To mark what would have been Elvis Presley’s 91st birthday on January 8, renowned New Orleans gallery M.S. Rau Antiques offered for sale two deeply personal pieces of jewelry once worn by the King of Rock ’n’ Roll himself. Together, they trace Elvis’s evolution from a rising star in the 1950s to a Las Vegas legend later in his career — all told through gold, gemstones and remarkable provenance.
The headline piece is a bold 14-karat yellow gold ring set with a vibrant synthetic blue sapphire, worn by Elvis during live performances in the early 1970s. The saturated hue of the stone was especially noticeable under stage lighting, flashing electric blue beneath concert spotlights. Crafted in Elvis’s favored yellow gold, the ring reflected the confident, flamboyant style that defined his later years onstage.
During the summer of 1972, Elvis removed the ring mid-performance, noting that it was slipping from his finger, and handed it to Dave Hebler, his longtime bodyguard and trusted confidant. When Hebler later tried to return it, Elvis famously told him to keep it for good luck — a gesture emblematic of Presley’s generosity toward his inner circle.
The ring is engraved inside the band with the initials “EP” and is accompanied by documentation tracing its journey from Elvis, to Hebler, to the Elvis Presley Museum, and finally to M.S. Rau. It is currently offered for $88,500.
Equally compelling, though quieter in design, is a 10-karat yellow gold ID bracelet worn frequently by Elvis during the mid- to late-1950s, the period when he was redefining popular music and youth culture. The bracelet features a polished ID plate engraved simply with the name “ELVIS.” Unlike his later stage jewelry, this was an everyday piece — a constant presence during rehearsals, performances and appearances as his fame exploded.
As was his habit, Elvis eventually gave the bracelet away, gifting it to Hebler during a meeting at Graceland years later. The bracelet is accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from the Elvis Presley Museum, the only museum officially licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises and the Graceland estate to authenticate his personal effects. M.S. Rau is offering the bracelet for $39,850.
Together, the ring and bracelet offer an unusually intimate glimpse into Presley’s life, which ended tragically in August 1977. He was just 42.
Credits: Jewelry images courtesy of M.S. Rau. Elvis Presley publicity photo (cropped) by RCA Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
