2025 marks the 250th birthday of Jane Austen, author of seminal novels from “Pride & Prejudice” to “Emma” and more, all of which continue to invite reinterpretations, new adaptations and remain an influence to several writers and artists to this day. Known for her impact on literature and storytelling, a turquoise ring that once belonged to Austen also possesses a storied history.
Dating back to the 18th century, Austen’s turquoise ring was once a family heirloom that nearly became the prized possession of singer Kelly Clarkson.
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The History of the Ring
Austen’s turquoise ring derives from 1760-1780, according to The Jane Austen House in Chawton, near Hampshire, England. The ring features a plain, 9-carat gold band, with the ends curved round under a gold bezel, holding a vibrant, oval-shaped turquoise stone. It is not known if the ring was a gift, a family piece or if Austen purchased the ring herself. Turquoise is the birthstone for December, the month Austen was born.
When acquired, the ring came with letters of provenance certifying Austen’s ownership and detailing how the ring passed down through Austen’s family. The author, though once engaged, never married and her ring subsequently passed to a niece.
“My dear Caroline, the enclosed ring once belonged to your aunt Jane,” reads a letter from Eleanor Jackson Austen — Jane’s brother Henry Austen’s second wife — dated November 1863, per The Jane Austen House. “It was given to me by your aunt Cassandra as soon as she knew I was engaged to your uncle. I bequeath it to you.”
Kelly Clarkson’s 2012 Bid
Austen’s ring continued to pass down through her family until 2012, when the jewelry piece was put up for auction by Sotheby’s.
Kelly Clarkson purchased the ring at auction for a total of 152,450 pounds, roughly $206,789. Clarkson’s final bid was more than five times the reserve price of 30,000 pounds, according to The Jane Austen Center.
The singer previously wore a copy of the Jane Austen turquoise ring at the second inauguration of President Barack Obama in January 2013.
Following Clarkson’s winning bid, a temporary delay was put in place to see if the ring’s bid could be matched so that it would remain in England following a piece of legislation invoked by Ed Vaizey, the culture minister at the time, according to The Jane Austen Center. Due to global donations to The Jane Austen House, enough funds were raised for the museum to acquire the ring from Clarkson.
The ring has been on display at The Jane Austen House since February 2014.
Jane Austen’s Continued Cultural Relevance
Austen maintains a stronghold of cultural relevance, with adaptations of her novels to the big and small screen, as well as influence on authors like Kevin Kwan (“Crazy Rich Asians”) and Helen Fielding (“Bridget Jones’s Diary”).
2025, while celebrating the author’s 250th birthday, also marks the 20th anniversary of filmmaker Joe Wright’s adaptation of Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice.”
“I think it’s because she’s so accessible,” Jacqueline Durran, the two-time Oscar-winning costume designer for the 2005 film, told WWD in April of Austen’s continued popularity. “It doesn’t feel like you’re reading an old story. You immediately understand the dynamics of the characters…the way it can be adapted to modern interpretation or classic period interpretations; it’s just stories that are so true and they’re so alive. I think she will just continue to be held in the esteem she’s held in nowadays.”
Wright echoed Durran’s sentiments, calling Austen’s stories “psychologically true” in a separate interview with WWD.
“We need those stories to be told. In a way, there’s something very reassuring about the fact that, sure the circumstances of the world change, but our souls are eternal and connected.”
