Few women have shaped the visual language of American elegance quite like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Effortlessly poised and quietly composed, her style reached far beyond fashion into jewellery, where every piece seemed to carry meaning, part memory, part statement, part story. From the White House years through to her later life in New York, Jackie’s jewels reflected moments of love, transition, and reinvention. More recently, renewed interest in the Kennedy dynasty fuelled in part by FX’s Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, which revisits the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, has brought fresh attention to the legacy of the family and the enduring symbolism of its most recognisable heirlooms.
Jackie’s two engagement rings perfectly illustrate the arc of her life, moving from restrained elegance to bold opulence. The first, gifted by John F. Kennedy, was designed by Van Cleef & Arpels and featured a 2.88-carat diamond paired with a 2.84-carat emerald in a romantic toi et moi setting. Originally framed by baguette diamonds, Jackie later had the ring redesigned with marquise and round stones, subtly evolving it as her role as First Lady grew more defined. Her second engagement ring, from Aristotle Onassis, was a striking contrast, an extraordinary 40-carat marquise-cut diamond known as Lesotho III, created by Harry Winston. Rarely worn in public, it nonetheless marked a very different chapter of her life, one shaped by independence, wealth, and global attention.
One of Jackie’s most distinctive jewels was her diamond sunburst brooch, a 19th century piece set in silver and gold that she discovered in London in the early 1960s. Captivated by its radiant design, she went so far as to part with other gifted brooches to acquire it. Once in her possession, it quickly became a signature piece during her White House years. She wore it pinned to coats and evening gowns, but most memorably placed in her hair, echoing the form of a tiara at state dinners and official events. This inventive styling transformed the brooch into something entirely personal, a perfect example of her instinct for reinterpreting tradition with ease and imagination.
Equally defining were the enamel bangles by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., later known simply as “Jackie bangles.” Designed in the 1960s, they combined gold with richly coloured enamel in bold, graphic patterns, sometimes accented with gemstones. Jackie wore them stacked in multiples, often mixing designs and colours to create a relaxed yet striking effect. The look felt modern and unforced, especially in contrast to more formal jewellery conventions of the time. In her post White House years in New York, the bangles became a defining part of her everyday style, reinforcing her reputation for effortless sophistication and securing their place as enduring symbols of her influence on modern jewellery design.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ faux triple strand pearl necklace remains one of the most recognisable elements of her public image. Designed by Kenneth Jay Lane, the 19-inch, three-strand necklace was intentionally made in imitation pearls yet worn with such confidence that it became synonymous with her White House elegance. It appeared in countless photographs, perhaps most memorably in a candid image of a young John F. Kennedy Jr. playfully tugging at his laughing mother’s neck, capturing both intimacy and glamour in a single frame. Despite its modest origins, costing likely less than $300 at the time, the necklace’s legacy far outgrew its materials. When it was later sold at Sotheby’s in 1996 as part of Jackie’s estate, it achieved extraordinary results, becoming the highest-selling item in the auction at $211,500 USD. In doing so, it cemented its status not only as a signature piece of her personal style, but as a powerful symbol of how Jackie could transform even the simplest jewels into enduring icons of American elegance.
By Lauren Boustridge, Head of Fine Jewels & Timepieces, Sydney
Top Image: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy laughs as her son, John F. Kennedy, Jr., plays with her simulated-pearl necklace in John’s nursery / Alamy
June 2026