Jackie Kennedy's Rings: Sparkle & Scandal

Jacqueline Kennedy's engagement rings from her two famous marriages continue to inspire modern brides with their elegant and statement-making styles. Her first engagement to John F. Kennedy in 1953 was marked by a distinctive 'toi et moi' ring featuring a 2.84-carat emerald and a 2.88-carat diamond. This unique design, possibly selected by JFK's father, was later reimagined by Kennedy herself into a laurel wreath motif. Following JFK's assassination in 1963, the ring was placed in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Five years later, in 1968, Jacqueline Kennedy married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. For this proposal, Onassis presented her with a spectacular 40-carat marquise-cut diamond from Harry Winston. This lavish ring, which she largely kept in safekeeping, became synonymous with her 'Jackie O' persona. The Lesotho III diamond ring was later sold at auction in 1996 for $2.58 million. Kennedy's engagement jewelry, from the unconventional two-stone design to the immense single stone, highlights her enduring influence on fashion and bridal trends.