Call it manifestation or a series of strategically dropped hints: Zendaya got the engagement ring she always wanted. We now have proof that the Challengers actress’ mixed metal east-west oval diamond, set with a button back on a gold band, is one of the rings (if not the ring) that she always dreamed she’d wear some day. According to a very dedicated internet sleuth, two years ago, in September 2022, Zendaya liked an engagement ring on Instagram that was extremely similar to the one Tom Holland bought for her, reports The Daily Mail; the near-identical diamond (which features a slightly different shape, but the same horizontal orientation and white and yellow gold setting) was even created by Jessica McCormack, the jeweler Holland turned to when he deemed it time to propose. Naturally, the internet was extremely impressed with the Spider-Man: Homecoming actor, who appears to have “shopped her likes,” as one user on X put it; “Tom was taking NOTES,” another person wrote, reported the outlet.

Given the couple’s penchant for privacy, it’s unlikely that we’ll ever know the exact story of how Holland selected his now-fiancée’s rock. Did he, as the internet believes, do some sleuthing on her Instagram to figure out exactly what Zendaya wanted? Did the modern pair shop for engagement rings together? Did the actress directly communicate which bauble Holland should buy when it was time to take the next step? We might never get an answer—but there’s a lesson to be learned from Zendaya’s hint dropping. 

It seems like Zendaya started seriously considering the engagement ring she wanted when the couple’s partnership took a turn towards forever. Though the duo, who met on the set of their film Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016, have been linked since the late 2010s, they didn’t officially confirm their relationship until July 2021, when they were photographed kissing near Holland’s car. By the time the public found out about their coupling, it’s likely they were already quite clear about where things were headed (a marriage proposal and a full life together); just over a year later, Zendaya liked the image of the Jessica McCormack diamond, and two years after that—between Christmas and New Year’s Day in 2024—the pair was engaged, with an iteration of that very ring. 

The takeaway? When you know you’ve found your person—and have a pretty specific idea of what you want in an engagement ring, but still want to be surprised—it’s time to make like Zendaya and start dropping the subtlest of hints to manifest the ring you really want. There are plenty of ways to do so: First and foremost, make like the Dune II actress and ensure you’re following and liking the content of your favorite jewelers on social media—so that when the time comes, your partner can comb through your followers list to understand who and what you like (make sure a close friend knows who these designers are, too, should they ever be tapped to recommend a few contenders). Another option? Creating a public (not private or secret!) Pinterest board that clearly illustrates the diamond cuts, metal types, setting styles, and overall aesthetics of the ring you hope to wear someday is another great place to start (and again, share this with someone close to you so they know exactly where to find your preferences if needed).

Other key ways to ensure you get the engagement ring you want? Start indirectly commenting on the diamonds you love in a way that isn’t necessarily about your future engagement. Turn a celebrity's engagement reveal, like Zendaya’s (or Selena Gomez’s, if a marquise-cut stone is more your speed!), into an opportunity to voice what you like—and make sure to praise these A-lister’s stones in front of your fiancé; if they’re anything like Holland (and know that they want you by their side forever), they’ll probably remember what you say.

Or, if you and your partner have discussed an engagement and want to start a more direct conversation about your ring goals, consider using the tools available to you on diamond companies’ websites; retailers like Ring Concierge have a “drop a hint” function, so you can quietly send an email to those who need to be aware of your top choices (like your future fiancé or best friend). Of course, there’s nothing wrong with saving the rings that resonate with you as you find them and sending links directly to your future spouse. After all, who knows? Zendaya could have liked that engagement ring post two years ago and forwarded it directly to Holland’s inbox, marching orders and all.