Six Most Famous Celebrity Engagement Rings

Whether they’re sparkling on the finger of a princess, gleaming on the hand of a glamorous movie star, or shocking the paparazzi on an infamous pop star, celebrity engagement rings have always caught the public’s imagination. 

 

And why not? Engagement rings are a symbol of intimate love, and they give the public a rare glimpse into their owners’ private feelings. And the biggest celebrity engagement rings are also testament to enormous wealth: they can cost millions. Here are six celebrities whose engagement rings have caught the public eye.

 

Jennifer Lopez. When he proposed to the Latina singer, Ben Affleck gave her a six-carat radiant-cut pink diamond, framed by three smaller white baguette diamonds on each side. The ring was said to cost over $3 million.

 

The marriage didn’t last, of course—both have moved on to other love interests—but the ring sparked a demand for pink diamonds among less famous brides. Other celebrities got caught up in the trend as well. Rumor has it that David Beckham bought his wife, the former Posh Spice, a pink diamond as an apology gift after he had an affair.

 

Britney Spears. Britney actually has two engagement rings. She bought the first herself: a princess-cut diamond set in a split-frame band. After she gave birth to her first child, her husband, Kevin Federline, presented her with a 5.5-carat diamond set in platinum.

 

Federline was criticized in the media for not buying Britney her first engagement ring. But this is actually not unusual for wealthy women. Society expects female celebrities and socialites to sport rings that are a testament to their worth. If the men they choose to marry can’t afford million-dollar rings, the women often buy them.

 

Elizabeth Taylor.  Elizabeth Taylor had one of the most jaw-dropping collections of celebrity jewelry in the world. One of the biggest celebrity engagement rings in modern history, the ring given to her by third husband Mike Todd weighed in at 29 carats. 

 

Todd was eclipsed in the gift-giving department, however, by fifth husband Richard Burton. Burton gave Taylor the 33-carat Krupp diamond; a stunning pear-shaped diamond weighing in at almost 70 carats; and the Taj Majal diamond, a yellow heart-shaped diamond necklace given by the builder of the Taj Mahal to his beloved young wife in the 17^th century.

 

Princess Diana.  When she became engaged to Prince Charles, Diana received a stunning deep blue `8-carat sapphire surrounded by fourteen round diamonds. The sapphire was oval-shaped, and the smaller diamonds surrounded it like petals on a flower.

 

Some women choose non-diamond engagement rings. While many see it as a bid for uniqueness, some jewelry experts suggest that it indicates insecurity about the relationship. The reason is that non-diamond rings don’t necessarily look like engagement rings. They can still be worn, even if the wedding is called off. While this isn’t always true, it’s a telling detail in Diana’s case.

 

Paris Hilton. Diamonds might be forever, but not all engagements are hewn from the same rock. Paris Hilton’s engagement to Greek shipping heir Paris Latsis lasted only five months. Still, the shipping heir gave his short-term fiancée a 24-carat diamond.

 

Apparently, however, Paris doesn’t have Elizabeth Taylor’s tolerance for big diamonds. According to rumor, she complained that her engagement ring was too heavy and uncomfortable to wear. Her fiancé gave her a second ring, a plain Cartier band with no diamonds, for everyday.

 

Katie Holmes. After a whirlwind two-month romance, Tom Cruise proposed to Katie with a classic oval ring in a beautiful pave setting. The celebrity couple was vacationing in Paris at the time, and Cruise proposed at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

 

Courteney Cox. Courteney’s unique ring features two round diamonds set in the shape of a figure-eight. According to rumor, the number eight is the “lucky number” of Cox’s husband, David Arquette, who proposed in Panama City in 1998 during a fireworks display.

 

While most of us can’t afford the celebrity price tag that goes along with these rings, it’s possible to buy or design a celebrity-inspired diamond engagement ring. Both in-store and online, there are plenty of replica celebrity engagement rings out there that feature the same designs you’ve seen on your favorite celebrities. So go ahead, look for a pink diamond like Jennifer Lopez has, or a stunning sapphire like Princess Di’s. You can still wear the same style—in a ring that fits your budget.