Scarlett Johansson’s Engagement Ring Proves She’s Finally Getting What She Wants
There are, to be clear, no real rules about engagement rings. I mean, Rebecca (of Biblical fame) got a nose ring and a stack of gold bracelets to tell the world she would be Isaac’s bride. And betrothal around 1215 meant a simple band of gold or silver. Diamonds did not enter the equation until 1477 when Archduke Maximilian of Austria used one to pledge eternal love to Mary of Burgundy, sparking a trend in their circles.
But Victorians paid no attention—they preferred colored stones and enamels and flower shaped styled called “posey rings.” Queen Victorias’ engagement ring from her beloved Albert was a ruby and emerald serpent.
But I would like to create a rule, if I may, and that is that by the third marriage—the third proposal—you should get the ring you really wanted all along. I declared this into jewelry law after seeing Scarlett Johansson’s 11-carat light brown, elongated oval diamond on a black ceramic band.
The ring marks ScarJo's betrothal to Colin Jost and is thought to be the work of T&C Super Jeweler James de Givenchy of Taffin, an inspired choice if ever there was one. De Givenchy is sometimes referred to as the James Bond of the jewelry world. His work is stealth and discreet (his Madison Avenue showroom, one of the most beautiful in New York, is by appointment only).
He works in uber-rare stones with incredible provenance but experiments with bold proportions and brightly colored ceramic settings.
This widely-discussed ring choice also serves to support my "third wedding" theory: Johansson’s first ring (via Ryan Reynolds) was a traditional round cut diamond set on yellow gold; her second (via Romain Dauriac) was a slightly less traditional Art Deco-inspired diamond style. And the third, the reported Taffin ring, is a singularly designed and rare cut stone in a ceramic setting that is—though inspired by Art Deco—created using innovative modern technology.
11 cts light brown diamond, type 2A.
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The stone also appears to be a Type IIa diamond. These diamonds, according to the GIA, “have no measurable nitrogen or boron impurities; they are usually colorless but they can also be gray, light brown, light yellow or light pink. Among all diamonds, those that are type IIa are chemically the most pure.” They are also the most rare. Johansson’s third engagement ring is the connoisseurs’ choice.
As always, when I stumble upon a theory, I turn to my trusted Jewelry Mafia to gather evidence. "Third-time-around couples are confident: they know what they want,” says Nico Landrigan, president of Verdura & Belperron. “They want to share the experience of buying something beautiful, choosing with their hearts and buying with their heads. And they usually don’t take too long—they know the value of time!" See also: Liz Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie.
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Some of these brides have used each wedding as a chance to go up in carat size (or sizes). "Jennifer Lopez recently went for a big diamond with Alex Rodriguez. Kim Kardashian received large diamonds for both her second and third engagements," says Greg Kwiat, CEO of Kwiat jewelers.
"Elizabeth Taylor’s third husband, Mike Todd, gave her a 29 carat diamond, and husband number four, Eddie Fisher, opted for a diamond bracelet, so as not to compete," says Ward Landrigan, CEO of Verdura. "Richard Burton’s Krupp diamond engagement ring to Taylor was also an exceptional 33 carats.” (Burton was husband five and six.)
Other brides use each as an opportunity to put a more personal point of view on the tradition. Lee Siegelson believes in the latter approach. “The best advice I can give for buying a wedding ring is the same for the first or tenth engagement: buy what you like,” says the third generation vintage dealer.
“Some clients wear their engagement rings all the time and want something more minimal, others see an opportunity to purchase a real showstopper that can come out for special occasions," he says. "The best jewelry is a piece that you feel deeply personally connected to. For some, that may be an Art Deco bombé diamond ring by Suzanne Belperron. For another it might be a cushion shaped Golconda diamond ring.” (And, he adds, “Siegelson is happy to help with all.”)
And Frank Everett offers practical—and hopeful—engagement ring advice for the third time bride. “Since traditional solitaires didn’t work the first two times,” says Everett, “I’d try something different. Maybe a massive eternity band—like 1.00 carat Asscher cuts all around—to be sure this one lasts forever.”
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