Key Takeaways
- Even though they were part of the same family, Jackie Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy had very different engagement rings.
- Jackie's toi et moi ring is estimated to have cost $1 million at the time of purchase.
- Carolyn's band, which included diamonds and sapphires, is estimated to have cost between $10,000 and $13,000.
Jackie Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy are both part of one of the world's most prominent families. Known for their iconic and classic style, the two women were fashion icons, playing a role in setting the trends of the day. As the matriarch of the family, Jackie Kennedy was famous for her pearls, oversized sunglasses, pillbox hats, and her engagement ring from John F. Kennedy. When the then-senator popped the question to the newspaper reporter in 1953, he did so with a toi et moi sparkler. The two married in Newport, Rhode Island, that same year. The piece eventually became part of the preserved jewelry collection at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.
Decades after his parents tied the knot, John F. Kennedy Jr., took a different approach when selecting a ring for his partner, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, in 1995. He opted to propose with an eternity band that included oval-shaped diamonds and sapphires, reportedly drawing inspiration from his mother's famous "swimming ring" when designing the piece. The two tied the knot in a secret ceremony on Cumberland Island in Georgia on September 21, 1996. Just three years later, the newlyweds were tragically killed in a plane crash on July 16, 1999.
Here, we break down who had the more expensive engagement ring: Jackie Kennedy or Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Read on for more.
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How Much Did Jackie Kennedy's Engagement Ring From JFK Cost?
Jackie's Van Cleef & Arpels ring, which included a 2.88-carat diamond and a 2.84-carat emerald together on a baguette-studded band, was estimated to be worth over $1 million at the time of purchase. It's unclear whether or not she played a role in selecting the sparkler. While some reports say that the former president proposed with the piece in hand, others state that the couple selected the ring together at a later date. And another account—published by Edward Klein—says that it was actually John's father who picked it out. Regardless of how the ring was selected, Jackie appeared to change her mind about the design in the years following her engagement. In the early 1960s, she had the piece redesigned, replacing the baguettes with marquise-shaped diamonds.
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How Much Did Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's Engagement Ring From JFK Jr. Cost?
Known for her minimalist style, it came as little surprise to fans that Carolyn's engagement ring was similarly simple. The diamond-and-sapphire eternity band, which was designed by John, was reportedly based off of his mother's "swimming ring." While the cost of the piece isn't confirmed, it's estimated to have cost between $10,000 and $13,000, according to Benjamin Khordipour at Estate Diamond Jewelry. "Her diamond and sapphire eternity band seems to be prong-set in platinum, featuring approximately three carats of diamonds and two-and-a-half carats of sapphires," he says. "The craftsmanship is exceptional, and the design strongly channels Art Deco aesthetics." After tying the knot, the publicist often opted not to wear the sparkler, choosing to don just her gold wedding band. Unfortunately, just a few years after their marriage, the couple died in a plane crash on July 16, 1999, on their way to Rory Kennedy's nuptials in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. It's unclear whether or not she was wearing the piece at the time of the accident.
