Jackie Kennedy’s Engagement Ring and Jewelry Collection (2024)

Jackie Kennedy Onassis is one of the most well known women in modern history. While most admirers remember her for her time as First Lady, many others were mesmerized by her fresh fashion sense. Whether she was sporting a pink pillbox suit or a chic black-and-white combo, Jackie O. inspired an entire generation with her mod and eclectic style. Besides her clothing, the former first lady also dazzled us with an extensive collection of unique and iconic jewelry, including two of the most expensive engagement rings in history.

Becoming Jackie Kennedy

When John F. Kennedy proposed to a blushing Jackie Bouvier, he did so with a jewel truly unlike any other. The future president knew his bride-to-be had a particular love for emeralds, and his choice in ring did not disappoint.

Jackie Kennedy’s Engagement Ring and Jewelry Collection (1)

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Vintage art deco in style and worth over one million dollars in 1953, the iconic engagement ring featured a 2.88-carat emerald-cutdiamond alongside a 2.84-carat emerald. Both gems are surrounded by clusters of tapered baguette diamonds. As if this spectacle weren’t scintillating enough to behold, an extra 2.12 carats of round and marquise cut diamonds were added to the ring in 1963.

Jackie Kennedy’s Engagement Ring and Jewelry Collection (2)

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This brought Jackie O’s engagement ring up to a total of 8 carats. Today, it is still considered one of the most iconic pieces of jewelry of all time.

The Lesotho III

Jackie Kennedy’s Engagement Ring and Jewelry Collection (3)

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What do you give the woman who has owned it all? Greek shipping mogul Aristotle Onassis answered that question in 1968, when he proposed to Jackie with the 40.42-carat marquise-cut diamond known as the Lesotho III. It is one of only 18 pieces cut from the staggering 601-carat rough Lesotho Diamond sourced from South Africa. The VS2 L-color gem was so precious that the former first lady only wore it twice before locking it away in a New York City vault. The Lesotho III ultimately sold at her estate auction for $2.59 million.

Expanding Her Collection

Not only has Jackie Kennedy Onassis owned two of the most expensive engagement rings in history, but also an equally impressive collection of fine jewelry. In fact, the former first lady was well known in the jewelry world. Many of the pieces she accumulated through the years went on to sell for prices fit for royalty at her estate sale in April 1996:

  • A 47-carat Kunzite gemstone haloed by 20 round-cut diamonds, which was a gift from President Kennedy, sold for $431,250
  • Two Cabochon diamond and ruby ear clips, wedding gifts from Aristotle Onassis, sold for $360,000
  • A 17.68-carat ruby and diamond ring, sold for $288,500
  • A Cabochon ruby necklace, sold for $247,500
  • A pear-shaped diamond ring, sold for $156,500
  • A Cabochon garnet flower brooch, sold for $145,000
  • Two simulated pearl necklaces and a pair of diamond and pearl ear clips, sold for $112,500
  • A double-strand black stone necklace, worn by Jackie when JFK announced his presidential candidacy and when she was photographed with French President Charles de Gaulle, sold for $101,5000
  • A pair of simulated pearl necklaces and gilt metal ear clips, sold for $85,000
  • An amethyst necklace, sold for $55,000
  • A pair of 18-carat yellow and white gold ear clips, sold for $37,375
  • A pair of red briolette and amethyst earrings, sold for $35,000

By the end of the auction, buyers from all over the world had spent more than $34 million to claim treasures from Camelot.

A Stylish and Lasting Influence

Whether she was stealing our hearts with her impeccable fashion sense or dazzling us with her array of precious gems, Jackie Kennedy Onassis remains one of the most influential style icons in modern history. Although it may be too late to buy Jackie O’s engagement ring, you can still channel the former first lady’s style with modern designs. Emerald-and-diamond replicas continue to sell today, with gemstone engagement rings remaining popular choices and everlasting tributes to Jackie O, a true American gem.

Jackie Kennedy’s Engagement Ring and Jewelry Collection (2024)

FAQs

What happened to Jackie Kennedy's engagement ring? ›

Jackie Kennedy's dazzling engagement ring from JFK featured a 2.88-carat diamond and a 2.84-carat emerald, set in a toi et moi design. In the end, it was actually her future father-in-law, Joseph Kennedy, who picked out the ring from Van Cleef & Arpels's Fifth Avenue store in New York.

How much is Jackie Kennedy's engagement ring worth? ›

​Vintage art deco in style and worth over one million dollars in 1953, the iconic engagement ring featured a 2.88-carat emerald-cut diamond alongside a 2.84-carat emerald.

