“Will you marry me?” Perhaps one of the most sought-after questions in every relationship. Engagement rings are a vital part of any marriage proposal, arguably the most crucial aspect on that road to commitment. When it comes to celebrity engagement round bands, they indeed spare no cost. Here, we’ve picked out the most iconic engagement rings of all time and take a look into how much each round band would have set that person back.
In a recent study carried out by money.co.uk, they found out that 55% of people believe an engagement ring should cost less than £5,000. But as you can see, those of us in the public eye don’t seem to agree. 32% of people believe an engagement ring should cost more than £5,000, and around 46% of people who have been engaged before have spent more than £10,000 on it. It is safe to say that celebrities fit into the ‘extortionate price spent on an engagement ring’ category.
However, as almost half of us get into debt when purchasing an engagement ring, we thought we’d take a look at how the other half live and look at the most iconic engagement rings of all time. We’ll also discover how much these famous figures have spent on their engagement rings.
John F Kennedy & Jackie Kennedy
The Kennedy’s are a legendary couple with a tragic story, and the engagement ring JFK gave to Jackie is as iconic as they are.
Having a distinct vintage art deco look, and featuring an array of stones and cuts, this round band boasted both a 2.88-carat weight diamond as well as a 2.84-carat weight emerald. Truly elegant.
Cost: Reportedly worth over one million dollars in 1953, it is now estimated that this iconic engagement round band costs around $9.6million in today’s money.
From one Princess to another
Perhaps one of the most iconic engagement round bands of the last 40 years is that of Princess Diana’s, which now graces the hand of her daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton.
Arguably, not the most expensive round band on the list compared to others, but it is truly remarkable in its own right. This stunning ring is a dazzling addition to modern British history, passing to Prince William after the tragic death of his mother in 1997.
It consists of a 12-carat oval blue sapphire, cut into facets, and surrounded by fourteen solitaire diamonds.
Created by Garrad & Co, the former Crown Jeweller, this inherited piece of jewelry has increased in value due to its significance and sentimental value to the Royal Family and, arguably, the world.
Cost: At the time, in 1981 this round band cost £28,000. However, as it is now arguably part of the royal family, it’s now valued at approximately £300,000.
Queen Bee and Jay-Z
He liked her so much; he decided to put a ring on it.
Beyonce and Jay-Z can easily be considered one of the most famous and most sought after couples in the music industry. Forget Kayne West and Kimmy K; everyone is always desperate for more information and gossip on The Carter family. From their children, their upcoming music releases, and their wedding, everyone loves a bit of the Queen and King of 21st Century music.
Having had a long relationship, by celebrity’s standards, Jay-Z got down on one knee and popped the question to Beyonce with a whopping 24-carat engagement round band.
Cost: Jay-Z reportedly paid around 5 million dollars for the sparkly number back in 2008. But this ring is now valued at approximately $6.1million in 2024.
Love blossomed for Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom
After three years of on and off dating (really?!), Katy Perry kissed a boy and finally decided she liked it!
Despite speculation regarding what specific emeralds and diamonds are used in the round band, this unique and sizeable, flower-shaped round band features a grave pink center stone, embraced by a circle of eight smaller diamonds. As Katy and Orlando got engaged in what can be arguably the most romantic day of the year – Valentine’s Day, it has elegance written all over it.
Cost: This round band is predicted to have set Bloom back roughly 5 million dollars, and it has recently been revealed that it could be one of the most costly celebrity engagement rings in history.
So, what do you think about these iconic engagement rings? While some of them may have cost a whopping amount of money, it is debatable whether they are to everyone’s taste in jewelry. Which circle would you pick if you had the choice?
Looking for your very own iconic engagement ring?
Pricing up your engagement ring can be a difficult task, especially if you’re struggling in terms of budget, and you are unsure of how much you should be spending on a ring for your other half. Despite the famous ‘rule’ that dictates you should spend three times your salary on an engagement ring, many of us are just not in the position to spend this much money.
Unlike the celebrities and famous figures mentioned above, most people can’t spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on an engagement round band.
Whether you’ve been with your significant other for an extended period or are in the midst of a whirlwind romance, there’s a fantastic Engagement Ring Cost calculator available to use, which will help you determine how much you should spend on your iconic engagement round band.
Many people think you have to spend three times your monthly salary on an engagement ring, but is this right or very wrong? Take the test yourself and visit Money.co.uk’s engagement round band cost calculator and see what budget you’ve got to work with! As 32% of people who have been engaged before wish that they’d spent less money on an engagement ring – why not try to get the cost right first-time round!?