Sharon Tate ring fetches $21,000

An engagement ring Chinatown filmmaker Roman Polanski gave to actress Sharon Tate has been bought for $21,260 by an unnamed bidder at the Gotta Have Rock and Roll pop cult memorabilia auction in New York, TMZ reports.

The final price was well above the $10,000 starting bid.

The folks at Gotta Have It Collectibles claim Polansky presented the antique ruby and opal bauble to Tate the night he proposed to her in 1967 and that she was wearing it on Aug. 9, 1969, the night the then-pregnant, 26-year-old Tate was murdered by Charles Manson and his followers.

The auctioneers have a letter signed by Polanski verifying their tale.

Sharon Tate's younger sis, Debra, has objected to the auction, finding it morbid and "extremely disgusting," Los Angeles TV station CBS2 reports.

"Here we are 42 years after and once again, the only thing that comes to mind is her death. I see it as re-victimizing the victim," Debra said.

She also disputes the auction house's claims about the ring.

Debra denies the ring was an "official engagement ring," maintaining instead that it was merely an "unofficial symbol of Sharon's relationship" with Polanski.

Debra, who manages the official Sharon Tate fan website, also tells CBS2 that her sister was not wearing any jewelry on the night she was killed.

Debra says Sharon had given the ring to a friend, from whom it was later stolen.