The most influential engagement rings of all time and the women who wore them
Many women base their dream custom engagement ring off of a celebrity diamond. Hollywood's rich and famous have set the tone for fashion trends throughout the decades, and the world of jewelry is no different. From A-list actresses to the Royal family, these are the most influential engagement rings of all time:
Katie Holmes
Tom Cruise planned one of the most romantic engagement scenarios ever when he popped the question to Katie Holmes back 2005. Cruise took Holmes to the top of the Eiffel tower, where he presented a tear drop, solitaire stone with tiny diamond facets around the band. The vintage design is beautiful, but the metal combination is the real reason why Holmes' engagement ring is on the list - the ring design started the rose gold engagement ring trend, inspiring many jewelry designers to incorporate this metal into their own lines.
Audrey Hepburn
The famous "Breakfast at classic's" star and style icon Audrey Hepburn is recognized as a trend setter, but it was actually her husband, Mel Ferrer, who started the stacked ring display so many women wear today. Ferrer and Hepburn wed in 1954 - part of Hepburn's wedding gift was not one, but two women's wedding bands. Ferrer chose faceted bands, one in rose gold and one in white gold, so Hepburn could switch out the rings for different occasions and different outfits. Stars who rock the stacked trend today include Jennifer Garner and Kate Beckinsale.
Marilyn Monroe
Who could forget those eyes or that pout? Although Monroe was a star coveted for her sex appeal, the actress was also an elegant, sophisticated woman at heart. After eloping with Joe DiMaggio, her new husband presented the actress with an understated, 35-baguette diamond eternity band, which served as both Monroe's engagement ring and wedding band. Since then, the eternity design has one of the most coveted women's wedding bands in the world. Many customers use eternity bands as anniversary rings as well, but the eternity engagement ring is a truly unique take on the design.
Elizabeth Taylor
The woman who kept getting better with age also donned a bigger rock with each marriage. The biggest diamond of them all came from Taylor's sixth husband, Richard Burton, who presented the star with a whopping 33.19 carat asscher-cut diamond. The stone is said to be one of the most flawless diamonds in the world. Since Taylor, women everywhere have picked up on the oversized engagement ring trend. Famous oversized rings include Beyonce's 18-carat emerald cut stone, Mariah Carey's 15-carat engagement ring and Kim Kardashian's 20.5-carat ring from ex-husband Kris Humphries, to name a few.
Princess Diana and Duchess Catherine
Another famous style icon, Princess Diana was way ahead of the game when she chose the 18-carat sapphire stone in 1981 for her engagement ring to Prince Charles. Apparently, Diana received a lot of backlash from the royal family, as they believed the ring was too common. However, the "commoner's sapphire" stirred an engagement ring revolution in Britain and overseas among brides-to-be. The sapphire trend resurfaced once the ring was photographed on Kate Middleton's ring finger after Prince William proposed back in 2010. Today, MSNBC News affiliate reported that jewelry stores around the world began getting calls from customers requesting a replica ring after the engagement was announced. Other celebrities who have worn gemstone engagement rings include Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth Hurley, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Richie and Jessica Simpson.
Whether you're looking to replicate one of these iconic rings or create your own one-of-a-kind custom engagement ring, the Brian Gavin team is here to help you through the design process.
