Famous engagement rings

The Archduke Maximilian started the trend for engagement rings in 1477, when he gave a diamond engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy. Thankfully for us girls, that paved the way for an enduring love affair.  The most famous engagement rings attain notoriety not only because of their carat weight and unusual settings, but also because of the mystique enshrouding the women who wear them.

THE LUCKY WOMEN

* Elizabeth Taylor, who had six engagements, was given an emerald-cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats by her third husband, Michael Todd

* The ice cool Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Prince Rainier

* Elvis Presley's bride, Priscilla, had a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring encircled by 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips

* Our monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip made out of diamonds from his mother's tiara

* The romantic screen idol, Joan Collins, as befitting her main characters, wears a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson

* Michael Douglas proposed to the Welsh beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated to have cost almost $2 million

* The irrepressible Madonna received an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band from Guy Ritchie. The ring represented their family: mother, father and son Rocco

Amidst all these diamonds are some equally fabulous gemstone rings:

THE GEMSTONE RINGS

* Elizabeth Taylor's second engagement was celebrated with a huge cabochon sapphire from Michael Wilding

* Joan Crawford received a 70 carat sapphire engagement ring from her second husband

* Lady Diana Spencer was presented with an engagement ring made from an 18 carat blue oval sapphire encircled by fourteen diamonds

Astley Clarke offers a stunning range of luxurious designer jewellery from international designers. Its range of classic and contemporary engagement rings can be viewed and bought online at www.astleyclarke.com

27 October 09