There are few things in the world as spectacular and fascinating as engagement ringsmembers of the royal family, Hollywood stars and celebrities. The rich and famous do not care about money when it comes to love and marriage, spendingsix-figure (or even larger!) amounts for rings, which dazzling in grandeur and enchanting with style, they make more than one person’s heart beat faster.
Diamond ring – how did it start?
The history of the first diamond engagement ring in history began, allegedly at least, in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria ordered one for his chosen bride, Mary of Burgundy. Although members of the European nobility soon copied his idea, acquiring an engagement ring adorned with a diamond was still far beyond the financial reach of most people. Only in the Victorian era, when the middle class flourished, did the purchasing power for these gemstones increase. The real revolution in the perception of engagement rings, however, is thanks to the advertising campaign of the jewelry brand De Beers, which in 1947 promoted its designs with the famous slogan “Diamond is forever.” Since then, over 80% of engagement rings sold worldwide are decorated with a diamond.
The most famous engagement rings
Below we present a list of the most famous and most expensive engagement rings of all time, and the love and romance stories behind them make them all the more interesting.
1. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
In 1953, then-Congressman John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier with an exceptional, beautiful ring from Van Cleef & Arpels. The ring was adorned with a 2.88-carat diamond and a 2.84-carat emerald, with diamond accents surrounding both stones.
After the tragic death of her first husband, in October 1968 Jackie married the Greek shipping heir, Aristotle Onassis, who presented his chosen one with a ring from the Harry Winston collection, set with a breathtaking 40.42-carat diamond. The stonewas one of eighteen, originating from a 601-carat diamond that was discovered in Africa in 1961. After Jackie’s death, the ring was sold at auction for 2.59 million dollars.
2. Elizabeth Taylor
Taylor and Richard Burton began their decades-long romance in 1962. During their relationship, Burton gifted Taylor incredible jewelry, including a Krupp diamond ring that was later named Elizabeth. Burton purchased this 33-carat diamond ring for Taylor in 1968. Although it was not technically an engagement ring, Taylor wore it almost every day, and in December 2011 it was sold at a Christie’s auction for 8.8 million dollars.
In 1957, Taylor married her third husband, film producer Mike Todd. Todd proposed with a massive 29.4-carat emerald-cut diamond ring – a stone so large that Taylor called it her “ice rink.” It was sold at auction in 2011 for $3.7 million.
3. Grace Kelly
Prince Rainier III of Monaco proposed to Kelly with a beautiful 10.47-carat emerald-cut diamond by Cartier. The ring was made of platinum and also contained two smaller diamonds set on the sides of the almost 11-carat stone. The couple married in a fairytale wedding in 1956, and the ring is estimated to be worth $4.06 million.
4. Kim Kardashian
When rapper Kanye West proposed to Kim Kardashian in 2013, he chose a 15-carat cushion-cut diamond ring, free of impurities and considered one of the chemically purest gemstones. It is set on a thin, elegant band adorned with smaller, sparkling diamonds. The ring is estimated to have cost Kanye West as much as 8 million dollars.The ring was stolen, along with other valuable jewels from Kim’s jewelry box, when she was attacked in a hotel during her stay in Paris during Fashion Week in 2016.
5. Beyoncé
Jay-Z proposed to the singer with a dazzling 18-carat emerald-cut diamond ring in 2007. It cost over 5 million dollars and is now reportedly valued at around 6.04 million dollars. Interestingly, Beyoncé and Jay-Z decided not to buy wedding bands. Instead, the star couple opted for matching tattoos on their ring fingers, both inscribed with the Roman numeral 4 “IV”.Their wedding took place on April 4, 2008, and both were born on the fourth day of the month in which they were born.
Custom diamond jewelry
What is an engagement ring? It is primarily a symbol of love and commitment, uniting two people in the desire for a shared life. There are many designs of rings, some more modest and some more extravagant. However, each reflects the personality and taste of the person receiving it. In our workshop 79 Diamonds, we strive to ensure that every project fulfills the dreams of the future bride. We specialize in creating handmade engagement jewelry, offering gold custom-made rings for every style, collaboratively designing a unique and exceptional piece that will steal the heart of your beloved.