Saying “I Love You” with gems: 4 famous, breathless romantic jewels

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m highlighting four engagement rings that have caught the public’s imagination: for their symbolism, beauty, or sheer size. Here’s a countdown to recent history-making gems:

4. 

   Liz Taylor’s ring

   The Taylor/Burton Diamond: For their second wedding, Richard Burton bought Taylor a 33.19-carat diamond, known as the Krupp Diamond. This platinum ring featured the center diamond with a baguette diamond on either side. Burton paid $305,000 in 1968; it sold in 2011 for over $8 million. Liz loved it and wore it almost every day of her life.

3. Grace Kelly’s engagement ring: This was the ring that turned a Philadelphia
   

   Grace Kelly’s ring

   girl into a real-life princess. In 1956, Prince Rainier of Monaco gave Kelly a Cartier-made10.47 emerald-cut engagement ring. She wore it in her final movie, High Society, and showed it off to the world as her good-bye to Hollywood life.

2. Jackie O’s two engagement rings: In the ‘50s, Congressman John F. Kennedy
   

   Jackie Kennedy’s ring

   gave Jackie Bouvier a ring featuring a 2.84-carat emerald and a 2.88-carat diamond with smaller diamond assets. She wore it every day until her engagement to…Ari Onassis, who gave her a massive 40.4-carat diamond engagement ring. That ring sat in a bank vault and was rarely worn.

1. Princess Diana’s iconic 18-carat sapphire engagement ring: As People Magazine writes, “The 12-carat sapphire is
   

   Princess Di’s ring

   surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds and set in 18-carat white gold. Unlike previous royal brides, Diana’s ring was not custom made, but rather from the jeweler Garrard’s catalog.” Many were surprised that Diana didn’t get a diamond, but rather an unconventional sapphire. Of course, as a fashionista, she set off a trend to non-traditional engagement rings. Prince William gave Kate his mother’s ring for their engagement, to symbolically make his mother a lasting part of their relationship.

And one bonus

The most precious ring of all: Your ring (or your mother’s, or your grandmother’s). No ring, no matter how large or petite, can match the emotion or meaning of your family’s symbol of love.

This is the time to celebrate love, jewels, and romance. And to safeguard your important jewels, don’t forget to make sure that they’re protected. Insure them and have an up-to-date appraisal so that the insurance you get is adequate. I’d love to meet with you to help you get started.

Romantically yours, Aimee