory report # 5172665086, dated May 31, 2016, stating H color, VS1 clarity, accompanies the center diamond. Gross weight 5.30 grams. Size: 4-3/4 (sizeable)

A Henry Dunay Diamond, Platinum Bracelet — as intricate as a snowflake — offers 9.45 carats set in platinum (est. $40,000). A Diamond, White Gold Necklace by Boucheron (est. $40,000), features a collar in full-cut diamonds weighing approximately 18.30 carats. 

Lot 55238. Diamond, Platinum Bracelet, Henry Dunay. Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000. © Heritage Auctions

The bracelet features full-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 9.45 carats, set in platinum, marked Dunay. Gross weight 118.30 grams. Dimensions: 6-1/2 inches x 1-3/8 inches

Lot 55827. Diamond, White Gold Necklace, Boucheron, French. Estimate: $40,000 - $50,000. © Heritage Auctions

The collar features full-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 18.30 carats, set in 18k white gold, marked Boucheron, French hallmarks. Gross weight 97.90 grams. Dimensions: 14 inches x 1/4 inch

Two special examples by artist Cynthia Bach include a delicate Crown Jewels tiara (est. $8,000) and a colorful Tourmaline, Gold Pendant, with pink tourmaline cabochons (est. $7,000+). 

Lot 55269. Diamond, White Gold Tiara, Cynthia Bach. Estimate: $8,000 - $10,000. © Heritage Auctions

The Crown Jewels tiara features an articulated pear-shaped diamond measuring 9.24 x 5.95 x 3.67 mm and weighing 1.19 carats, enhanced by full-cut diamonds weighing a total of 2.14 carats, set in 14k white gold, marked Cynthia Bach. A GIA Laboratory report # 2171309665, dated September 3, 2015, stating E color, VS2 clarity, accompanies the pear-shaped diamond. Gross weight 34.60 grams.
Dimensions: 6 inches x 5-3/8 inches x 1-3/4 inches

Lot 55009. Tourmaline, Gold Pendant, Cynthia Bach. Estimate: $7,000 - $9,000. © Heritage Auctions

The pendant features pink tourmaline cabochons weighing a total of approximately 19.70 carats, enhanced by square-cut green tourmalines weighing a total of approximately 4.30 carats, accented by green tourmaline cabochons weighing a total of approximately 1.15 carats, set in 18k gold, marked Bach. Gross weight 45.00 grams. Dimensions: 3-3/4 inches x 2-1/2 inches 

Unsigned jewels include a stunning, Burma Ruby, Diamond, Platinum Ring featuring a cut-cornered rectangle-shaped ruby weighing 10.11 carats (est. $150,000) and also a Diamond, White Gold Ring — a round brilliant-cut diamond weighing 10.05 carats — leads off a selection of large stones (est. $100,000). 

Lot 55302. 10.11 carats Burma Ruby, Diamond, Platinum Ring. Estimate: $150,000 - $200,000. © Heritage Auctions

The ring features a cut-cornered rectangle-shaped ruby measuring 12.43 x 10.37 x 7.49 mm and weighing 10.11 carats, enhanced by half-moon-shaped diamonds weighing a total of approximately 0.25 carat, accented by full-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 1.00 carat, set in platinum. A GRS report # GRS2013-100808, dated October 5, 2013, stating Natural Ruby, Burma (Myanmar), Enhanced by Heat, residues insignificant, accompanies the ruby. Gross weight 13.20 grams. Size: 6-1/2 (sizeable)

Additional highlights from contemporary designers include, but are not limited to: 

Lot 55297. Diamond, Gold Jewelry Suite, Bvlgari. Estimate: $30,000 - $40,000. © Heritage Auctions

The suite includes: one necklace featuring full-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 13.50 carats, marked Bvlgari; one bracelet enhanced by full-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 7.75 carats, marked Bvlgari; and a matching pair of earrings accented by full-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 5.65 carats, attributed to Bvlgari; all set in 18k gold. Total diamond weight is approximately 26.90 carats. Gross weight 230.20 grams. Necklace Length: 16-1/2 inches - Bracelet Length: 7-1/4 inches - Earring Diameter: 1-1/16 inches

*Note: earrings are designed for non-pierced ears

Lot 55223. Diamond, White Gold Necklace, Mattia Cielo. Estimate: $16,000 - $20,000. © Heritage Auctions

The Bruco necklace features full-cut diamonds weighing a total of 1.69 carats, set in 18k white gold, attributed to Mattia Cielo. Gross weight 180.20 grams. Length: 14 inches. Drop Length: 2-1/2 inches.

Lot 55083. Audemars Piguet Gentleman's Pink Gold Edward Piguet Chronograph Watch. Estimate: $7,000 - $9,000. © Heritage Auctions

Case: 49 x 29 mm, rectangular, 18k pink gold, two-body solid, polished and brushed, stepped sides, straight lugs, case back with 4 screws, domed sapphire crystal, Ref. F39414. Dial: cream guilloche with applied pink gold Arabic numerals at 12, 2, 4, 8, and 10 o'clock, pink gold hour dashes, pink gold "Leaf" baton hands, chronograph dials. Movement: caliber 2385, 37 jewels, self-winding, automatic, monometallic balance adjusted for heat, cold, isochronism and five position. Band: brown leather textured strap with 18k pink gold Audemars Piguet deployant clasp, 6-1/2 to 8 inches (adjustable). Signed: dial, case, movement, and strap signed. Gross weight: 110.20 grams

Note: watch is currently in working order.