Unless you’re living under a rock (pun unintended), you probably know that soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo proposed to his longtime partner, Georgina Rodríguez, with a 35-carat diamond ring worth approximately $3 million. Soon after, Taylor Swift broke the internet by announcing her engagement to athlete Travis Kelce with a more modest (yet not at all demure) seven- to 10-carat diamond ring. The two supersized stones resulted in a barrage of internet chatter and raise the inevitable question: do real-world couples on a ring recce also believe that bigger is better when it comes to their engagement rings? And to what extent do the choices made by celebrities influence our own? We did the (girl) math and spoke to the stakeholders concerned. Read on for context and VVS1 clarity on the topic.
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Propose the topic
Choosing a ring for your partner can be a daunting task. Add to it the many virtual eyes watching, and the pressure escalates. But the best diamonds are formed under pressure, right? “For as long as I can remember, my dream engagement ring has been a three-carat emerald cut with a simple gold band. I’ve probably mentioned it casually to almost everyone around me. I even have a Pinterest board, one that my girlfriends always have access to, that I keep updating,” says Rachel Pherwani, founder of a Pune-based PR agency, who suspects her engagement is on the horizon. With a crystal-clear design approach, she has left no stone unturned to “hint” at her choice to her partner, Rohit. “If he misses the memo, at least I’ll have endless material to tease him with for the next ten years!”
Meanwhile, luckily for recently engaged influencer Shivvani Paatil, her partner, Shyam, was already thinking ahead. “In the early stages of our dating, he asked me to share the kind of ring I’d want so that when the time comes and he has to buy a ring, it won’t be as suspicious. And I also now know that my sister helped him throughout the process!” The result: A marquise-cut ring set on a slim gold band.
Bridal makeup artist and educator Shradha Luthra was also clear about her choice. “I had always known the exact ring I wanted: an oval diamond, a thin band, and I always assumed it would be upward of three carats. I had even saved a photo and shared it with my best friend and my sister, so everyone close to me already knew. When the time came, Nitesh actually got it made, but with a few tweaks and inputs from his side that made it even more special.” The final proposal involved a sea of blue hydrangeas, teary eyes, and, thanks to Luthra’s subtle directions, the perfect ring—an oval-cut stone surrounded by gems.
Points of (P)interest
But to what extent are trends and celebrity choices involved when it comes to building that Pinterest board? “Celebrity engagements have a direct line to ring trends,” says jewellery consultant Archana Thani, who saw a surge in interest from clients looking for oval solitaires after Hailey Bieber’s engagement to Justin Bieber and in Georgian settings after Zendaya debuted her five-carat Jessica McCormack topper. According to Thani, “Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce is propelling old-mine-cut diamonds to the centre stage. Even Pinterest has already reported a 1,458 per cent rise in searches for vintage 1920s-style rings.”
Pherwani sees Swift’s engagement as a sign from the heavens that hers too is on the horizon. “I just want to get engaged sooner now, because Taylor got engaged this year—I’m a huge Swiftie! Taylor’s ring is very her. I think Travis really thought about who she is as a person and what would suit her, and I think that’s what I want for myself, too. I’m fun-loving, energetic, and would like my ring to be like me. A simple diamond, but a big one, which says a lot.” And Pherwani definitely isn’t alone. The Wall Street Journal reported that Swift’s engagement “could be good for American culture” if it encourages marriage among a generation that, so far, is sceptical about the institution.
Meanwhile Mumbai-based Paatil knew she wanted something classic, but she does admit that “pop culture, aka Selena Gomez’s ring shape, did shift my preference from oval to marquise”. There was another helpful design element she kept in mind: “I wanted it to be high-set so that if I chose to stack up more rings, my engagement ring would not come in the middle.”
For others, inspiration comes from closer to home. Talent manager Tanisha Lekhraj had always seen her mother’s wedding ring and, therefore, favoured a more classic round-diamond design. “[My mother’s] ring is quite identical to mine. It’s just that hers has a gold band and mine has a silver one,” she says. Another thing she was clear about? “Size is one thing that strikes you. You want it to be a decent size.” Pherwani too saw her mother change up her engagement ring a few years ago, and that’s what got the wheels turning in her own mind. The new design was “a beautiful 2.5-carat princess-cut diamond with a gold band. Ever since I saw it on her hand, I also wanted a beautiful ring on my finger.”
Beware of jewel thieves
With great diamonds comes great responsibility. After all, the fear of theft and the possibility of inviting unwarranted attention online always looms in the background. Remember Kim Kardashian? Thani offers a reality check: “Couples are definitely more mindful now. High-profile thefts have made people think about both practicality and security. Insurance is standard practice in the West. Some will go for a more low-profile setting that feels safer and more wearable. Others still want the big statement ring that speaks to them, but in that case they’ll often commission a simpler ‘travel ring’ for everyday wear or when they’re abroad.”
Lekhraj agrees. “Vedant proposed with a placeholder ring in Oman, because he didn’t want to risk carrying the real one overseas. We’ve heard way too many horror stories about ring boxes opening to nothing inside! So yes, I’d definitely rather have something meaningful and wearable over something so big it makes you nervous to step outside.”
For thieves, after all, size matters, even if it doesn’t for the couple. Luthra’s suggestion? “Bigger isn’t always better—it’s about what feels right for you… I wouldn’t wear it while travelling, especially with Europe being a little unsafe lately. I think it’s always better to be mindful. You can always have an eternity band for everyday wear and keep the engagement ring for moments when you truly feel comfortable.”
Thani leaves us with a few pearls (or diamonds) of wisdom. Firstly, buy the ring that rings true for you: always try on the ring and do not assume you are alone in this decision. Lastly, involve her in the process. “I remember a couple who came to us after their proposal because the bride really hated her engagement ring. The bride ended up working with the jewellery consultant I was with to remodel it, and she put it perfectly: ‘It’s like me buying him a car in a colour he hates and expecting him to drive it every day for the rest of his life.’”
