What Actually Counts as an Engagement Ring? A Jeweler Responds
What do jewelers really think about celebrity engagement rings?
In Hauscast Ep. 7: Would You Wear It?, Amy and Caroline gave their honest reactions to some of the most iconic, unusual, and completely over-the-top celebrity rings out there.
Princess Diana’s sapphire ring was an immediate “yes.” Georgina Rodríguez’s reported 37-carat diamond was possibly too large for everyday life. Megan Fox’s magnetic two-stone ring earned points for creativity. Scarlett Johansson’s light brown pear-shaped diamond received a very honest “maybe not.” And Taylor Swift’s vintage-inspired diamond and Katy Perry’s floral-style ring were Amy and Caroline’s personal favorites.
As expected, people had opinions about our opinions.
But the comments raised an interesting question: Have we been taught that an engagement ring is supposed to look a certain way?
Are Sapphires Traditional Engagement-Ring Stones?
Absolutely.
Sapphire engagement rings are not a new alternative created for people who do not want diamonds. Colored gemstones have been connected with love, loyalty and commitment for centuries. Sapphires, in particular, have historically symbolized sincerity, truth and faithfulness—qualities that make plenty of sense in an engagement ring.
The most recognizable example is the approximately 12-carat blue sapphire and diamond ring originally worn by Princess Diana and now worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales. GIA describes it as one of the world’s most famous engagement rings.
Sapphire is also a practical choice. It ranks 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, directly behind diamond, making it durable enough for jewelry intended to be worn regularly.
So, yes, a sapphire can most certainly “look like” an engagement ring.
Amy and Caroline were not saying otherwise. They were talking about whether they would personally choose one. There is a difference between saying, “That is not an engagement ring,” and saying, “That would not be my engagement ring.”
Are Diamonds Only an American Tradition?
Not exactly.
One commenter suggested that Americans are unusually focused on diamond engagement rings while colored stones are more common throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. Colored gemstone rings certainly have a long history and remain popular around the world. However, Europe is made up of many different cultures and markets, so it is difficult to make one broad claim about what is “far more common” across the entire region without reliable market data.
Diamond engagement rings are not exclusively American, either. The first famous recorded diamond engagement ring was given in Europe in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy.
However, the modern expectation that an engagement ring should contain a diamond was heavily strengthened by twentieth-century advertising. De Beers began working with an American advertising agency in the late 1930s, eventually building its well-known “A Diamond Is Forever” campaign. That marketing helped make diamonds feel inseparable from proposals, especially in the United States.
In other words, diamonds have genuine historical roots—but our idea of the “standard” engagement ring has also been shaped by culture, advertising and repetition.
Maybe We Have Been Taught What an Engagement Ring Looks Like
When Amy said Princess Diana’s sapphire did not personally look like an engagement ring to her, she was describing an instinctive reaction—not establishing a jewelry rule.
And that instinct probably has been influenced by decades of seeing white diamond solitaires presented as the default.
The same is true when someone looks at a black diamond, a salt-and-pepper diamond, an asymmetrical setting or a colored gemstone and immediately thinks, “That doesn’t look bridal.”
But there is no gemological definition stating that an engagement ring must have a white diamond, a certain setting or a particular shape.
An engagement ring looks like the ring chosen to represent your engagement.
Yes, Megan Fox’s Ring Was Designed With Thorns
Another commenter pointed out an important detail about Megan Fox’s ring: Machine Gun Kelly said it was designed to hurt when removed, true.
The custom Stephen Webster design features two interlocking thorn-inspired bands, one holding a pear-shaped diamond and the other an emerald. The rings are joined by a hidden magnet. Stephen Webster’s official description confirms the magnetic construction and thorn design, while Machine Gun Kelly publicly explained that the bands were intended to cause discomfort when taken off.
That detail does not make the craftsmanship any less inventive, but it certainly changes the romantic narrative surrounding the design.
From a jeweler’s perspective, there is another consideration: the emerald. Emeralds are beautiful, but they require more care than diamonds, rubies or sapphires. GIA notes that emeralds commonly contain natural fractures and can be more vulnerable to damage during careless daily wear.
Could you wear an emerald engagement ring? Yes. You simply need to understand the maintenance involved.
And Yes, She Is Catherine, Princess of Wales
One commenter also correctly noted that “Kate Middleton” is no longer Catherine’s proper title.
She has been a member of the Royal Family since marrying Prince William in 2011 and became Catherine, Princess of Wales, after King Charles III’s accession in 2022.
The familiar name was used conversationally during the episode, but the correction is fair.
A Jeweler’s Opinion Is Still an Opinion
Scarlett Johansson’s ring reportedly features an approximately 11-carat light brown, modified pear-shaped diamond set on a dark ceramic band. It is rare, artistic and unquestionably different.
Amy and Caroline still would not choose it.
That does not mean the ring is badly designed. It means personal taste remains personal—even when the person giving the opinion works with jewelry every day.
The same goes for Georgina Rodríguez’s enormous diamond, Taylor Swift’s old-mine-style diamond in a yellow gold bezel setting, and Katy Perry’s flower-shaped colored gemstone ring. One person may see too much. Another may see exactly enough.
That is what made the episode fun. Amy and Caroline were not issuing official rulings from the jewelry bench. They were answering one question:
Would you wear it?
The Bottom Line
If the ring is yours, it should be for you.
Choose a diamond because you love its brilliance and durability—not because someone told you it is the only proper choice. Choose a sapphire because the color means something to you. Choose a vintage ring, a ruby, an unusual cut or a custom design because it feels like your story.
The most important questions are whether you love the design, whether the gemstone fits your lifestyle, and whether you understand how to care for it.
Everyone else is allowed to have an opinion.
You are the one wearing the ring.
Watch Hauscast Ep. 7: Would You Wear It? on YouTube to hear Amy and Caroline’s complete reactions to Princess Diana, Georgina Rodríguez, Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and more.
Looking for an engagement ring that feels like you? Visit Hauser’s Jewelers in Newport News or Williamsburg to explore diamonds, colored gemstones, vintage-inspired styles and custom jewelry design.
