Gift-giving is one of the five love languages, and it’s a type that many love to experience. Having a physical representation of the love shared by two is a sentiment that you can never put a price tag on. However, over the course of history, some have opted to showcase their passion for their future forever with stunning rings that can definitely make you say “Yes.”
Engagement rings typically mark the start of a couple’s future together. And while not all engaged relationships may stand the test of time, some of the rings shared by many couples definitely still hold a mark on peoples’ minds. From A-list celebrities to iconic public personalities, check out some of the famous engagement rings in history.
Victoria Beckham
Kicking it off is the sparkling symbol of the fairy tale romance between Spice Girl member Victoria Beckham and soccer hero David Beckham. When the pair got engaged, Beckham gave his queen a 17-carat pear-shaped diamond. It may have been just one of the many engagement rings that Victoria has received during her single life, but it definitely carries quite the weight. With more than two decades of marriage under their belt, it seems that this engagement ring is far more valuable, given its history.
Mia Farrow
Even if the engagement between Mia Farrow and Frank Sinatra were kept under wraps for quite some time, her engagement ring was anything but hush-hush. The 9-carat stunning ring featured a pear-cut diamond in the middle. To date, if one were to ask, “What is the most famous engagement ring?” Mia Farrow’s is not a far bet. That’s because the pear-shaped diamond set in a platinum band may be one of the more popular options for a dainty but precious-looking engagement ring.
Queen Elizabeth II
As far as jewelry pieces go, the Crown Jewels of the British Monarch have been deemed priceless. Yet even the jewelry worn by the royal family may be seen as priceless for one thing—the stories they hold. On the finger of Queen Elizabeth II is the engagement ring that Prince Philip gave her.
From afar it looks pretty simple as a 3-carat diamond. It has a round diamond in the middle, with 10 smaller stones on the sides. It’s not the ring per se that is special in its own right, but rather, where it came from. Princess Alice of Battenberg gave her son her tiara after she learned that he was proposing to his wife. Prince Philip helped design the ring, as well as a unique bracelet made of leftover stones, both of which he gave to his future bride. How’s that for romantic?
Empress Josephine Bonaparte
History lessons may not have focused on a lot of romance, but that does not mean there are no notable ones. A tale as old as time comes from the romance between Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife, Empress Josephine back in 1796. Despite his financial troubles, this did not stop Bonaparte from giving her a ring with two tear-shaped stones set on opposing ends.
Though the diamond and sapphire stones won’t clock in any stunning number of carats at under a carat each, it does show Napoleon’s devotion to his bride. Sadly, this devotion remained one-sided. Josephine cheated on Napoleon with a lieutenant who patrolled near their home. Now, this ring fetches almost 50 times its appraised value, placing it among the famous rings in history.
Paris Hilton
When talking about some big rocks, Paris Hilton’s namesake and then-fiancé Paris Latsis first proposed to her with a whopping 24-carat ring worth $5 million. Latsis’s proposal may be the most unique of Paris’s four engagements and it’s not just because of the ring. When he proposed to her in 2005, Latsis reportedly presented her with 15 engagement ring options to choose from.
Elizabeth Taylor
When you have had your fair share of relationships, it’s almost fitting to ask, “What was the original engagement ring?” for that individual. And this question seems to apply to no one else but Elizabeth Taylor. In the eight marriages she had, each one entailed a very colorful history that’s worth its weight in gold.
But the spotlight always seems to shine on Richard Burton, whom she shared two of those eight marriages with. The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond marked their engagement together—and what a stunning marker it is. Originally, the ring came from the Krupp Diamond, which Burton fashioned out to become his fiancee’s ring.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
If you want to make it to the list of famous engagement rings in history, one sure way would be to have a piece of a grand diamond on you. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, after her marriage with John F. Kennedy ended in disaster, moved on to become engaged to the Greek shipping magnate. He proposed with a 40.42-carat marquise-cut diamond, which was cut straight from the Lesotho brown diamond.
Now the ring, known as the Lesotho III, has increased in value even though it was only worn twice by its original owner. After she wore it, she moved the ring to a bank vault, where it stayed until it was sold after her death.
Kim Kardashian
Rings become famous for different reasons: a unique cut, a high value, a personal story, the list goes on. For Kim Kardashian’s engagement ring, it’s one of the famous engagement rings in history for many reasons. For one thing, Kim is a famous name not just for herself, but also for her colorful relationship with Kanye West. When they got engaged, Kanye proposed at the stadium while giving her an $8 million 15-carat cushion cut diamond ring.