Did Jackie Kennedy put her wedding ring on JFK? ›

I nodded and watched as she moved close to the President's body. 'She leaned across him to reach for his left hand, removed his wedding ring and placed it on one of her fingers, and then she simply held her husband's hand in a final goodbye.

Who made Jackie Kennedy engagement ring? ›

History of Jackie Kennedy's engagement ring

The Emerald ring had a flowery look and was created by Van Cleef & Arpels of the French jewelry company.

Has Jackie given the ring back? ›

before she defends her actions and claims Netflix 'paid for all the rings' Love Is Blind's Jackie Bonds divided viewers when she refused to give Marshall Glaze back her engagement ring after ending things in a very awkward break-up.

Why did Jackie keep the ring? ›

“Well, I'm gonna keep the ring because I accepted it because I wanted to marry you,” she replied. “Everything I told you in that pod was real.”

What is the most expensive engagement ring in history? ›

The most expensive engagement ring is the Cartier ring once owned by Grace Kelly. The $38.8 million ring now belongs to the House of Grimaldi and is considered the most expensive engagement ring in the world.

How much did Jax spend on Brittany's engagement ring? ›

Cartwright's enormous blue sparkler was far from the only jewelry she wore on her big day; she also exchanged diamond wedding bands with Taylor (hers were worth about $10,000) and wore her cushion-cut engagement ring (estimated at $70,000), both also designed by Chan.

Who gave JLO the most expensive engagement ring? ›

Jennifer Lopez's 15-Carat Ring From Alex Rodriguez Cost $1 Million.

Who picked out Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress? ›

A Black Couturier, Ann Lowe, Made Jackie Kennedy's Wedding Dress. Getting to know Ann Lowe—and giving the designer her due.

What were Jackie Kennedy's last words? ›

He had no way of knowing what was about to happen. It's been reported that Jack's final words were, “My God, I've been hit,” but physicians have said this was impossible given Jack's injuries. Well, historians have now clarified that the last words Jack spoke before the fatal shot were, “No, you certainly can't.”

Who chose Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress? ›

Yet, there's one dressmaker who hasn't received nearly enough credit for her work: Ann Lowe, the designer who made Jackie Kennedy's bridal gown in 1953. While Kennedy's ivory portrait-neckline dress quickly skyrocketed into bridal fame, Lowe received no recognition.

How big is Melania Trump's engagement ring? ›

President Donald Trump has long claimed he didn't pay full price for First Lady Melania Trump's 15-carat diamond engagement ring.

Who gave JLo the pink diamond engagement ring? ›

In November 2002, Ben proposed to J-Lo at his mother Chirstophe Anne Boldt's home in Boston with a 6.1 carat Harry Winston pink diamond. (Ilan Portugali, the designer of J-Lo's new engagement ring, used to manage Harry Winston boutique in Beverly Hills, which is where Ben got his old ring.)

Did Jackie Kennedy have a ruby ring? ›

Jackie Kennedy Onassis had it all, from a 17.68 carat ruby ring to a 47 carat Kunzite stone given to her as a gift from President John F. Kennedy.

Did Jackie keep Marshall's ring? ›

During their breakup conversation, Jackie refused to give her engagement ring back to Marshall, despite leaving him for Josh. And fans took to social media to share their thoughts. As of today, Marshall still hasn't gotten the ring back, with him telling Variety that he, “probably won't see that thing ever again."

Did JLo keep the ring? ›

The second engagement ring Affleck gave Lopez is reportedly worth $5 million – probably double that of the first one. J. Lo gets to keep that huge, rare green diamond forever now that she's saying her name is Mrs. Jennifer Lynne Affleck.

Why didn t Jackie give Marshall his ring back? ›

He clarified that the real reason he wanted the ring back is because he simply did not think Jackie deserved to keep such a powerful memento of their relationship now that it was broken. “It was a symbol of my love,” Marshall explained.

Who pays for the rings and wedding on Love is Blind? ›

"Whatever they choose, we pay for. Whatever we pay for, they keep, regardless of engagement ending," a rep told POPSUGAR. During season 2, some guys (like Kyle) came prepared with their own family rings.

Do they have to pay for the rings on love is blind? ›

Yes, the engagement rings on Love is Blind are paid for by the show. The men are reportedly able to choose from a limited selection of natural diamond engagement rings before they enter the pods. These rings are supplied by Bridal Rings Company.

Why did Jackie climb on the back of the car? ›

Q: Why did First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy climb onto the back of the car after the shooting? A: Jacqueline Kennedy climbed on the back of the car to retrieve fragments from the president's head, though she had no memory of it afterward.

