Grace Kelly Engagement Ring - Her Stunning Ring & Fairytale Romance
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Grace Kelly Engagement Ring - The story, the design, where it is today, and some Grace Kelly engagement ring replicas
This article is all about Grace Kelly Engagement Ring
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Grace Kelly - Old Hollywood Glamour “It” Girl
Grace Kelly Engagement Ring Design
Grace Kelly Engagement Ring Cost
Grace Kelly Engagement Ring Preview
Grace Kelly Princess of Monaco
Grace Kelly Engagement Ring Copycats
Grace Kelly Engagement Ring: The Background Story on the Old Hollywood Glamour “It Girl”
Grace Kelly in the Hitchcock film To Catch a Thief.
Grace Kelly’s poised elegance and classic style continues to inspire style today.
Grace Kelly became a household name in the 1950s when she starred in classic thrillers with Alfred Hitchcock, Dial M for Murder, To Catch a Thief, Rear Window, then later on snagging an Academy award for her performance in The Country Girl.
Grace Kelly was arguably Hitchcock’s most famous and idealized Hitchcock Blonde--a woman with sophistication, class, an air of mystery, and simmering sex appeal.
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3 Must-See Classics: Grace Kelly Alfred Hitchcock Movies
Princess Grace Kelly Engagement Ring: The Fairytale Love Story & Proposal
Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief
A long time ago, and far away...
Grace Kelly traveled to the French Riviera to act in the Hitchcock thriller To Catch a Thief opposite Cary Grant.
While acting in the thriller about glitzy jewelry and the hunt for a jewelry thief, is when (and where) her real life love story set in motion, that ultimately involved one of the most famous engagement rings.
While in France, she attended France’s annual Cannes Film Festival and caught the eye of Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
This initiated a months-long courtship, consisting of love letters for the inter-continental romance.
Over the Christmas holiday in 1955, the smitten Prince traveled to America to visit Grace Kelly in her hometown in Philadelphia.
Three days later, engagement ring in hand, he proposed.
(Doesn’t this sound like the perfect Hallmark Christmas movie--a combination of their “Princess” series meets “Engaged by Christmas” series?)
Left, Grace Kelly arriving at the Cannes Film Festival. Right, Grace Kelly and her fiance announce their engagement.
What was Grace Kelly’s engagement dress?
Actress Grace Kelly’s engagement dress was a stunning pink 1950s swing dress, tied in at the waist, with a matching pink scarf (top right image)
We love how elegant and chic her outfit is!
Grace Kelly Engagement Ring Design
Grace Kelly had two engagement rings; her “temporary” patriotic band and then her “real” one.
When Prince Rainier popped the question to Grace Kelly, after a whirlwind romance, he proposed with a simple Cartier eternity band dotted with rubies, emeralds, and diamonds.
This ring was both patriotic and romantic, as the red and white jewels symbolized his home country’s flag.
It’s still a mystery... was this simple Cartier ring always meant to be a placeholder...? (You know, basically a fancy version of a Crackerjack box ring?)
Rumor has it that once the prince saw the expensive and flashy rings worn by other Hollywood starlets and royalty, he was determined that his fiancee would not to be outdone, which is why he bought Grace Kelly a second engagement ring.
The House of Cartier also designed the the second engagement ring.
Grace Kelly’s relationship with the House Cartier started through the film director Alfred Hitchcock.
A number of the Hitchcock’s thrillers, including Rear Window and To Catch a Thief, had “major jewelry moments,” where jewelry was central to the plot--not to mention that it made the leading lady even more stunning.
So yes, she had a history with the House of Cartier, as she had worked with the jewelry designer numerous times.
In fact, the New York Cartier Mansion has an entire room dedicated to Princess Grace Kelly!
In Rear Window, Grace Kelly plays Jimmy Stewart’s girlfriend. Her character is a model who wears gorgeous outfits and stunning jewelry and accessories.
How many carats is Grace Kelly's engagement ring?
The next Cartier engagement ring, designed specifically for Grace Kelly, was a breathtaking 10.48- emerald cut diamond flanked by two baguette-cut side stones.
Grace Kelly’s stunning engagement ring was a uniquely captivating blend of sparkle and elegance, a perfect reflection of her iconic “less is more” style.
Grace Kelly Engagement Ring Cost
How much did Grace Kelly's wedding ring cost?
Grace Kelly’s second Cartier engagement ring cost an astonishing $4 million to make in the 1950s, and today is estimated to be worth $38.8 million, according to the Jewelry Box.
This makes it one of the most expensive rings of all time, even for royalty and celebrity engagement rings.
In comparison, Jackie Kennedy's engagement ring cost an estimated $2.6 million to make, and Kate Middleton's engagement ring (previously Princess Diana’s ring), which also received a ton of publicity for it’s pricetag, cost about $65,000 to make, and is estimated to be worth about $500,000 today.
Grace Kelly Engagement Ring Preview
After their romantic Christmas engagement in 1955, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier held a press conference in her family home in Philadelphia, announcing their engagement.
For the engagement announcement, Grace Kelly was still wearing her first engagement ring.
So when did the public get to see her “real” engagement ring?
Filming for her final film, the romantic comedy High Society co-starring Bing Crosby, took place between January and March of 1956.
