Ideal if you want to drop some serious hints about the type of ring you want.
Walking down the aisle in your dream wedding dress, friends and family standing shoulder to shoulder and looking on proudly…it doesn’t exactly seem likely in the foreseeable future.
That shouldn’t put you off getting engaged to the love of your life, though. Giving you something to focus on and the whole family a lift, agreeing to tie the knot might even provide some hope (and distraction!) during this difficult time. With all that extra time on your hands to plan and save, you might be eyeing up some spectacular engagement and wedding rings to really make a statement.
If you’re looking for inspiration, then celebrity engagements have always encouraged certain ring trends. In fact, tracking the rise (and fall) of particular styles is a fascinating insight into the fashions and faux pas of the time. Here, we look back at 5 of the most famous engagement rings that wowed the world, IDEAL if you want to drop some serious hints about the type of ring you want.
LADY DIANA SPENCER
Now adorning the hand of the Duchess of Cambridge, “the Commoner’s Ring” was first selected by the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The 18-carat white-gold ring is set with a dazzling 12 carat, oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds.
Diana reportedly selected the ring because she loved it, but as it was for open sale by Garrard and not custom made – amazingly, it was a stock item – it earned the nickname of being ‘common’.
Charles reportedly purchased the ring for $37’000, and it’s now worth $500,000. Pretty funny definition of ‘common’, if you ask us. No wonder the Royals are so often considered out of touch with the common person…
JACKIE KENNEDY-ONASSIS
Jackie O’s famous engagement rings (yep, that was a double barreled name you noticed above) symbolise her status as a true style icon. Her first, given to her by John F. Kennedy, was an art deco inspired ring that boasted a 2.9 carat diamond and 2.8 carat emerald set within a delicate floral design; a ring certain to wow wedding guests, don’t you think?
Not to be outdone by a famously handsome president, her second, gifted by Aristotle Onassis, was a whopping 40-carat marquise cut Harry Winston diamond that she only wore twice and stored in a bank vault. ‘’If you’ve got it, don’t flaunt it’’, as the old saying should go.
JENNIFER LOPEZ
When Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Lopez a 6.10 carat Harry Winston pink diamond engagement ring in 2002, it set a new trend for coloured-stone engagement rings. Reportedly costing the actor a staggering $1.2million (£934,000), the memory of the impressive ring unfortunately lasted longer than “Bennifer” did. Just four days before their planned wedding day, the couple called it quits and never made it down the aisle. Perhaps the ring and J-Lo are still on Affleck’s mind in all those memes of the actor we’ve been seeing lately.
KIM KARDASHIAN
Though they are reportedly heading for divorce, rapper Kanye West has presented reality TV star and media personality Kim Kardashian with some dazzling engagement rings in the past. Designed and created by legendary jeweller Lorraine Schwartz, both of Kardashian’s engagement rings feature head-turning diamonds. Her first ring showcased a 15-carat cushion-cut diamond on a delicate pave band. The second, gifted to Kim in 2016, was a 20-carat emerald-cut diamond that was later stolen in Paris.
ELIZABETH TAYLOR
One of history’s most renowned diamond lovers, no list of famous engagement rings (or rather, famous diamond ring owners!) would be complete without a mention of Elizabeth Taylor. In 1969, Richard Burton gifted the actress with the show-stopping 68 carat Cartier diamond, having previously presented her with the 33 carat Krupp diamond. Renamed the Taylor-Burton diamond, the actor had the diamond reset into a necklace for Taylor to wear to cover her tracheotomy scar. Lovely stuff.
The couple married twice (and divorced twice) with Taylor declaring that she ‘’so happy you can’t believe it. This marriage will last forever!’’ Well, they say even a broken clock is right twice…
Seeking inspiration away from an often toxic celebrity culture? We’ve got your back…here are 7 IDEAL tips for choosing the perfect engagement ring.