Are old engagement rings worth anything? ›

In most cases, a diamond engagement ring or other diamond jewelry will have a resale value of between 20 and 60% of the amount it cost when it was new.

Why are vintage engagement rings so cheap? ›

Value. Older rings are, by their very nature, used, secondhand pieces. This can give couples some surprising bargains and lower prices to choose from when compared to new, modern rings, especially when comparing prices per carat of the ring's stones.

Do vintage engagement rings keep their value? ›

Antique engagement rings hold their value very well if kept in good condition. Rarity is an important factor in jewelry pricing since inevitably some pieces will be damaged or lost over the years.

How much was Jenni Farley engagement ring? ›

“It appears to be close to a 3-carat diamond, and I'd estimate the value to be near $100,000,” Mike Fried, CEO of The Diamond Pro, agreed. “It looks to be an oval-cut diamond set with a thin band, allowing her sizable diamond to snag the spotlight.” The 35-year-old reality star began dating the wrestler, 26, in 2019.

How much was Mila Kunis engagement ring? ›

"I'm like, 'I can't wear this because someone's going to chop my hand off for it." While Kunis keeps the 5-carat, Tiffany, solitaire diamond ring reportedly worth $250,000 hidden away, she still wears her thrifty $90 wedding band.

How many carats is Stassi Schroeder's ring? ›

STASSI SCHROEDER & BEAU CLARK

The Clark family treasure is a 3.5-carat ring featuring a European round-cut diamond surrounded by 24 smaller stones in a platinum setting.

How much did Beyonce's engagement ring cost? ›

Beyonce's Engagement Ring

Designed by Lorraine Schwartz, Beyonce has a mahoosive 24-carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring with a split shank setting. Jay Z clearly had to fork out for this sparkler, with the ring estimated to have cost around $5 million.

How many carats is Blake Lively's engagement ring? ›

The rose gold band matches the stone perfectly and is covered in more tiny sparkling diamonds. The Zoe Report estimates that Lively's ring comes in at a whopping 12 carats, which explains why it's always the center of attention. The ring is estimated to cost around $2 million.

How many engagement rings has JLo kept? ›

See All of Jennifer Lopez's Six Engagement Rings and Her Wedding Ring Too. Here, a look back at all of her engagement baubles, and a peek at the new fancy green diamond as well as her wedding band from Ben Affleck.

Did Jackie Kennedy wear makeup? ›

New York makeup artist Pablo Manzoni told Vanity Fair in 1995 that Onassis often used the iconic Elizabeth Arden's Flawless Foundation. The foundation covered up the sunspots she had gotten from her many summers in Rhode Island, France, and Greece and made the former first lady's skin look fresh.

Who was Jackie Kennedy's maid of honor? ›

Michael T. Canfield) as matron of honor; her stepsister Nina G. Auchincloss as maid of honor; and ten bridesmaids, among them the groom's sister Jean and sister-in-law Ethel, and the bride's former boarding school roommate, Nancy Tuckerman.

What did Jackie Kennedy say to Queen Elizabeth? ›

In the episode, Queen Elizabeth finds out that weeks after their meeting, the First Lady told dinner guests that the queen was “a middle-aged woman so incurious, unintelligent and unremarkable that Britain's new reduced place in the world was not a surprise but an inevitability” and calls Buckingham Palace “second-rate ...

Where is Jackie Kennedy buried? ›

Soon after she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1994, she died in her New York City apartment. After a funeral at St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church on Park Avenue, she was buried in Arlington National Cemetery beside John F. Kennedy and the two children who had predeceased them.

Why was Robert Kennedy buried at night? ›

As the train stopped in cities along the route, thousands of Americans gathered to pay tribute to the slain leader. The long transport delayed the train's arrival into Union Station until 9:10 p.m., and cemetery officials quickly changed the funeral plans to accommodate an evening interment.

Who was Jackie Kennedy's lover? ›

Maurice Tempelsman (born August 26, 1929) is a Belgian-American businessman and diamond merchant. He was the longtime companion of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, former First Lady of the United States.

Where is Jackie Kennedy wedding dress now? ›

Kennedy Onassis's wedding dress, too delicate to exhibit, is currently preserved in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Where is Jackie Kennedy's dress now? ›

The garment is now stored out of public view in the National Archives. It will not be seen by the public until at least 2103, according to a deed of Caroline Kennedy, Kennedy's sole surviving heir. At that time, when the 100-year deed expires, the Kennedy family descendants will renegotiate the matter.

What dress did Queen Elizabeth wear to meet Jackie Kennedy? ›

At her famed meeting with President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth was as glamorous as ever in a royal blue tulle ballgown by Norman Hartnell.

