Offered is a stunning, 14K gold nugget style ring with a dozen diamonds embedded randomly on its face that was owned by Elvis Presley and gifted by him to the lead singer of The Stamps vocal group, J.D. Sumner. Sumner was a close friend and early idol of Elvis', going back to Sumner's time in the gospel groups The Sunshine Boys and The Blackwood Brothers Quartet in the early and mid-1950s. Elvis met Sumner just as his own career was beginning in 1954, but had seen him perform many times at Mephis' Ellis Auditorium. Throughout Elvis' 1970's tours, J.D. Sumner and The Stamps were fixture, backing up the singer for years. During that time, Elvis constantly gifted items such as the offered ring to J.D., often times after they left the stage after a show. He admired Sumner, and showed it any way he could.
J.D. eventually sold the ring to Mike Moon and his Elvis Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A copy of the June 11, 1980, bill of sale is included that lists the ring as "14K gold heavy nugget ring accented with 12 inlaid diamonds in an irregular pattern." The letter lists three items being sold to Moon at that time, including a "14K gold Geneva [sic] nugget watch with heavy gold nugget band and gold nugget two-position safety clasp." Additionally included is a letter from Chris Davidson of EP Archives who purchased the majority of Mike Moon's collection in 2018.
The size 10 ring weighs 19.5 grams and presents with the interior "14K" stamping still visible, yet worn a bit. The 12 diamonds are scattered across the ornate gold nugget plane of the face, with a total carat weight of .95 and the largest at .2 carats. The ring presents with only mild wear. Brilliant Near Mint condition.