National Wedding Ring Day
Gold, platinum, diamonds, precious gems or sterling silver, today is all about that special piece of jewelry that is near-and-dear to your heart. Today is National Wedding Ring Day. While the origins of this annual holiday are unknown, this annual holiday is celebrated every Feb. 3 - perhaps a precursor to Valentine's Day?
Whether you own one (or two or three) or are thinking about getting one in the near future, today celebrates that beautiful band that adorns that special someone’s ring finger.
Take a peek at a few of the world's most famous engagement and wedding rings.
The World's Most Famous Engagement and Wedding Rings
Charles, the 32-year-old Prince of Wales, proposed to 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer in February back in 1981. Diana was presented several sparklers to choose from and selected an elegant white gold engagement ring with a brilliant oval sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds. The ring is the same ring Diana’s son, Prince William, gave to his bride-to-be, Kate Middleton.
After his divorce from Diana, Prince Charles gave Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, a lovely platinum Art Deco engagement ring believed to have been owned by the Queen Mother and a welsh gold wedding band.
Speaking of royalty, Prince Ranier of Monacco gave American beauty Grace Kelly two killer rings – a Cartier platinum eternity band with a magnificent 10.47-carat emerald cut diamond and a “friendship” band with diamonds and rubies.
America’s royal couple, John F. Kennedy gave the future First Lady of the United States, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, a stunning Van Cleef & Arpels emerald and diamond engagement ring.
After President Kennedy was assassinated, Jackie Kennedy went on to marry gazillionaire shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis. He presented his wife-to-be a 40-carat Marquise Lesotho III diamond ring, considered to be the third most expensive ring in history, which sold at auction in 1996 for nearly $3 million.
Billionaire businessman Donald Trump gave his soon to be wife, Melania Knauss, a 15-carat flawless emerald cut diamond stunner.
Michael Douglas gave Catherine Zeta-Jones a 10-carat diamond rock worth an estimated $2 million.
Actor Tom Cruise presented Katie Holmes a gorgeous five-carat, oval shaped diamond ring surrounded by 6-carats of smaller diamonds set in platinum and rose gold.
Before her marriage to Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez was given a lovely $1.2 million, Harry Winston 6-plus carat, plush pink ring (as big as a skating rink) by actor Ben Affleck. The couple split before the nuptials and Jenny from the Block returned the ring which was reportedly sold back to the seller.
New parents and music moguls Jay-Z gave his lovely bride Beyonce, a fierce 18-carat flawless diamond by Lorraine Schwartz. This brilliant sparkler is worth an estimated $5 million big ones!
Grammy award winner Christina Aguilera was given a 5-carat diamond and platinum engagement ring by soon-to-be hubby Jordan Bratman.