How many carats is Michelle Obama's engagement ring? ›

What is the carat weight of the diamond in Michelle Obama's engagement ring? Michelle's current engagement ring is a 3-carat princess or cushion cut diamond set in a white gold, pavé style setting. Her original engagement ring was a one-carat solitaire set in yellow gold.

How many carat is Meghan Markle engagement ring? ›

The center stone has a special meaning

The cushion-cut center diamond of Meghan's engagement ring is estimated to be roughly three carats and was sourced from Botswana — a country that is very important to Prince Harry and where the couple took their first vacation together.

Is $3000 a lot for an engagement ring? ›

Yes, $3,000 is definitely enough for an engagement ring. You can get a beautiful, high-quality diamond and a setting with this budget.

How much did Ben Affleck pay for JLo's ring? ›

According to an article on People, the ring was reacquired by Harry Winston in 2005. In 2002, Affleck purchased the ring for $1.2 million (Rs 8,90,87,400), reported The Independent. Lopez showed the ring during an interview with Diane Sawyer and called it the “most magnificent thing I've ever seen”.

How much did Ben Affleck pay for the engagement ring? ›

In November 2002, Affleck proposed to the star with a 6.1-carat pink diamond from Harry Winston, estimated to cost $2.5 million.

Who made Hailey Bieber's engagement ring? ›

Hailey Bieber's Engagement Ring

Justin Bieber proposed to model Hailey Baldwin in the Bahamas with a large oval diamond engagement ring custom designed by Jack Solow of Solow & Co. Inc Diamond Jewelers. The eye-catching celebrity engagement ring is a solitaire ring with a yellow gold band.

How much was Jackie Kennedy's engagement ring worth? ›

On her later engagement to Aristotle Onassis, the shipping magnate gifted her an enormous 40-carat Lesotho III diamond ring from Harry Winston, which sold at auction for $2.6 million in 1996.

What is the most famous ruby ring? ›

The most famous ruby was originally mined in Burma, the Sunrise Ruby was eventually set by Cartier into a ring along with 2 diamonds weighing a total carat weight of 5 carats. In 2015, Sotheby's put the ring up for auction, where it sold for a whopping $30.42 million dollars to an anonymous Swiss buyer.

What happened to the queens engagement ring? ›

The Queen's rings may now be passed to one of her children or grandchildren, meaning the message – which we imagine is very heartfelt – will become more widely known among the royals. The Duke designed the Queen's engagement ring himself using diamonds that were handed down from his mother.

Who has Grace Kelly's engagement ring? ›

No wonder then that Princess Grace wore it up until her death in 1982 at the age of just 52, when she suffered a stroke while driving her car. The necklace is still worn today by the Monegasque royal family, including Grace's granddaughter Charlotte Casiraghi, who wore the heirloom piece on her own wedding day in 2019.

What was Jackie Kennedy wearing when her husband died? ›

Immediately, comparisons were drawn to another infamous political pink suit, worn by Jackie Kennedy the day her husband, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated. On the fateful day of November 22, 1963, Jackie famously wore a pink Chanel suit—at the time, it was imperative that First Ladies wore clothing made in America.

Who will inherit Queen's engagement ring? ›

It is likely that these jewels will be passed down to members of the Windsor family and if the Queen follows tradition, she will leave the majority of them to the next monarch, which in this case is King Charles III.

Who gets the queens jewels when she died? ›

They stay safeguarded at the Tower of London in safekeeping for the nation, and when one monarch dies, the crown jewels are immediately passed to their heir.” So the Queen's former crown, sceptre and orb now belong to her son, King Charles III.

Did the Queen leave jewelry for Meghan? ›

Attending the emotional event with Prince Harry, Meghan opted for a glittering pair of pearl-and-diamond drop earrings gifted to her by the Queen in honour of her first royal engagement.

Who has the most expensive engagement ring in the world? ›

The most expensive engagement ring is the Cartier ring once owned by Grace Kelly. The $38.8 million ring now belongs to the House of Grimaldi and is considered the most expensive engagement ring in the world. What is the most expensive ring in the world in 2023?

Where is Jackie Kennedy's wedding ring? ›

Today, the jewel is among the former First Lady's possessions kept at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. Occasionally, the piece is put on display.

What does ruby in ring finger mean? ›

Ruby is worn in Ring Finger, as the ruby is worn for planet sun. Wearing a ruby gemstone helps to strengthen the sun in horoscope and protect from the negative effect of sun. Ruby gemstone is worn in the ring finger; the ring finger has the mount of sun.

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