Introduction
Contents
- Introduction
- History About Engagement Rings
- Types of Engagement Rings
- Factors Making Engagement Rings Expensive
- Market and Popularity Trends of Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Most Expensive Engagement Rings In The World
- #1. The Eternal Pink Diamond Ring
- #2. Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Ring
- #3. Bulgari Laguna Blu Diamond Ring
- #4. Fancy Intense Pink and Fancy Deep Grayish Blue Diamond Ring
- #5. Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink Diamond Ring
- #6. Grace Kelly’s Engagement Ring
- #7. Mariah Carey’s Engagement Ring
- #8. Elizabeth Taylor’s Krupp Diamond Ring
- #9. Anna Kournikova’s Engagement Ring
- #10. Beyoncé’s Engagement Ring
- Conclusion
Top 10 Most Expensive Engagement Rings: Engagement rings are a specific symbol of love and commitment, but some come with an incredibly expensive. Celebrities and royal people often spend millions on such stunning pieces, making them the most expensive rings globally. These rings feature rare diamonds, unique designs, and the finest craftsmanship.
From massive diamonds to historic gemstones, each ring tells a special story. Some of the most famous rings belong to stars like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Princess Diana. Their value is not just in money but also in history and beauty. In this article, we will explore the top 10 most expensive engagement rings ever made and what makes them so valuable. Get ready to discover some truly dazzling jewellery!
History About Engagement Rings
- In Ancient Rome, women wore rings made of ivory, flint, bone, copper, and iron to signify a business contract or mutual love and obedience.
- In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring shaped like the letter “M,” marking the first recorded use of a diamond in an engagement ring.
- During the 15th century, couples used gimmel rings, which had three connected bands.
- Posie rings, made of sterling silver, became popular in the Renaissance era. They were engraved with poems or “posies.”
- In 1866, diamonds were found in South Africa. By 1872, diamond mines there produced over one million carats annually.
- De Beers Campaign: In 1938, the De Beers company started a marketing campaign promoting diamonds as essential for engagement rings.
- “A Diamond Is Forever”: In 1947, the slogan “A Diamond Is Forever” was introduced, reinforcing the idea of diamonds symbolising eternal love.
- Today, engagement rings are commonly worn on the ring finger of the left hand. This tradition dates back to ancient beliefs about a vein connecting this finger directly to the heart.
- In the early 21st century, the jewellery industry began marketing engagement rings for men, sometimes called “mangagement rings.”
Types of Engagement Rings
- Diamond Solitaire
- Halo Engagement Ring
- Three-Stone Ring
- Vintage/Antique Engagement Ring
- Lab-Grown Diamond Ring
- Custom Designer Ring
- Platinum Setting
- Colored Gemstone Engagement Ring
- Tension Setting Ring
- Eternity Band
Factors Making Engagement Rings Expensive
- Precious metals like gold and platinum, along with gemstones such as diamonds, are rare and valuable.
- Creating intricate ring designs requires expert jewellers, and their specialised skills add to the overall cost.
- Traditional jewellery stores often add significant markups to cover expenses like rent and staff salaries.
- The journey from mining to retail involves multiple intermediaries, each adding its profit margin.
- A few large companies dominate the diamond market, controlling supply and prices.
- Decades of advertising have established diamonds as the standard for engagement rings.
- Cultural norms, like the outdated “three months’ salary” rule for ring spending, pressure individuals to spend more.
- Many buyers lack information about alternatives like lab-grown diamonds or different gemstones.
Market and Popularity Trends of Engagement Rings
- The global engagement ring market is projected to reach approximately USD 11 million by 2028, with an annual growth rate of 6.65% from 2024 to 2031.
- Couples are budgeting an average of USD 8,580 for engagement rings in 2025.
- The demand for lab-grown diamonds is increasing due to the affordability and ethical appeal of expensive engagement rings.
- The United States remains the biggest market for engagement rings, making up about 40% of total global sales.
- Around 25% to 30% of engagement rings are now sold online, and this number keeps growing yearly.
- The diamond engagement ring market in the U.S. and Canada was worth USD 32.37 billion in 2024.
- In the U.S., people usually spend about USD 6,000 on an engagement ring by 2025.
