Get ready, celebrity watchers, because the biggest news just dropped, and it’s sparkling brighter than the Saudi sun! After years of tantalizing speculation, soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo and his longtime love, Georgina Rodriguez, have officially announced their engagement, and trust us, this isn’t just *any* engagement. It’s the kind that sends shockwaves through the jewelry world and has us all picking our jaws up off the floor!
Georgina herself broke the internet on Monday, August 11, with an Instagram post that was truly a sight to behold. She shared a photo that put her hand, adorned with freshly manicured, glazed French nails, front and center, lying ever so elegantly over what we can only assume was Mr. Ronaldo’s hand, given he was tagged in the shot. The caption, in her native Spanish, was simple yet profound: “Sí, quiero. En esta y en todas mis vidas.” Which, for those of us not fluent, translates to the ultimate commitment: “Yes, I do. In this and in all my lives.” Talk about romantic!
But let’s be real, while the sentiment was sweet, it was the GIGANTIC, glimmering rock on her ring finger that immediately stole the show and ignited instant headlines. This isn’t just a ring; it’s a veritable boulder! The sparkling center stone reaches so far down Georgina’s knuckle that it’s almost unbelievable. The internet, as it always does, went wild, with some playfully comparing the diamond to a Ring Pop, while others hilariously joked that its immense value could probably solve world hunger. You know it’s massive when a social media influencer says something like that!
Julia Chafé, a jewelry-focused social media influencer, summed up the sheer magnitude of it perfectly in an Instagram video, quipping, “To wear this stone regularly, you’re going to need a finger reconstruction surgery.” She didn’t stop there, adding, “Just imagine wearing a hundred-pound kettlebell on your finger all day, every day. Painful, but worth it.” And honestly, who are we to argue? For a diamond this extraordinary, the pain just might be worth the undeniable glamour!
So, what exactly are we talking about here? Experts have been quick to weigh in, offering their best estimates on this breathtaking piece of artistry. Appraisers told Forbes that this magnificent diamond could be as large as 50 carats, immediately placing it in a league of its own. It’s reportedly larger than even the famous sparklers given to Hollywood royalty like Mariah Carey, reality TV queen Kim Kardashian, and the always-glamorous Lauren Sánchez. Yes, you heard that right – this ring is truly next level.
Kristian Spofforth, a renowned jewelry specialist with Heritage Auctions, offered a closer look at the specifics, stating that the diamond appears to be an oval-cut stone, indeed approximately 50 carats. And not just any 50 carats, mind you. Spofforth noted its D colour grade – which, for those not in the know, is the absolute highest on the scale, signifying complete colorlessness. As for clarity, he suspects it’s likely a VVS1 or even better. To put that in perspective, VVS1 is the second-highest clarity rating, meaning it has only minute flaws that are practically invisible even to a skilled grader under 10x magnification. Talk about perfection!
Another esteemed gemologist appraiser, Deborah Villepigue, had her own estimation, believing the center stone might be even grander, somewhere between 55 and 60 carats, and she valued the ring at roughly $3 million. The sheer range of these expert opinions only highlights the diamond’s rarity and the difficulty in assessing such a magnificent, one-of-a-kind piece without direct examination. It’s truly among the “rarest and most exquisite diamonds in the world,” as appraisers conveyed to Forbes.
While the exact metal used for Rodriguez’s ring isn’t immediately clear from the online images, Spofforth praised its design, saying, “the setting is elegant, minimal, and perfectly tailored to showcase the stone’s natural beauty.” Anna Whiting, General Manager of Cushla Whiting, further elaborated, suggesting the ring is made of “platinum or white gold and uses a simple double claw setting that lifts the centre diamond, allowing light to enter and enhance its brilliance.” Nilesh Rakholia, a jewelry expert and founder of Abelini, concurred, noting the platinum band and how the design “simply showcases the exquisite oval cut diamond centre stone.” It’s designed to let that diamond shine, and shine it does!
