Click play at right to watch the video.
Offered is a large 14K gold and diamond ring with a large garnet as the ceterpiece that was owned by Elvis Presley. The ring also features 4 diamonds, one in each corner of the face surrounding the garnet. Elvis' birthstone is the garnet, and the large stone set on the face of the gold nugget style ring certainly would have appealed to his jewelry sensibilities n the 1970s. He eventually gave the ring to Joe Guercio, his touring bandleader, for one of Joe's girlfriends on tour in 1975. Her 1994 letter accompanies and reads:
My best friend Marsh and myself attended the Elvis Presley benegit concert held a the State Fair in Jackson, MS. After the show we were invited to go backstage and meet several members of the show. I immediately made friends with Joe Guercio and sparks flew. He and I spent some time together and I was invited back for the second performance that evening. Elvis was a fantastic for both shows.
At the end of the second show I went backstage again and saw Elvis inthe background speaking with Joe and several others. Joe walked over to me and we began to chat. He invited me to join him in Memphis for the next performance. I made the five hour drive north to catch a third show in less than a week. At the end of our get together Joe handed me this lovely diamond and garnet 14K ring and said it was compliments of Elvis and himself. I drove up again the following July [at] Joe's invitaion and was fortunate enough to briefly speak with Elvis before that show. He was quite charming and said the ring was one of his favorites. I have owned it for almost 20 years now. Sincerely, Brenda Taylor.
Also accompanying are Brenda's ticket stub to the matinee show on June 8, a small autograph from Joe Guercio and a snapshot of the two ladies with Joe backstage. The reverse of the photo is marked with processing date of "MAY 75", before the June 8 show in Jackson. But this is interesting when taken with Brenda's recollection that the concert she attended on June 8, 1975, was a "benefit". She is most-likely referring to the May 5, 1975, concert which Elvis performed in aid of the McComb tornado victims at the same State Fair Coliseum, Jackson. Her memory can be forgiven--that's a LOT of Elvis to take in in one month! The size 9 1/2 ring weighs 15.6 grams and presents with "14K" stamped on the interior, though heavily worn. The large garnet stone measures 6 x 9 mm. The ring presents with moderate to heavy use. Excellent condition.