Happy Valentine’s Day: How Do You Say I LOVE YOU?

An lovely 1928 Pathe portrait of Carol [no e] Lombard don’t you think? Photo by Wm. E. Thomas.

And I’d like to thank Madame TALLY for giving me an idea of what to post next:

Above is a pair of sterling silver I.D. bracelets that Clark Gable and Carole Lombard gifted to each other early in their relationship. The bracelets are engraved with their names on the top and on the reverse, their sentimental thoughts for each other are engraved. They read: ‘Love Carole’ on Clark’s and ‘Love Clark’ on Carole’s.

Carole wore hers constantly and in many of her movies including: ‘Nothing Sacred,’ ‘The Princess Comes Across,’ ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith,’ ‘Made For Each Other,’ ‘Fools For Scandal,’ ‘Swing High, Swing Low,’ and ‘My Man Godfrey.’ She can also be seen wearing it in numerous personal photos including the famous Hurrell shot, which was Clark’s favorite. Clark kept this photo on his studio dressing table next to a single red rose Carole sent him each day.

Clark wore his almost as much as Carole; before, during and after the ‘Gone With the Wind’ period. However, the bracelet became especially important to Clark after Carole’s death. After this, Clark wore the bracelet constantly.

And here’s another one for ya:

This gold bracelet was a gift Carole gave Clark. The clasp of it is engraved with the initials CG and on the reverse of the clasp I LOVE YOU, CL [Carole Lombard]

Now, Clark may have gotten rid of the V-Day mobile Carole gave him that was covered in hearts, but he treasured these bracelets until the day he died.

I know what you are all thinking. “Where are they now?” The i.d. bracelets sold for a couple of thousand a few years back and the gold bracelet that Carole gave Clark sold for a cool $7,800 at Chrisitie in 2006. I haven’t heard or seen them since. If the current owners are reading this right now: How do you like them? And- HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY xoxo