Few marriages throughout history have captivated the attention of the world like Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III’s. A real-life fairytale between Hollywood royalty and true royalty is rare, especially when it involves one of the most expensive and famous engagement rings in history. Below we cover the history of Grace Kelly’s engagement rings (yes, she had two) and the iconic love story behind them.

If you’re inspired by Kelly’s historic engagement rings, explore similar VRAI engagement ring designs featuring our lab-grown diamonds.

What Was Grace Kelly’s Engagement Ring?

Grace Kelly had two historic engagement rings, both designed by Cartier.

Cartier Diamond and Ruby Eternity Band

Prince Rainier initially proposed to Grace Kelly with a Cartier Eternity Band. The Eternity Band is comprised of alternating heirloom red rubies and diamonds from the family's collection. The white and red stones represented Monaco’s flag.

Cartier Emerald Cut Diamond Three Stone Engagement Ring

Grace Kelly’s second and most famous engagement ring is her Three Stone engagement ring. The ring has a 10.48-carat Emerald cut center diamond with two Bezel set Baguette side stones. The Three Stone ring has a platinum band and was designed for her by Cartier.

History of Grace Kelly’s Two Engagement Rings

Grace Kelly’s Cartier engagement rings, especially her second one, have captivated attention throughout history. Her Three Stone engagement ring is one of the biggest and most expensive engagement rings in history.

Grace Kelly’s relationship with Cartier is almost as famous as her two engagement rings. Cartier even dedicated a room to her, The Princess Grace of Monaco Salon, in their New York City Cartier mansion.

Why Did Grace Kelly Have Two Engagement Rings?

Some say Grace Kelly had two engagement rings by chance, while others say Prince Rainier had always planned to give her another engagement ring. Either way, Prince Rainier initially proposed with the Cartier Eternity band in 1955. This stunning ring featured heirloom family stones.

That same year, while Grace Kelly was filming her last movie, High Society, Prince Rainier heard that she was going to wear a large fake engagement ring for the role. He offered to get her another engagement ring instead. Of course, Kelly and the costume designers agreed. Prince Rainier had her now-famous Three Stone engagement ring commissioned by Cartier in Paris, reportedly, and transferred to Monaco.

This jaw-dropping engagement ring became a key part of the movie and made history. Kelly wore The Three Stone Ring instead of her original Eternity Band for years after.

What Cut Was Grace Kelly’s Ring?

The Cartier Three Stone engagement ring famously made for Grace Kelly had an Emerald cut center diamond with Baguette cut side stones.

How Many Carats Was Grace Kelly’s Engagement Ring?

Grace Kelly’s Three Stone engagement ring featured a 10.38 carat Emerald cut diamond. It was one of the biggest diamonds to be featured in an engagement ring at the time.

Grace Kelly Engagement Ring Cost

Grace Kelly’s Cartier Three Stone engagement ring reportedly cost an estimated four million dollars to make in 1955. It is one of the most expensive engagement rings ever made, even today, and is currently worth roughly $38.8 million.

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III Marriage: A Hollywood Fairytale

In the early 1950s, Grace Kelly was one of the biggest and highest-paid movie stars in Hollywood. While her Oscar-winning acting career was short-lived, her iconic status as a movie star turned Princess has lived on forever.

In April of 1955, Prince Kelly attended the Cannes Film Festival to promote her new movie, The Country Girl. Prince Rainier III, the Prince of Monaco, heard that Kelly was in Cannes and made it his mission to meet her. After two failed attempts due to her busy schedule, Prince Rainier invited her to a tour and photo shoot at the Palace of Monaco.

In true fairytale fashion, they fell in love immediately and began a seven-month long-distance relationship through written letters. For Christmas, Prince Rainier sailed to Philadelphia and proposed to Kelly with her first engagement ring, the Cartier Eternity Band, in her family home. At the time, Kelly was filming High Society (this would be her final film). During production, Prince Rainier commissioned her historic second engagement ring, which she wore as part of her character.

Once the movie finished, Kelly left Hollywood for Monaco to marry the Prince. This meant retiring from her esteemed film career. They married in a civil ceremony on April 18, 1956, the day before their televised wedding. Kelly was 26 years old, and Prince Rainier was 32 when they married.

The official wedding took place on April 19th at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco. Over 30 million people watched the televised historic event, and MGM even made it into a film.

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III were very much in love and had three children. They enjoyed 26 years of marriage together before Grace Kelly died suddenly in 1982. While driving, she had a stroke that caused her to crash the car. Kelly reportedly died from the injuries of the car crash. Prince Rainier never remarried and passed away in 2005, 23 years later.

Who Inherited Grace Kelly’s Engagement Rings?

After Grace Kelly died, both of her engagement rings were given to the House of Grimaldi, where they remain today.

Grace Kelly Inspired VRAI Created Diamond Engagement Rings

Grace Kelly’s Three Stone engagement ring has inspired countless engagement rings throughout history, including Elizabeth Taylor’s and Jennifer Lopez’s.

To emulate her engagement ring, choose a symbolic Three Stone setting with an Emerald cut center diamond and Baguette side stones. Our captivating Trellis Three Stone setting with Emerald cut diamonds adds a contemporary twist to this historic art deco style.

If you prefer her stunning heirloom Eternity Band, consider an Eternity Band with large Round Brilliant cut diamonds and a yellow gold band.

Design a Custom Engagement Ring With VRAI

Part of what made Grace Kelly’s engagement so iconic was the distinct details designed just for her. Create your own iconic custom-design engagement ring with VRAI. Book a complimentary consultation with our diamond experts to make your dream engagement ring come to life.

At VRAI, every engagement ring we make is produced through expert craftsmanship and premium materials. Our Carbon Neutral Certified lab-grown diamonds are the epitome of sustainable luxury. Your VRAI engagement ring can now stand the test of time without sacrificing your values.