Frank Sinatra Gifted Ring, Cartier & Rolex Watches, Original Tony Bennett Paintings & Sketches Take Center Stage on Day 1 of Tony Bennett Auction

Julien’s Auctions’ opening of “Tony Bennett: A Life Well Lived” held, Thursday, April 18, at Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame at Jazz At Lincoln Center was much more than an auction; it was a captivating celebration of the life and legacy of a true Renaissance man. Just blocks away from his NYC home, fans and connoisseurs alike were able to bid on items that spoke volumes about the life Tony Bennett lived. 

From the iconic sketches of the Big Apple to the intimate portraits of jazz legends such as Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday, each item up for auction told a story of Bennett’s unwavering love affair with music, art, and his birthplace and home of New York. Collectors from all corners of the globe eagerly stepped forward to acquire memorabilia and keep his spirit alive in their hearts and homes.

The fervor of bidding was palpable as enthusiasts vied for treasures like Tony Bennett’s Sinatra family-gifted family crest signet ring, a symbol of friendship and gratitude that fetched an astonishing $63,000, over 21 times its initial estimate.  Other items, from Cartier watches gifted by Frank Sinatra and Lady Gaga to his original “After Monet’s Gardens” painting and a captivating collection of personal memorabilia, found new homes amidst spirited competition.

• Cartier 18K Rose Gold “Cle De Cartier” from Lady Gaga sold for $45,500, six and a half times its estimate.
• Bennett’s original oil on canvas impressionist style painting, “After Monet’s Gardens” one in a series of paintings of Monet’s Gardens, framed, sold for $26,000, six and a half times its estimate. 
• The “75th Birthday Book of Extraordinary Letters,” which contains over 100 Pieces written by Martin Scorsese, Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Madonna, Elton John, and more, sold for $19,500.
• Bennett’s original “Charlie Parker” watercolor painting sold for $13,000, six and a half times its estimate. 
• Bennett’s original “Central Park West” watercolor painting sold for $10,400, seven times its estimate.
• A Joe DiMaggio signed portrait baseball sold for $5,200, over five times its estimate of $300.
• Bennett’s original “Charlie Parker” watercolor painting sold for $13,000, six and a half times its estimate. 
• Bennett’s original “Central Park West” watercolor painting sold for $10,400, seven times its estimate.
• Bennett’s original pencil drawing of Lady Gaga from the “Love For Sale” album cover sold for $19,500, six and a half times its estimate. 

TONY BENNETT: A LIFE WELL LIVED concludes tomorrow Friday, April 18^th at Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame in Jazz at Lincoln Center featuring Bennett’s letter from Martin Luther King, Jr, documenting the events from his march from Selma, Alabama, to the state’s capital, Montgomery in 1965, his 2005 Kennedy Center Honor Award, Bennett’s portrait by Everett Raymond Kinstler, musical objects, recording gear, sketchbooks, furniture, home decor, original sketches of colleagues such as Dennis Blair, fine art, autographed memorabilia and more starting at 10:00 am Eastern Time.

Julien’s Auctions

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You know that moment when the lights dim, right before your favorite band starts playing? Or that feeling right before the credits roll on a movie that changed your whole world in an instant? The air is charged with anticipation and words are never going to do it justice because you just really had to be there.

At Julien’s, we exist to bring those moments back into your life through iconic artifacts and one-of-a-kind collections. Whether collaborating directly with artists, partnering with legendary estates, or working closely with discerning collectors, our auctions make culture pop with the promise of discovery and reconnection. From Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Ringo Starr to Lady Gaga, Banksy, and Kurt Cobain-from LA to the world, we are where originals find their kind.