Top 10 Most Expensive Engagement Rings In The World
- The Eternal Pink Diamond Ring: USD 34.8 million
- Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Ring: USD 25.4 million
- Bulgari Laguna Blu Diamond Ring: USD 24.5 million
- Fancy Intense Pink and Fancy Deep Grayish Blue Diamond Ring: USD 11.3 million
- Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink Diamond Ring: USD 6.2 million
- Grace Kelly’s Engagement Ring: USD 38.8 million
- Mariah Carey’s Engagement Ring: USD 10 million
- Elizabeth Taylor’s Krupp Diamond Ring: USD 8.8 million
- Anna Kournikova’s Engagement Ring: USD 7.7 million
- Beyoncé’s Engagement Ring: USD 5 million
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#1. The Eternal Pink Diamond Ring
(Source: thecourtjeweller.com)
- Carat Weight: 10.57-carat diamond.
- Color Grade: Classified as Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink, indicating an intense and vibrant hue.
- Clarity: Rated as Internally Flawless, meaning no internal imperfections are visible under 10x magnification.
- Cut: Exquisitely fashioned into a cushion mixed-cut.
- Setting: The diamond is set in a ring, flanked by trapezoid-shaped diamonds, and is a size 6½.
- Origin: The original 23.78-carat rough diamond was mined by De Beers at the Damtshaa mine in Botswana.
- Craftsmanship by Diacore’s team of artisans meticulously cut the rough diamond over six months to achieve its current form.
- GIA Certification: Accompanied by a GIA report confirming its natural color and internationally flawless clarity.
- Auction History: Sold at Sotheby’s New York Magnificent Jewels auction on June 8, 2023, for USD 34.8 million.
- Global Exhibitions: Prior to the auction, the diamond was showcased in major cities, including Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai, Singapore, Geneva, and Dubai.
#2. Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Ring
(Source: rapaport.com)
- Carat Weight: Diamonds ranging from approximately 1.40 to 17.61 carats.
- Clarity: High-quality stones often exhibit clarity grades from VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included) to Internally Flawless (IF).
- Cut Styles: Common cuts include radiant, pear, and cushion shapes, enhancing the diamond’s brilliance.
- Color Grading: The “Fancy Vivid” designation indicates a medium to dark tone with strong saturation, representing the most intense blue hue.
- Market Value: Prices vary significantly based on size and quality, with some rings estimated to be worth between USD 1.5 million and USD 50 million.
- Rarity: Blue diamonds constitute less than 0.5% of all diamonds.
- Certification: Reputable institutions like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) provide certification.
- Setting Materia To complement their color, these diamonds are often set in high-quality metals, such as 18K white gold or platinum.
- Secondary Hues: Some blue diamonds may exhibit secondary colors like green or grey.
- Historical Significance: Blue diamonds have a rich history and are often associated with royalty and notable collections
#3. Bulgari Laguna Blu Diamond Ring
(Source: gjepc.org)
- Diamond Weight: The ring features an 11.16-carat diamond.
- Colour Grade: Classified as Fancy Vivid Blue.
- Clarity: The diamond has a VS1 clarity grade.
- Shape: The gemstone is expertly cut into a pear shape.
- Setting: Flanked by tapered baguette diamond shoulders.
- Ring Size: Crafted to a size 58.
- Designer: Signed by the renowned Italian jeweller Bulgari.
- Historical Significance: Created in 1970 and remained with the original owner for over five decades.
- Auction Record: Sold for USD 25.2 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2023, becoming the most valuable Bulgari jewel ever auctioned.
- Notable Appearance: Worn by actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas at the 2023 Met Gala, set in a bespoke Bulgari necklace.
#4. Fancy Intense Pink and Fancy Deep Grayish Blue Diamond Ring
(Source: rauantiques.com)
- Center Stone: A 21.94-carat Fancy Intense Pink diamond.
- Side Stones: Two Fancy Deep Grayish Blue diamonds, each weighing approximately 1.5 carats.
- Cut: The main pink diamond is fashioned in a cushion cut.
- Clarity: Graded as VS1, indicating very slight inclusions that are difficult to detect without magnification.
- Color Distribution: The pink diamond exhibits even distribution.
- Origin: From the Argyle mine in Australia, a source of rare pink diamonds.
- Setting: Crafted in platinum, known for its durability and lustre, with 18K rose gold prongs accentuating the pink diamond.
- Accent Stones: Adorned with 0.50 carats of round white diamonds.
- Ring Size: Available in standard size 6.5.
- Estimated Value: Valued at approximately USD 11.3 million.
#5. Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink Diamond Ring
(Source: debeers.com)
- Carat Weight:57 carats.
- Colour Grade: Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink.
- Clarity:
- Cut Style:
- Setting Material: 18K rose gold.
- Halo Details: Surrounded by pavé pink diamonds.