This stunning oval cut isn’t just about its impressive size; it’s also incredibly flattering. Anya Walsh, a jewelry specialist at 77 Diamonds in London, pointed out how surprised she was by the sheer scale of the diamond. She typically sees celebrity engagement rings hovering around two to three carats, or maybe five carats at most. But this ring, she declared, “is in a league of its own. It’s taking a good third of her finger, size-wise.” Yet, despite its colossal presence, the elongated oval shape has a romantic, soft look that actually helps make the hand seem more slender and finer, a truly magical illusion!
In fact, the oval diamond is surging in popularity, now the second most popular choice at 77 Diamonds, accounting for about 20 percent of their total sales, right after the classic round brilliant. Georgina’s ring also features a beautiful trilogy design, with two smaller oval diamond side stones flanking the magnificent center gem. Olivia Landau, the founder of the Clear Cut, a New York jeweler, estimated these side stones to be around three carats each, though Anna Whiting suggested they are “likely about one carat each.” Regardless, this three-diamond design typically symbolizes the past, present, and future – a truly meaningful touch to such a significant piece.
Given Georgina’s known penchant for fine and high jewelry, Olivia Landau confidently stated that she believes it is a natural diamond, noting, “She’s known for being a maximalist with her jewelry.” And when it comes to the price tag, the estimations are as varied and dazzling as the diamond itself! Anya Walsh estimated the cost to be at least $5 million. Ann Grimmett, the vice president for merchandising at Jared Jewelers, placed the range from $5 million to $15 million. George Khalife, a celebrity jeweler known as George the Jeweler, chimed in with his estimate of around $5 million to $7 million for the 20 to 25 carat stone, adding, “Knowing that it’s Cristiano Ronaldo, I’m assuming it’s probably near colorless (F color), likely a VVS quality.”
ELLE Australia’s jewelry experts also weighed in, with one estimating the central oval diamond to be “upwards of 22 carats,” while another guessed “between 25 to 30 carats,” with a price tag of “between $2-4 million USD (up to $6 million AUD).” Anna Whiting of Cushla Whiting told ELLE Australia that the oval-cut center diamond is “estimated to be over 25 carats,” and considering “the size and quality of the diamonds, along with the craftsmanship, the ring’s value would be in the tens of millions of dollars,” putting it “upwards of $10 million AUD.” Maxwell Stone, a diamond expert from UK retailer Steven Stone, called it an “extraordinary 30-carat oval-cut diamond, a true showstopper,” and estimated its worth at a staggering £7.5 million ($10 million). With Georgina’s jewelry collection already valued at over $4 million, it’s clear this engagement ring is, without a doubt, her most spectacular piece yet!
Now, how does this colossal rock stack up against other celebrity sparklers? Few stars have flaunted diamonds bigger than Georgina’s, but there are a couple that stand out. Rapper Gucci Mane famously gave his wife Keyshia Ka’oir a 60-carat, oval-cut diamond ring in 2019 as an upgrade to the already impressive 25-carat ring he proposed with two years earlier. And, of course, the legendary Richard Burton gifted Elizabeth Taylor a jaw-dropping 69.42-carat, pear-shaped stone he purchased for her in 1969 for $1 million, which is the equivalent of about $8.6 million today! Taylor also wore a 69-carat diamond around her neck and her 33-carat engagement ring, both from Richard Burton, at the 1970 Oscars. Her 33-carat stone from Burton in 1968 actually sold for $8.8 million at a Christie’s auction in 2011.
But here’s the kicker: Georgina’s ring is *larger* than the initial Harry Winston ring Burton used to propose to Taylor in 1968, which featured a 33.19-carat Asscher-cut diamond! Burton reportedly outbid Winston himself for that particular ring, paying $305,000, which was the highest price ever paid at auction for a diamond ring at the time. So, Georgina’s new bling is in truly elite company, out-sizing some of the most talked-about celebrity rings in recent memory.
This includes Mariah Carey’s absolutely epic 35-carat emerald-cut ring from billionaire James Packer, which was designed by Wilfredo Rosado and valued at a cool $10 million. And let’s not forget the $8 million, 15-carat cushion-cut diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz that Kim Kardashian received from Kanye West. Even the $5 million, 30-carat pink diamond billionaire Jeff Bezos used to propose to Lauren Sánchez, or her other 30-to-40 carat oval diamond ring (estimated around $4 million) she was spotted wearing at her Venice wedding, are dwarfed by Georgina’s new showstopper. This ring is a true testament to grandeur and a clear indication that when Cristiano Ronaldo proposes, he goes all out!
