A-list engagement rings

8^th February 2015

Hanah Draper

Hanah Draper

8 February 2015

There was no hiding this cumbersome rock as soon-to-be Mrs Cumberbatch and her beau stepped out at the New York premiere of The Imitation Game. Contrasting their understated style as a couple, the enormous square-cut yellow diamond is encased with white diamonds and, despite its size, delicately compliments Sophie Hunter’s elegant style. Elementary, dear Benedict.

Game set and match. After eight years Kim Sears wears the ring of Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, and he smashed it! The circular 3-carat diamond is believed to be valued at £200,000, aptly taking shape of a little sparkling tennis ball. The Men’s Australian Open offered the perfect platform for Sear’s to showcase her new finger candy, as well as her colourful verbal skills – the former proving far less offensive.

Quirky as ever, Johnny Depp introduces the man-engagement ring. After speculation of his engagement with Amber Heard, Depp fessed up to wearing a “chick ring”, with self-designed intricate scrollwork and a raised circular sparkler. Allegedly on proposal, the ring in question was too big for Heard and yet a perfect fit for her fiancée. Handy that. But have no fear as Amber was not deprived, and was soon reimbursed with an antique five-carat oval-cut diamond.

5.8 million English Pounds can buy 48,333 wells for villages with no clean water supply, or Beyoncé’s engagement ring. Jay Z sure did like it and consequently put an 18-carat diamond ring on it. The octagon-cut stone is certified as exceptional quality, and could quite frankly pay all of our bills.

With eight marriages and seven husbands, at least one of them had to come up with the goods. Elizabeth Taylor was once the owner (since sold to a jammy Asian collector on her death) of the world’s most expensive engagement ring valued at $8.8 million. Her tempestuous relationship with Richard Burton saw the actress receive a 33.19-carat Krupp Asscher-cut diamond to seal the deal. Burton also gifted the IIa-certified rock amongst a plethora of other sparkling beauties during their marriage. Indeed, “the only Italian word Elizabeth knows is Bulgari”.

Marrying a jewellery designer stands you in good stead to ensure an impressive ring. Adam Shulman collaborated with Kwiat Heritage jewels to create the piece, set in platinum and which only used conflict-free diamonds. Anne Hathaway’s six-carat emerald-cut jewel is worth a comparatively modest $150k, as there was evidently no need to splash the cash when the fiancé is happy with his Shulman-hood.

Hanah Draper