- Ring Size Available: 52 (with adjustability of +/-2 sizes).
- Engraving Option: Up to 20 characters.
- Product Code: R102160-52-FANCYINTENSEPINK-.57-VS2.
- Notable Features: The cushion cut’s square shape with softly finessed corners enhances the diamond’s purity and romantic hue.
#6. Grace Kelly’s Engagement Ring
(Source: thejewelleryeditor.com)
- Center Stone: A 10.48-carat emerald-cut diamond.
- Side Stones: Two baguette-cut diamonds flank the central diamond.
- Setting: Crafted in platinum.
- Design House: Created by the esteemed French jeweler Cartier.
- Initial Engagement Ring: Prince Rainier proposed a Cartier eternity band featuring rubies and diamonds.
- Film Appearance: Grace Kelly wore the diamond ring in her final film, “High Society,” adding to its fame.
- Original Cost: In 1956, the ring was valued at USD 4.06 million.
- Current Valuation: Estimated USD 38.8 million today.
- Legacy: The ring has inspired numerous engagement ring designs.
- Current Custodian: Following Grace Kelly’s passing in 1982, the ring became part of the House of Grimaldi’s collection and remains with Monaco’s royal family.
#7. Mariah Carey’s Engagement Ring
(Source: brides.com)
- Center Stone: 35-carat emerald-cut diamond.
- Side Stones: Tapered baguette diamonds flanking the centre stone.
- Setting: Platinum band.
- Designer: Wilfredo Rosado, a close friend of Mariah Carey.
- Estimated Value: Approximately USD 10 million at the time of the engagement.
- Comparison: Larger than Elizabeth Taylor’s 33-carat Krupp diamond ring.
- Sale: Sold in 2018 to a Los Angeles jeweller for USD 2.1 million.
- Design Inspiration: Aimed to mix simplicity with volume for sophistication.
- Proposal Date: January 2016.
- Notable Feature: One of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings ever.
#8. Elizabeth Taylor’s Krupp Diamond Ring
(Source: naturaldiamonds.com)
- Carat Weight: 19 carats.
- Cut: Asscher-cut with a cut-cornered rectangular shape.
- Colour Grade: D (colourless).
- Clarity: VS1, with potential for internally flawless status.
- Diamond Type: Type IIa, indicating exceptional purity and transparency.
- Setting: Platinum ring flanked by tapered baguette-cut diamonds.
- Origin: Previously owned by Vera Krupp; acquired by Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor in 1968.
- Auction Sale: Sold for USD 8.8 million in 2011.
- Notable Appearance: Frequently worn by Taylor in films and public events.
- Current Status: Renamed “The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond” post-auction.
#9. Anna Kournikova’s Engagement Ring
(Source: gettyimages.in)
- Center Stone: 11-carat natural pink pear-shaped diamond.
- Side Stones: Trillion-cut diamonds flanking the centre stone.
- Setting: Platinum band enhancing the diamond’s brilliance.
- Origin: Sourced from Australia’s Argyle mine.
- Rarity: Argyle mine’s closure increases the diamond’s exclusivity.
- Symbolism: The pear shape signifies independence and empowerment.
- Estimated Value: Around USD 5.4 million.
- Design: Simple semi-mount with diamond accents.
- First Appearance: Publicly seen during a 2004 tennis match.
- Notable Feature: One of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings.
#10. Beyoncé’s Engagement Ring
(Source: diamondrensu.com)
- Center Stone: A flawless emerald-cut diamond weighing 18 carats.
- Setting: A split-shank band adorned with pavé-set diamonds.
- Metal: Crafted from platinum.
- Estimated Value: Approximately USD 5 million.
- Designer: Created by renowned jeweller Lorraine Schwartz.
- Clarity: Impeccable clarity, free from inclusions.
- Colour: A colourless diamond.
- Band Design: The split-shank design symbolises the union of two lives.
- Public Debut: First showcased at the 2009 Academy Awards.
- Occasional Wear: Due to its high value, Beyoncé wears the ring sparingly.
Conclusion
Expensive engagement rings can be a symbol of love and commitment, but they are not necessary for a strong relationship. Many people believe that a costly ring shows deep affection, but true love is not measured by money. Instead, couples should focus on their connection and future together. Choosing a ring should depend on personal preference and budget, not social pressure.
Affordable options can be just as meaningful. In the end, the value of an engagement ring comes from the love behind it, not its price. A happy and lasting relationship matters more than an expensive piece of jewellery.