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Grace Kelly’s Engagement Ring: Get The Look

Grace Kelly’s engagement ring is one of the most iconic pieces of jewellery in history- considered a symbol of timeless elegance much like Kelly herself. The Oscar-winning actress known for roles in Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, and The Country Girl, became the symbol of Hollywood glamour. Not only this but Kelly went from Hollywood royal to true royalty. This is because of her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Her engagement ring is as legendary as her on screen presence.

Grace Kelly - To Catch A Thief, Rear Window, Country Girls
(left to right)
To Catch A Thief (1955)
Rear Window (1954), directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Country Girls (1954, photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

The Royal Meeting

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier first met during the Cannes Film Festival in the spring of 1955. Kelly was in France promoting To Catch a Thief. This is when Prince Rainier sneakily arranged a photoshoot at his palace to meet her. The two hit it off immediately, staying in touch through letters over the following months. Their romantic correspondence led to Rainier visiting Kelly’s hometown of Philadelphia that Christmas, where he proposed.

Grace Kelly at Cannes Festival - May 6, 1955
At Cannes Festival, just before meeting Prince Rainier – May 6, 1955 (Bridgeman Images)

Grace Kelly’s First Engagement Ring

When the newly engaged couple held a press conference at Kelly’s family home, she debuted an elegant engagement ring. However, this wasn’t the famous diamond ring we associate with her today. The first engagement ring Rainier gave Kelly was an eternity band from Cartier, featuring rubies and diamonds. The design, made from family heirlooms, was a tribute to Monaco’s national flag, with the red and white stones representing its colours.

Grace Kelly shows her parents her engagement ring in the house
Grace Kelly shows her parents her engagement ring / Getty

The Iconic Cartier Diamond Ring

The ring that would later become Grace Kelly’s most famous engagement ring didn’t make an appearance until she was filming High Society, her last movie before retiring. The film’s costume designer had planned to use a prop ring for Kelly’s character. But Prince Rainier decided to gift her a second engagement ring instead—one that was fit for (screen) royalty.


(left) High Society (1956)
(right) The 10.48-carat emerald cut diamond and platinum engagement ring (Image: Cartier)

The 10.48-carat emerald-cut diamond, designed by Cartier, was flanked by two baguette-cut diamonds on each side. This stunning piece became one of the most admired engagement rings in history, and its appearance in High Society cemented its place in pop culture. The ring’s dazzle would match its owner, and glimpses of it in the movie have captivated audiences for decades.

Get The Look

Actress Grace Kelly in casual pose with armful of roses standing on sidewalk
With an armful of roses standing on sidewalk in New York City (Photo by Lisa Larsen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Grace Kelly’s Connection to Cartier

Grace Kelly’s relationship with Cartier extended beyond her engagement rings. She was introduced to the iconic jewellery house by film director Alfred Hitchcock. From that moment on, Kelly became a loyal fan. In fact, Cartier has dedicated an entire room in their New York mansion to the style icon, paying homage to her lasting influence.

The Princess Grace Salon, Cartier Fifth Avenue
The Princess Grace Salon inside the Cartier flagship boutique on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The oval-shaped salon houses Cartier’s engagement rings, and features several portraits of the former Grace Kelly in her own Cartier jewels.

A Legacy That Lives On

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier enjoyed a 26-year marriage, raising three children: Stephanie, Caroline, and Albert II. Tragically, the icon passed away at the age of 52 following a stroke that caused a fatal car accident in 1982. However, Grace Kelly’s legacy endures through her films, her family, and her unforgettable engagement rings, both of which remain cherished pieces in the House of Grimaldi.

Grace Kelly’s engagement ring is more than just a piece of jewellery—it’s a symbol of her elegance, her love story with Prince Rainier, and her everlasting influence on both Hollywood and royalty.

DID YOU KNOW?
The ring is still one of the most expensive engagement rings estimated to cost $4 million, roughly $38 million in today’s money

Get The Look

Grace Kelly engagement ring

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