However, as stunning as that may be, it’s no longer on Kim’s finger. And it’s not because of impending talks of divorce. In 2016, Kim’s house in Paris was robbed, and the loot included her engagement ring. If you look at it, one may consider the piece as being among the missing jewelry treasures of the world.
Anna Kournikova
Renowned tennis star Anna Kournikova and well-known artist Enrique Iglesias remain rare gems of Hollywood: a power couple that withstood the test of time and marriage. With over 20 years as husband and wife, it’s clear that their passion did not end with just the ring on her finger.
If anything, the stunning ring may just even be icing on the cake. Their engagement became one of the big surprises of 2004, alongside the yellow diamond ring that was worth $7 million. As if that’s not enough, some continue to speculate that while this is her official engagement ring, Iglesias may have given her an equally stunning pink pear-shaped ring of lauded size. Talk about not escaping his love!
Mariah Carey
When you are the songbird supreme with a five-octave range, chances are you’re one of a kind. Mariah Carey’s presence in the music world has been so strong and remains as is over the years. When her then-boyfriend James Packer proposed in 2016, she received a whopping $10 million 35-carat emerald-cut diamond, much like the one in this Natalie Diamonds review, with tapered baguette-cut diamonds. Their engagement lasted an entire year before they split, and after keeping the ring for some time, Mariah reportedly sold the diamond ring to a jewelry seller for almost just a fifth of its actual price.
Grace Kelley
Hollywood and royalty weddings were not uncommon, but some matchups are more iconic than others. Take Grace Kelly for example, a revered actress, who married Prince Rainier II of Monaco. To mark the turn of their relationship, he gifted her a Cartier 10.47-carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring. It may seem smaller than other celebrity rings to date. But as far as famous engagement rings brands go, this may be, to date, the most expensive. According to Brides.com, when considering inflation, the emerald engagement ring will probably fetch a whopping $38.86 million, it may very well be one of the most expensive jewelry in the world.
Audrey Hepburn
Her beauty may be one of a kind, but so are the engagement and wedding rings that her first husband, Mel Ferrer, gave her. Much like its owner, the ring features a unique and iconic design. Considered as one of the historical engagement rings, it is composed of three stackable rings made of white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold.
Each band has a unique style. The yellow and rose gold rings featured geometric designs. In addition, the yellow gold also features baguette diamonds that total 1.5 carats. Some experts noted that her actual engagement ring is the white band, whereas her husband gave her two wedding bands, the rose gold and the white gold.
Beyonce
If it’s possible to see a ring from afar, then it has to be the one on Queen B’s finger. After all, only this kind of celebrity royalty can carry a glam worth its weight in 24 carats. This ring sports an enormous emerald-cut diamond, which is pinched between a split-shank setting.
While it’s hard to give just one answer to the question, “What is the most famous ring?” Beyonce’s ring is definitely a big contender. Case in point, here is another power couple, Beyonce and Jay-Z, who have remained together for almost 15 years. Also, Beyonce’s glamorous personality is so powerful that it’s hard to imagine the ring shining on anyone else’s finger but hers.
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe is a staple name in Hollywood as was Joe DiMaggio of baseball history. When the two met and became a couple, it was clear that they were each other’s loves. In 1954, DiMaggio gave Monroe an eternity band made of 35 baguette-cut diamonds, much like the ones in this Rogers & Hollands review.
Though most people don’t really ask, “What is the most famous wedding ring?” Monroe’s elegant ring may be considered as one. Even almost 70 years later, this gorgeous piece of jewelry is still an iconic design. Back then, it also captivated the public for having a style that was a total standout.
Princess Diana
Wondering what is the most famous engagement ring in history? Then look no further than the ring of the real-life Cinderella, Princess Diana. The late princes already stood out even with her simple outfit of choice and regal demeanor. So when Prince Charles gave her the iconic blue sapphire engagement ring, it quickly became the talk of the town.
This engagement ring withstood the test of their divorce, as Diana continued to be spotted on her ring finger sometime after. Her oldest, Prince William, inherited the ring, which he used to propose to Kate Middleton. Prince Harry also revered his mother by creating an engagement ring from Diana’s jewelry collection, for his bride Meghan Markle.
Engagement Rings Still Rock
Engagement rings may not be the permanent or final ring that a bride gets to have. However, in the tradition of engagements and wedding promises, they continue to be the most awaited rock that most women tend to fawn over. Which of these royal, regal, and rockstar engagement rings tickle your fancy?
Now, if you’re in the market for engagement rings, check out our article, “Ultimate Shopping Guide For Engagement Rings: What You and Your Partner Need To Know.”