Speaking of Cristiano Ronaldo, his stature in the world of sports and beyond simply cannot be overstated. At 40 years old, he was ranked by Forbes as the world’s highest-paid athlete this year, pulling in an estimated $275 million in the last year alone. Back in 2020, he made history by becoming the first active team-sport athlete to surpass an astounding $1 billion in career earnings. Beyond his lucrative lifetime deal with Nike and other massive endorsements, Ronaldo has built an empire off the pitch with his hugely successful CR7-branded clothing, accessories, hotels, and gyms. This man knows how to earn, and how to spend!
He’s not just a soccer superstar; he’s a global phenomenon. Ronaldo is the most followed person on Instagram, boasting over 660 million followers. This level of international fame means that when he makes a move, the world watches, and trends are inspired. Anya Walsh herself noted, “This is one of the biggest celebrity engagements we’ve seen in a while,” and with so many dedicated fans, she predicted a definite uptick in the popularity of oval diamonds, musing, “but will people want larger diamonds now?” Only time will tell, but Georgina’s ring certainly sets a new benchmark!
Their incredible love story began in 2016, when Ronaldo and Georgina first met at a Gucci store in Madrid, where she was working as a sales assistant while he was tearing up the field for Real Madrid. Fast forward to today, he now plays in Saudi Arabia for Al Nassr. Their romance quickly blossomed, and they appeared publicly together for the first time in 2017, alongside his son from a previous relationship, Cristiano Jr., who is now 15 years old. Ronaldo has never shared the identity of the mother of his first three children, maintaining their privacy.
Just six months later, in June 2017, Ronaldo welcomed twins Eva and Mateo via surrogate. Then, in a truly special moment for the couple, Georgina gave birth to their first child together, a beautiful girl named Alana, in November 2017. Their family continued to grow, and in October 2021, they announced they were pregnant with twins again. Heartbreakingly, one of the children tragically died in childbirth, a grief they have spoken about openly. They share their two-year-old daughter, Bella, who is a true joy in their lives.
Fans have been eagerly speculating about their relationship status for years, with engagement rumors first sparking back in November 2018. The anticipation only heightened when, in July 2024, Ronaldo himself hinted at marriage by referring to Georgina as his “wife.” However, his publicist quickly clarified to People, stating, “At this time, I have no knowledge of whether or not Cristiano is married to Georgina.” Well, now we all know for sure! The world has also had a peek into Georgina’s daily life, thanks to her Netflix reality series “I Am Georgina,” which has aired for three seasons, giving us a glimpse into her fabulous world.
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Georgina herself has described the early days of their relationship as a “very special start,” and she’s recalled how Ronaldo was never shy about his affluence, even back then. Many times he’d come after work,” she recounted during her Netflix series. “He would come, I remember, once in a Bugatti. My coworkers went crazy. They get there on the bus, and I would leave in a Bugatti. I mean, people couldn’t believe it.” Talk about making an entrance! It’s clear their love story has been anything but ordinary, leading up to this monumental moment.
This isn’t just an engagement; it’s a declaration. A declaration of love, yes, but also a bold statement of luxury and enduring style. As Monika Ruggerino beautifully put it, “I love how this design simply showcases the exquisite oval cut diamond centre stone, which I suspect is upward of 15cts, flanked by two smaller oval or pear cut diamonds.” She added that “as we see a rise in popularity of fancy cut diamonds such as oval, pear, and marquise cut, so too do trends seem to be turning back to styles of a bygone era. I see influences from the likes of Bvlgari ‘Griffe’ design worn by Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren.”
Indeed, this isn’t merely a ring; it’s a dazzling ode to grandeur, a piece of natural art that will undoubtedly be treasured for a lifetime. The excitement is palpable as we look forward to what’s next for this iconic couple. With a ring that literally breaks records and captures the essence of their incredible journey, Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez have set a new standard for celebrity engagements. So, here’s to the happy couple and to a future as brilliant and sparkling as that incredible diamond on Georgina’s hand!
