From celebrity engagement rings to dazzling Royal jewels, fine jewellery and engagement ring experts at UK retailer Steven Stone have valued some incredible pieces throughout 2024.
In a year when Lady Gaga stunned with a $1.25 million engagement ring from Michael Polansky, Matt Healy proposed to Gabbriette Bechtel with a striking black diamond, and the Princess of Wales graced the cover of Tatler Magazine draped in over £1.4 million worth of jewels, the sparkle and glamour have been non-stop!
So, which article caught your eye? Using Google Analytics, we’ve curated a list of our most-read pieces of 2024.
10. Queen Maxima’s £200k symbolic engagement ring features a rare orange diamond
Queen Maxima has been a royal since 2002, when she married King Willem-Alexander, who became King of the Netherlands after his mother, Beatrix, abdicated in April 2013 after 33 years as reigning monarch.
Despite being born in Argentina, she won the hearts of the nation with her symbolic engagement ring.
We revealed everything there is to know about the couple’s controversial engagement, and the unusual diamond set in her sparkler.
Maxwell Stone commented: “Featuring an orange oval diamond that’s flanked by two bullet-cut diamonds between two diamond bands, Queen Maxima’s ring is dazzling.
An orange centre stone is an unusual choice, but certainly a meaningful one as orange is the colour of the Netherlands, making it the perfect shade for the royal bride.
A pure orange diamond, with no overtone colours, is considered to be one of the rarest types of diamond, following pink and blue stones.
I’d estimate the 3.5-carat diamond ring to be worth £200,000 ($250,000)”
9. Selena Gomez just showed off nearly £700k worth of diamonds on her Instagram
Aired live from The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, the 81st Golden Globe Awards celebrated outstanding achievements in film and American television productions of 2023 – and the captivating red carpet looks of this year held our undivided attention.
One of our favourite looks came from Selena Gomez, who looked radiant as ever in a party-red red dress from Giorgio Armani. As always, Selena elevated her fashion statement by pairing her outfit with some exquisite jewellery, adding a touch of luxury to her impeccable style.
The actress took to Instagram to share a series of photos from the star studded event – including one of her hands and wrists, which were decorated with an eye catching diamond watch, as well as rings and bracelets of all shapes and sizes.
We took a look at the Bulgari pieces and revealed how much they’re worth. Spoiler alert – they weren’t cheap!
Zack Stone commented: “Selena Gomez is known for elevating her fashion statements by pairing her outfit with some exquisite jewellery, adding a touch of luxury to her impeccable style – and she didn’t disappoint at this years Golden Globes.
Selena was draped in jewellery from Bulgari, with the most eye catching piece being her dazzling watch. Made of 18kt white gold, the timepiece is set with brilliant cut diamonds and though a price isn’t available on the luxury fashion houses website, it retails elsewhere at £61,000.
On Selena’s right wrist, she was sporting two 18k white gold bracelets from the Fiorever collection. Retailing at £70k, the chunkier of the two features round brilliant cut diamonds and pave diamonds. Glistening with the timeless radiance of a diamond flower and delicate petal, I’d estimate the second bracelet to be worth around £63k.
Selena completed her look with three diamond rings – an 18k white gold viper ring from Bulgari’s Serpenti collection that retails at just over £2k and two floral rings from the Fiorever collection that boast a collective value of £29,800.
In total, Selena was likely to be wearing just under £700,000 worth of diamond jewellery at this years Golden Globes.”
8. Countries that don’t have traditional engagement rings
Symbolising the upcoming union between two people, engagement rings are gifted at the time of a proposal – preceding wedding rings, which are exchanged at the wedding ceremony.
Engagement rings have been exchanged throughout history – the practice of giving one is actually believed to be from a Roman custom, in which wives wore rings that were attached to keys to show that they were owned by their husbands.
No longer seen as a symbol of ownership, engagement rings are now more about showing a high level of commitment – letting people know that you’re in love and excited to be spending the rest of your life with your partner.
Just because some countries don’t have engagement rings doesn’t mean that they don’t follow their own traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. We took a look at some engagement ring alternatives around the world.
