Jackie Kennedy's 'Bold And Unconventional' Engagement Ring From JFK Was Trend-Setting

When people think of luxurious, iconic engagement rings, often what comes to mind is enormous solitaire diamonds, like the iceberg-sized diamonds that were an essential part of actor Elizabeth Taylor's glamorous, Old Hollywood style. But the engagement ring that Jackie Kennedy received from  President John F. Kennedy was spectacular in a more subtle way. Of course, the stones set in the Van Cleef & Arpels ring weren't small by any means, but the most memorable aspect was the two-stone style. The ring featured a 2.88-carat diamond nestled alongside a 2.84-carat emerald — a style known as a "Toi et Moi" setting — surrounded by baguette diamonds on a gold and platinum band.

At the time, Jackie's dual-stone ring was an unusual choice. "Jackie Kennedy's two-stone design was bold and unconventional," Irina Aran, founder of Facets Fine Jewelry, told Natural Diamonds. "The Toi et Moi style symbolized two souls meeting as one, making it romantic and meaningful. It reflected her sophisticated, forward-thinking taste." The style referenced the engagement ring that French emperor Napoleon gifted to his paramour Joséphine de Beauharnais in 1796, and rivaled the British royal family's gorgeous engagement rings. The design helped to popularize a European sensibility in America. Jackie's ring was instantly iconic, and, over the years, many celebrities have opted to replicate the symbolic style.

Since Jackie Kennedy bucked convention with her Toi et Moi ring, many brides have taken jewelry inspiration from the stylish first lady. "Jackie's [ring] is literally jaw-dropping," wrote one Reddit user. "These are just more interesting than a solitaire imo." This style offers lots of room for customization and can be personalized to symbolize a couple's unique relationship. Many stars have opted to stick with the same combination of gemstones that Kennedy wore; Machine Gun Kelly proposed to Megan Kelly with a ring featuring a pear-cut diamond and pear-cut emerald designed to form a heart shape.

Other stars have found other ways to interpret the style, with original shapes or different stone combinations. Actor Robert Pattinson proposed to Suki Waterhouse with a pavé band engagement ring that sported two diamonds in contrasting shapes: a pear-cut stone and an emerald-cut stone. Meanwhile, when actor Jane Seymour got engaged at 75, proving it's never too late to find your happily ever after, musician John Zambetti proposed with a Toi et Moi ring that symbolized their full lives prior to meeting.