Meghan Markle is the celebrity with the best engagement ring, according to a survey from the Natural Diamond Council (NDC).
The Duchess of Sussex’s ring, which features a cushion-cut center stone sourced from Botswana between two smaller diamonds from Princess Diana’s personal collection, was the number-one choice in a poll of 2,000 adults living in the UK, the NDC said Tuesday. Meanwhile, actress Mila Kunis’s round brilliant diamond engagement ring from actor Ashton Kutcher came in second, while singer Adele’s pear-shaped jewel ranked third. Kate Middleton’s ring, featuring an oval blue sapphire center stone with a diamond-halo surround nabbed the fourth spot, while newly engaged Zendaya’s east-west emerald-cut diamond ring from Tom Holland placed number five.
The survey also delved into respondents’ personal preferences, the NDC noted. Nearly half of respondents said if money were no object, they would prefer a white diamond. However, those aged 18 to 24 stated they would opt for a colored diamond, the study found. When it came to cut, round brilliant and emerald were the most popular, each nabbing 12% of the vote. Respondents aged 65 or older preferred rounds, while those between 18 and 24 chose ovals.
“We are seeing a noticeable shift toward ovals being the new rounds for the younger generation,” said Lisa Levinson, head of the UK for the NDC.
The participants favored individuality, with 30% wanting their engagement ring to come from a private jewelry store rather than a high street jewelry chain, with 9% selecting the latter. Uniqueness was also the most important factor when purchasing an engagement ring, followed by clarity, the survey found. Natural diamonds rated higher than lab-grown, particularly by men, with 72% picking that option. In fact, of those who reported being disappointed with their rings, 29% said it was because it wasn’t a natural diamond, while 57% desired a bigger stone. When it comes to choosing an engagement ring, a whopping 48% want to do the shopping with their partners, while 34% opted to be surprised.
Image: Meghan Markle. (Paul Marriott/Alamy Stock Photo)