7. The most valuable gifts Kate Middleton received from Prince William
As Kate Middleton was about to celebrate her 42nd birthday on 9th January 2024, we couldn’t help but wonder what stunning gift she’d receive from Prince William.
In the past, Prince William has given Kate some incredible pieces of jewellery. From Cartier hooped earrings for her 30th birthday, to a pair of green amethyst, tourmaline, and diamond earrings when Princess Charlotte was born – it’s safe to say that the Prince of Wales definitely has great taste in jewellery.
Since we could only speculate, we took a detailed look at the stunning gifts Kate has received from her hubby since they locked eyes for the very first time.
Maxwell Stone commented: “Over the years, it’s become clear that Kate Middleton loves gemstones. She has a sapphire engagement ring, her promise ring contains garnets, and she has a beautiful collection of green amethyst jewels, which are not very unusual, but also have spiritual meaning.
Prince William tends to give Kate jewellery with sentimental meaning. The personalised gold necklace she received from him features the initials G, C and L for her three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. So perhaps for her birthday this year, he will continue this pattern, opting for a symbolic gemstone which embodies the love he feels for her.
After taking a close look at the dazzling jewels that Prince William has gifted Kate, I’d estimate them to be collectively worth around £540k.”
6. Why does Queen Letizia never wear her engagement ring?
The world rejoiced when Prince Felipe of Spain met renowned journalist and television presenter Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano. The couple broke Spanish royal tradition when they tied the knot 22nd May 2004, as Letizia was recently divorced and had no connection to the family.
However, now, with two beautiful children and 17 years spent together, it’s clear that the pair are a match made in heaven.
But what do we know about the couple’s relationship? When did they announce their engagement? And why does Queen Letizia rarely wear her engagement ring? We did a deep dive to uncover all the details.
Maxwell Stone commented: “Queen Letizia’s engagement ring is very unique in comparison to other royal rings, which mostly feature a large centre stone and perhaps smaller stones either side. Instead, her sophisticated band features 16 vertically set baguette-cut diamonds in either a platinum or white-gold setting.
From looking at the ring, it looks like it has a value of around £20,000 to £25,000.”
5. The sentimentality behind King Charles III’s signet ring
The British royal family own an abundance of jewels. From multi-million pound tiaras to diamond earrings, necklaces, and brooches set with the world’s finest gemstones, their collection is globally renowned.
Some pieces are more well known than others – for example, an average of 5.4k people search for Kate Middleton’s engagement ring on Google each month. Originally belonging to Princess Diana, the ring features a 12 carat Ceylon sapphire, originating from Sri Lanka and is the most valuable and iconic Royal engagement ring.
One piece that goes under the radar is King Charles III’s pinky ring, which he’s been photographed wearing since the mid 1970s.
We took a close look at the ring that’s clearly a style favourite of the King’s.
Maxwell Stone commented: “The meaning of signet rings are associated with a symbolic family heritage. Initially being created and used to mark documents, the face of the ring typically bearing a family crest, would be pressed into hot wax.
It is widely known that King Charles has owned and worn this same signet ring since the 1970’s, the bezel distinctly engraved with the crest of the Prince of Wales. This signet ring is likely to be made with Welsh gold, a royal tradition, carrying a weight of approximately 20g. Nowadays, signet rings are commonly worn as heirlooms, having been passed down through generations.
A signet ring like the King’s is likely to retail at approximately £4,000.”
4. Meghan Markle was denied a tiara that Princess Eugenie later wore
Fans across the globe are captivated by the British Royal Family’s collection of tiaras, which are renowned for being among the most valuable pieces of jewellery in existence.
Notably, Meghan Markle wore one of these exquisite tiaras when she married Prince Harry on 19th May 2018, although this timeless headpiece was reportedly not her first choice.
Meghan is said to have been refused her first choice as nobody could trace its origins, but reports since have revealed it to be the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara, which was worn by Princess Eugenie when she tied the knot just six months later.
We took a close look at the tiaras, revealing everything there is to know – from their origins, to their values.
