Die-hard fans of Stephenie Meyer’s vampire love story “Twilight” excitedly gathered for a two-day exclusive live auction event from November 19 to 20, 2016, to bid for the film’s 900 biggest props, including Bella Swan’s heirloom engagement ring from Edward Cullen. It was hosted by Prop Store, a memorabilia company, at Hollywood’s Chinese Theatre in partnership with Lionsgate.
The ring in question was a 14-karat gold with a rhodium finish featuring 69 cubic zirconia diamonds in an oval pave. It was worn by actress Kristen Stewart in the franchise’s fourth installment, “Breaking Dawn: Part 1” released in 2011.
RELATED: ‘The Batman 2’ Writer Teases Fans with a Glimpse of the Script
If you’ve read the tetralogy, it was mentioned in the third book, “Eclipse.” Meyer wrote, “The face was a long oval, set with slanting rows of glittering round stones.” As for the gold band, she described it as delicate and narrow, crafting a fragile web around the diamonds.
While the diamonds weren’t actually real, it was expected to fetch at least $3,000 to $5,000 since it was from a hit movie. It would be packaged in a luxurious satin black ring box with plastic beads along the border as decoration and a Prop Store Certificate of Authenticity.
RELATED: “Bodhi Soleil Reed Somerhalder: The First Baby of Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder
However, the organizers were blown away when the ring went for three times its initial auction price. The fan who ultimately scored the piece put up $16,800 and won over a thousand “Twi-hard” bidders! Talk about spending megabucks.
Other props up for grabs were Edward’s journal, which sold for $7,800, and Bella’s meadow costume, which went for $8,400.
RELATED: A Guide to Film Locations for the Big-Screen Adaptation of ‘Dark Shadows’
After the event, Brandon Alinger, COO of the Prop Store, expressed how thrilled they were with fans’ interest and participation, including the worldwide response from bidders over the weekend, showcasing the franchise’s cult following. “For Twilight fans, this auction offered an amazing opportunity to own a piece of the phenomenon.”