A ring designed by Elvis Presley as a gift to a friend was recently put up for auction on eBay.  The winning bidder was Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee, a performer at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Casino on the famous Las Vegas Strip.    The winning bid?  Only $2,500. 

Marty Lackey, a member of the Memphis Mafia and Best Man at Elvis’ wedding, wanted to give his bride-to-be a special ring at the 1970s wedding, but he could only afford an inexpensive wedding band.  He told Presley that he looked forward to the day when he could give his wife the beautiful diamond wedding ring she deserved.  Elvis responded by suggesting that they design a ring together and then have it made especially for her.

With Presley’s suggestions and Lackey’s sketchpad, they created an image of a thick-banded, heavy gold ring with 12 diamonds clustered around it.  Elvis offered to pay for the ring, but Lackey refused.  After Elvis repeatedly asked his friend when the ring would be ready, Lackey admitted that he hadn’t yet sent the sketch to be made because he still couldn’t afford it.  Elvis immediately wrote a check and commissioned the services of Memphis jeweler Harry Levitch, who had created the Priscilla Presley’s wedding ring.  The only condition was the Elvis wanted to be there when Marty presented the specially-designed ring to his wife.

The new diamond and gold wedding ring was soon ready, and Elvis proudly watched as Marty gave his wife her new, custom-made jewelry. 

When the diamond-encrusted piece of real Elvis memorabilia became available on eBay, Pete Vallee had to bid.  Now, “Big Elvis” owns a piece of The King.
 

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