Deborah Chan
Jackie Kennedy Onassis, the former First Lady of the United States, was known for her iconic fashion sense and unique jewellery collection. Her three engagement rings, in particular, have become a part of her legacy, with each ring reflecting the shifts in her life and status. Her first engagement ring was from stockbroker John Husted Jr., which she returned after ending the engagement. Her second ring, an emerald and diamond piece, was given to her by John F. Kennedy, and her third was a large diamond from Aristotle Onassis. The second and third rings are considered some of the most expensive engagement rings in history.
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What You'll Learn
- Jackie Kennedy's engagement ring from JFK was an emerald and diamond ring
- JFK's proposal ring is now preserved at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston
- Jackie Kennedy had the ring redesigned during her time in the White House
- Jackie's engagement ring from JFK is considered one of the most expensive in history
- Jackie's wedding ring became a symbol of her marriage to JFK
Jackie Kennedy's engagement ring from JFK was an emerald and diamond ring
Jackie Kennedy Onassis was known for her unique and iconic jewellery collection, including two of the most expensive engagement rings in history. Her first engagement ring, from John F. Kennedy, was a 2.88-carat emerald-cut diamond alongside a 2.84-carat emerald, set in a vintage art deco style. The ring was purchased in 1953 when Jackie went by the name of Jacqueline Lee Bouviere. The ring was created by the French jewellery company, Van Cleef & Arpels, and included several tapered baguettes that accented the main stones with a "flowery" look.
The future president knew his bride-to-be had a particular love for emeralds, and his choice of ring did not disappoint. In 1963, the ring was redesigned, and an additional 2.12 carats of marquise and round-cut diamonds were added. After the death of JFK, Jackie tried to have the ring restored to its original design when JFK gave it to her. The ring can now be found on display at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.
Jackie Kennedy received two other engagement rings in her lifetime. The second was from her husband, Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping industry mogul. This ring was a 40.42-carat diamond that was part of the famous South African Lesotho brown diamond. The third ring was a 47-carat Kunzite gemstone haloed by 20 round-cut diamonds, which was a gift from President Kennedy.
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JFK's proposal ring is now preserved at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, also known as Jackie O, was married twice in her life. Her first husband was John F. Kennedy, and her second was Aristotle Onassis. She received three engagement rings in her lifetime, two of which are considered to be among the most expensive in history.
The first ring she received was from John F. Kennedy, with whom she got engaged in 1953. The ring was a toi et moi style, featuring a 2.88-carat emerald-cut diamond alongside a 2.84-carat emerald, set in platinum. It was designed by Van Cleef & Arpels and is said to have been worth over one million dollars in 1953. Jackie Kennedy was a fan of emeralds, and her husband-to-be certainly delivered.
After Kennedy's assassination in 1963, Jackie redesigned the ring before stopping wearing it altogether. The ring now sits in the permanent collection at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, where it occasionally goes on display.
Jackie Kennedy's second engagement ring was from Aristotle Onassis, who she married in 1968. This ring was a 40-carat marquise-cut diamond, also known as the Lesotho III, cut by Harry Winston. This ring was sold at Sotheby's in 1996 for $2.58 million.
Jackie Kennedy's engagement rings, along with her other iconic pieces of jewellery, continue to influence modern bridal jewellery.
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Jackie Kennedy had the ring redesigned during her time in the White House
Jackie Kennedy's engagement ring from John F. Kennedy was a Van Cleef & Arpels toi et moi ring. It featured a 2.84-carat emerald and a 2.88-carat diamond, set side by side on a platinum band and flanked by baguette-cut diamonds and emeralds. The future president knew his bride-to-be had a particular love for emeralds, and his choice of ring did not disappoint.
During her time in the White House, Jackie Kennedy had the ring redesigned. She worked with Van Cleef & Arpels to replace the baguettes with marquise and round-cut diamonds arranged in a laurel wreath pattern. This modernisation preserved the symbolic layout of the ring. The ring is now preserved at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.
Jackie Kennedy's jewellery was as iconic as her fashion sense. She was known for her eclectic style, from her famous pink pillbox hat to her black-and-white ensembles. Her jewellery collection included two of the most expensive engagement rings in history, as well as a 47-carat Kunzite gemstone ring, a Cartier tank watch, and a pair of Moon earrings.
The former First Lady's jewellery often reflected the shifts in her life and status. Her engagement rings, in particular, offer a private glimpse into her public story.
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Jackie's engagement ring from JFK is considered one of the most expensive in history
Jackie Kennedy Onassis is one of the most well-known women in modern history, admired for her time as First Lady and her iconic fashion sense. Her engagement rings are no exception to her iconic style. In fact, Jackie has had three engagement rings throughout her life, two of which are considered some of the most expensive in history.
The first of these rings was from John F. Kennedy, who proposed in June 1953 with a Van Cleef & Arpels toi et moi ring. The ring featured a 2.84-carat emerald and a 2.88-carat emerald-cut diamond set side by side on a platinum band, flanked by baguettes. The art-deco ring was worth over one million dollars in 1953. Interestingly, it was reportedly chosen by Joseph Kennedy, JFK's father, rather than JFK himself.
Jackie's second engagement ring was from Aristotle Onassis, who she married five years after JFK's assassination. The ring, known as the Lesotho III, featured a 40.42-carat marquise-cut diamond cut by Harry Winston from the 601-carat Lesotho rough. At the time, it was one of the largest gem-quality diamonds in the world.
In addition to her engagement rings, Jackie had an extensive collection of unique and iconic jewellery. Many of the pieces she accumulated over the years sold for extremely high prices at her estate sale in April 1996.
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Jackie's wedding ring became a symbol of her marriage to JFK
Jackie Kennedy Onassis was known for her unique and iconic jewellery collection, which included two of the most expensive engagement rings in history. Her engagement ring from John F. Kennedy, which later became widely known as the Jackie Onassis wedding ring, symbolised her marriage to JFK and fascinated the public for years.
The ring, a Van Cleef & Arpels toi et moi, featured a 2.84-carat emerald and a 2.88-carat diamond, set side by side on a platinum band. The ring was chosen by Joseph Kennedy, JFK's father, and reflected Jackie's love for emeralds. Over time, Jackie had the ring updated, replacing the baguettes with marquise and round-cut diamonds arranged in a laurel wreath pattern. The ring's unique design reflected the tastes of the era and Jackie's personal style.
During her marriage to JFK, Jackie Kennedy's wedding ring became a symbol of their union. The former First Lady was well-known in the jewellery world, and her choices extended beyond mere preference, shaping the style zeitgeist of the time. The toi et moi silhouette, for example, remains a favourite in modern bridal jewellery, with designers frequently referencing her 1953 ring.
Following JFK's assassination in 1963, Jackie Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis in 1968. Her engagement ring from Onassis, a 40.42-carat marquise-cut diamond, was one of the largest gem-quality diamonds in the world at the time. This ring further cemented her status as one of the wealthiest women in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Jackie Kennedy wore three engagement rings in her lifetime.
Her rings came from John Husted, JFK, and Aristotle Onassis.
JFK gave Jackie Kennedy a Van Cleef & Arpels toi et moi ring featuring a 2.84-carat emerald and a 2.88-carat diamond, set side by side on a platinum band.
Yes, Jackie Kennedy redesigned her engagement ring from JFK. She worked with Van Cleef to replace the baguettes with marquise and round-cut diamonds arranged in a laurel wreath pattern.
Jackie Kennedy's engagement rings were sold at an estate sale in April 1996.
