From Kate Middleton’s dramatic sapphire to Elizabeth Taylor’s 33-carat diamond, some engagement rings are unforgettable. Brit jeweler George Pragnell recently rounded up the world’s most unforgettable engagement rings, and commissioned gorgeous sketches of the famed jewels. Here’s everything (and more) that you’ve ever wanted to know about the most iconic engagement rings in the world.
QUEEN ELIZABETH + PRINCE PHILIP
THE COUPLE Philip and Elizabeth met when Elizabeth was just 13 years old.
Princess Elizabeth and her fiance, Philip Mountbatten, at Buckingham Palace, after their engagement was announced, July 10, 1947.
THE PROPOSAL Philip proposed in the summer of 1946 during a walk around Elizabeth’s family estate in Balmoral. Elizabeth accepted on the spot, without consulting her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The king later consented on the condition that they keep their engagement a secret until after Elizabeth’s 21st birthday the following year.
THE RING Philip commissioned jeweler Philip Antrous and was personally involved in the design of the ring; the diamonds were taken from a tiara the belonged to his mother. Diamonds from the same tiara were also used to make Philip’s wedding present for his bride, a diamond and platinum bracelet. Today’s estimated value: $143,530 (100,000 pounds)
THE WEDDING The two were married November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey in London. Two thousand guests were invited to the wedding, and 200 million people around the world listened to a radio broadcast of the ceremony.
AUDREY HEPBURN + MEL FERRER
THE COUPLE The pair were introduced by Gregory Peck at a film party in London in December 1953. They would go on to costar in the Broadway production of Ondine together.
Audrey Hepburn and husband Mel Ferrer at a Hollywood event in 1956.
THE PROPOSAL Mel proposed in August 1954 a garden overlooking Lake Lucerne in Switzerland.
THE RINGS The trio of bands, in three different colors of gold, was meant to be mixed and matched, but more often than not, Audrey wore them together. Today’s estimated value: $10,047 (7,000 pounds)
THE WEDDING They said “I do” on September 24, 1954, in private civil ceremony attended by close friends and family.
JACQUELINE BOUVIER + JOHN F. KENNEDY
THE COUPLE The pair met at a Washington, D.C., dinner hosted by mutual friends in May 1951.
Senator John F. Kennedy and fiancee Jacqueline Bouvier being interviewed for a Life story while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
THE PROPOSAL The circumstances of the engagement are disputed: Some say the proposal happened over the phone, others claim it happened at a Georgetown tavern, and still others believe it happened at a Boston hotel.
THE RING John’s father, Joseph, helped him pick out the ring. It originally featured tapered baguette side stones, which were replaced with marquise- and round brilliant-cut diamonds after the wedding. Today’s estimated value: $1,386,499 (966,000 pounds)
THE WEDDING The two were married at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, Rhode Island. The reception was held at Hammersmith Farm, Jackie’s stepfather’s waterside estate.
GRACE KELLY + PRINCE RAINIER III OF MONACO
THE COUPLE The actress met her real-life prince a photo session at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1955.
Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier at a banquet after announcing their engagement.
THE PROPOSAL The two started corresponding after their first meeting and met up over the Christmas holidays that year. After just three days, the prince proposed.
THE RING The famed engagement ring, which is said to have never left Grace’s finger, is actually an upgrade ring: The prince originally proposed with a more modest ring, but picked something extraordinary when he realized other actresses were wearing larger diamonds. Today’s estimated value: $4,305,900 (3,000,000 pounds)
THE WEDDING The two-day “wedding of the century” was hosted April 18 and 19, 1956. A civil ceremony in the Palace of Monaco was followed by a Catholic Mass in a cathedral the day after.
ELIZABETH TAYLOR + RICHARD BURTON
THE COUPLE The actors met in 1963 on the set of Cleopatra.
Elizabeth and Richard shared their first kiss on set—and it lasted even after the director said “cut.”
THE PROPOSAL Richard proposed on the couple’s yacht while it was moored on London’s River Thames.
THE RING Formerly known as the Krupp Diamond, the 33-carat stone was later renamed the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. Today’s estimated value: $8,181,210 (5,700,000 pounds)
THE WEDDING The duo was joined by only nine people when they swapped vows in Montreal on March 15, 1964. The couple would go on to divorce only to marry and divorce again.
KATE MIDDLETON + PRINCE WILLIAM
THE COUPLE Prince William reportedly first saw his future wife when she walked the runway at a charity fashion show at St. Andrews University in Scotland, where they were both students.
Prince William and Kate Middleton appear at a photo call in London’s St. James Palace to mark their engagement
THE PROPOSAL Williams asked Kate’s father’s permission before proposing on November 16, 2010, on private holiday in Kenya.
THE RING Prince Charles presented Diana with a selection of rings after his proposal. She hand-picked the now-iconic blue sapphire ring. When Kate and William’s engagement was announced, Prince William said the ring was “my way of making sure my mother didn’t miss out.” Today’s estimated value: $430,590 (300,000 pounds)
THE WEDDING Broadcast on television, online, and radio in more than 180 countries around the world, the wedding took place at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011.
For more on love and marriage, watch First Comes Love, Then Comes...Marriage?