In this film, Grace Kelly’s history making engagement ring is central to her character in the story.
Grace Kelly stars as the beautiful wealthy socialite Tracy Lord who must chose between three love interests, including a fiance, who proposed with the stunning diamond engagement ring.
In one scene of High Society, Grace Kelly is polishing and admiring her engagement ring, and in another scene, a character is commenting on the impressive size of the diamond.
Since an oversized engagement ring was needed for this film, there were also rumors swirling that this was when Grace Kelly’s real life prince offered to buy her a real one (the second engagement ring), so that she wouldn’t have to use the fake one from the costume department.
Related:
Grace Kelly High Society - Her Insanely Feminine 1950s Fashion
In High Society, Grace Kelly is admiring her engagement ring, which is actually also her real life engagement ring.
Grace Kelly Wedding
Grace Kelly’s fairytale romance captivated the hearts and minds of the masses and made front page news around the world.
A fairytale wedding followed.
Per Monaco law, Grace Kelly first participated in a small civil ceremony wedding the day before her “big day!”
April 19, 1956, Grace Kelly walked down the aisle of St. Nicolas Cathedral for the royal wedding.
Grace Kelly wore her now iconic lace and silk taffeta wedding dress designed by Helen Rose, who also designed her costumes for High Society and The Swan.
Fun Fact!
Grace Kelly’s wedding dress was a gift from MGM studios, and rumor has it that 30 seamstresses worked for 6-weeks to make it.
Helen Rose was also responsible for designing Elizabeth Taylor's first wedding dress.
Of Grace Kelly's legendary style, the renowned designer Oscar de la Renta said, "On her wedding day, Grace Kelly gave new meaning to the word icon. Her whole look, from the regal veil to the feminine lace details and the conservative gown, made her an ageless bride."
Above, Grace Kelly in her timeless wedding dress designed by Helen Rose.
Grace Kelly Princess of Monaco
And now for the “happily ever after”...
For Grace Kelly, putting on her ring meant stepping into a new role and life as Princess of Monaco, in a new country, and saying goodbye to her acting career in Hollywood and her American citizenship.
In the years ahead, she spent time making a difference with charities focused on the arts and children.
She also devoting time to raising her three children, Princess Caroline, Prince Albert and Princess Stephanie.
Grace Kelly Engagement Ring Copycats
Grace Kelly’s iconic engagement ring style is timeless.
Even though many engagement ring styles, stone cuts, and settings have come and gone, Grace Kelly’s ring style continues to be an iconic favorite, from everyday princesses, to royalty, to the Hollywood stars, from the 1950s to today.
An incredible number of Hollywood’s most famous and beautiful stars and celebs also chose a solitaire stone ring flanked by two baguette diamonds as their engagement rings, including Elizabeth Taylor, Mia Farrow, Gisele Bündchen, Miranda Kerr, Amal Clooney, and Priyanka Chopra…and more.
Grace Kelly Inspired Engagement Rings
We’ve pulled together some of our favorite Grace Kelly inspired engagement rings, so that you can shop this timeless style.
Shop these Grace Kelly Engagement Ring Dupes
HOUSTON DIAMOND DISTRICT
This sensational Grace Kelly inspired ring showcases a beautiful (3 Carat) center Emerald Cut stone, flanked by side stone diamonds and two tapered baguette stone diamonds, set side by side atop a brightly polished 14K white gold band.
GABRIEL & CO.
This Grace Kelly inspired ring also evokes the unique beauty of the Art Deco era. This vintage round cut engagement ring setting features a pair of baguette side stones and a pavé diamond halo with an emerald cut silhouette.
The slim 14K white gold shank features a scalloped profile and dainty round accent diamonds.
GABRIEL & CO.
This bold and bright emerald cut engagement ring is unique mix of Grace Kelly 1950s style meets vintage French flair. A matching halo surrounds your 1ct center stone (0.28ct diamond), joined by two diamond baguettes on either side.
CHARLES & COLVARD
This Grace Kelly inspired ring is stunningly crafted in 14k white gold, and offers modern style with vintage appeal. Featuring a brilliant cushion cut moissanite flanked by two exquisite tapered baguette side stones.
MACY’S
This Grace Kelly inspired costume ring is complete with a super-size cubic zirconia, accented by two smaller baguette stones on either side, set in fine silver plate.
Grace Kelly Engagement Ring - Where it is today
Tragically, At only 52 years old, in the French Riveria (Cote D’Azur), Grace Kelly’s car plunged off the steep mountain road into the ravine below.
Grace Kelly died the next day, suffering from a stroke and injuries from her car accident.
It was September 1982. ... this was near the location that kicked off the whole chain of events, where Grace Kelly filmed To Catch a Thief and met the Prince years ago.
After her tragic death, both of Grace Kelly's engagement rings were given to the House of Grimaldi for preservation.
This is the reigning royal family of Monaco, currently run by Grace Kelly’s son, Albert II of Monaco, the successor of Prince Rainier III.
Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in the famous driving scene from the Hitchcock thriller To Catch a Thief.
This post was all about Grace Kelly Engagement Ring
What are your thoughts on the Grace Kelly engagement ring and her fairytale love story?
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Originally published Nov 2022, updated Mar 2024