Maxwell Stone commented: “On Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day, Meghan was wearing an exquisite tiara that belonged to Queen Mary. Interestingly, the pieces centre stone is a brooch that’s comprised of 10 diamonds, which Mary received as a wedding gift from the County of Lincoln in 1893. In 1932, the diamond and platinum bandeau tiara was specifically made to accommodate the brooch. A piece like this is likely to be worth at least £2 million.
Though apparently this was not Meghan’s first choice and when she visited Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace to choose what tiara she would wear on her wedding day, she originally picked one that featured emeralds, but was refused it by the late monarch as it was tied to controversy. Thought to have come from Russia, the headpiece is said to have found its way into the collection through undefined channels.
According to reports, the tiara isn’t the mystery that we once thought it was though – it’s thought to have been the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara, which Princess Eugenie borrowed from her grandmother just six months later. Made of rose-cut pave diamonds set in platinum and adorned with six emeralds, it’s the most expensive wedding tiara in the royal collection. The centre features a 93.7-carat cabochon-cut emerald, which is what makes it so valuable. We previously estimated the distinctive headpiece to be worth £10 million.”
3. 9 celebrities with emerald cut engagement rings
Characterised by its rectangular shape with trimmed corners, the emerald cut diamond ranks among the most sought-after and recommended styles for engagement rings. Its allure is evident from the graceful elongation of its form, making it a timeless choice for many.
For a comprehensive exploration of the classic cut, we unveiled a wealth of insights – from its origins to its enduring popularity.
And let’s not forget the celebrities who have embraced the sophistication of an emerald cut diamond engagement ring, adding a touch of star-studded glamour to the beloved design.
2. Did you know that Ariana Grande has a $1 million engagement ring collection?
When Ariana Grande captivated audiences with her stunning portrayal of Glinda in ‘Wicked’, she was the subject of conversation everywhere.
One topic that particularly intrigued fans was the superstars romance with Ethan Slater, who portrays Boq. The two first crossed paths in December 2022 on the UK set of the film adaptation of the Broadway show.
But did you know that before Ethan captured her heart, Ariana was married? In fact, she’s been engaged twice and has two stunning engagement rings to show for it.
We revealed all the details about Ariana’s dazzling rings, including their impressive combined value.
Maxwell Stone commented: “Ariana Grande’s engagement ring from Pete Davidson was nothing short of stunning – a 3-carat, pear-cut diamond, sparkling with D colour and VVS1 clarity, cradled in a platinum halo setting. The pear shape seemed to be an especially symbolic choice, echoing the teardrop shape in tribute to her hit single ‘No Tears Left to Cry’, which she released just before the proposal. I’d estimate the ring to be worth $250,000.
When Dalton Gomez proposed to Ariana, he did so with a unique and sentimental ring, featuring an 8-carat oval diamond paired with a 5 to 6mm pearl, elegantly set on a simple white gold or platinum band. At the time, I estimated its value to be around $750,000, thanks to the diamond’s exceptional clarity. The pearl, Ariana’s birthstone, is believed to have come from her late grandfather’s tie pin, adding a deeply personal touch to this beautiful symbol of their love.
While stars like JLo and Victoria Beckham may have larger ring collections, Ariana Grande’s two rings alone boast an impressive combined value of $1 million.”
1. The family heirloom that King Charles tracked down for Queen Camilla
The wedding of the then Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles took place in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, on 9th April 2005.
Over the years, King Charles has gifted his wife a plethora of jewels – including her enormous five-carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring.
Some of the jewels that Queen Camilla takes great pleasure wearing belonged to her great-grandmother, Alice Keppel – King Edward VII’s last, most celebrated mistress. Amused by his wife’s connection with his great-great-grandfather’s mistress, King Charles reportedly embarked on a quest to buy up Alice Keppel’s jewellery collection.
To celebrate the royal couple’s wedding anniversary, we took a look at the family heirloom that King Charles tracked down for Camilla, which is one of her favourites.
If you’re looking for some jewellery inspiration, why not take a look at our full collection? Whether you’re after a necklace or some diamond earrings, we’ve got you covered. We also have a vast range of engagement and wedding rings.
If you don’t see anything that takes your fancy, we also offer a bespoke service, where our designers will create a unique piece of jewellery that ticks all the boxes.
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