Hailey Bieber’s Oval Engagement Ring Was Designed to Look Bigger Than It Is
THE RUNDOWN
- Hailey Bieber debuted her upgraded engagement ring last summer: a Lorraine Schwartz-designed elongated oval engagement ring.
- Hailey revealed it was only one carat bigger than her original 6-10 carat oval ring.
- Jewelers spoke to ELLE about how Hailey’s ring was constructed, its estimated $1M+ value, and how her ring has sparked greater jewelry trends among their clients.
Last summer, Hailey Bieber confirmed that she and Justin Bieber had upgraded the oval engagement ring he gave her in 2018. The new version, designed by Lorraine Schwartz, is not 10 carats bigger than her original piece, despite rumors. “Actually, this is only one carat bigger. It’s just elongated,” she clarified to W magazine, referring to the shape of the diamond.
Here, jewelry experts break down what to know about her sparkler—and how it is still shaping engagement ring trends.
Hailey’s first oval engagement ring was designed by Solow & Co. It was between 6 to 10 carats, and jeweler Jack Solow told People he only had a “few weeks” to make the custom piece.
Solow discussed how Justin was part of the process. “Justin did have a hand in selecting the diamond because I sent videos to his team,” Solow said. “I know him through [his then-manager] Scooter Braun. When it came time to find a ring, Justin asked Scooter and said, ‘I’m ready to pop the question’ and he said, ‘There is only one place to go, ask Jack.'”
Solow added, “In the end, Justin wanted something that would gracefully accentuate Hailey’s beautifully shaped hands. We settled on an oval stone that was just exceptional in its length and grace.”
Hailey Bieber in New York on Sept. 6, 2018.
A closer look at Hailey Bieber’s original engagement ring that night.
Hailey herself confirmed that her upgraded ring was only one carat bigger than her first ring.
“The most notable trait of her diamond is how elongated it is!” New York jeweler Steph Mazuera, who founded her own namesake brand that creates made-to-order engagement rings, told ELLE. “It’s trending towards Moval, which a term for very elongated oval cut. It has a higher length-to-width ratio than a typical oval-cut diamond. A more elongated stone can often appear larger than its carat weight suggests because of its larger surface area. Elongated stones are ultra elegant on the finger and can often appear larger than a diamond with a more standard ratio.”
Mazuera shared an example with ELLE, noting that the top elongated oval diamond had a smaller carat weight than the oval diamond below it.
“The more elongated stone on top is 2.85 carats, while the bottom is 3.08 carats. The more elongated 2.85 is longer and appears much larger for its carat weight,” Steph Mazuera tells ELLE.
Given Hailey’s original engagement ring is 6 to 10 carats, and she said her new one is only one carat bigger, the upgraded piece is likely 7 to 11 carats.
Of course, it looks far bigger based on photos. Hera jewelry founder and CEO Lauren Boc told ELLE, “Her new diamond looks like 8 to 10 carats to me. It’s a very elongated oval—longer and skinnier than the average oval diamond on the market. Those really elongated ovals are difficult to find. I would consider this to be a specialty cut.”
Mazuera agreed that 7-11 carats seemed accurate and noted the elongated shape makes it difficult to pinpoint an exact weight.
In terms of the piece’s value, both Mazuera and Boc said it could be worth over $1 million. “I would estimate Hailey’s ring to be in the seven-figure range, likely between $1 and $1.5 million depending on the exact grading and qualities of the stone,” Mazuera said.
Boc gave a similar figure: “Assuming the diamond is mined and of exceptional quality, this ring could easily have cost $1 million or more.”
A side view of Hailey Bieber’s upgraded engagement ring
There’s a practical design behind Bieber’s gold setting.
Boc explained, “Her engagement ring has a clean, minimal aesthetic that suits her style perfectly, with NSEW [North, South, East, West, also known as compass] claw prongs and a classic half-round band that looks about 3 mm wide. This is heftier than the average engagement ring band, but it’s very smart for the durability of the ring with such a large diamond. Those NSEW claw prongs add a little twist to the ring, which is otherwise very classic. We have a lot of clients request NSEW prongs because it adds a unique design element but maintains a simple, elegant look. From what I can tell from photos, this ring is also elevated off her finger more than the original engagement ring, which would allow her to stack straight wedding bands with it.”
Mazuera echoed those observations, saying, “Her diamond is set with compass style prongs, giving the ring a more modern edge in comparison to her previous ring, which had prongs in the four corners instead. I especially like that the band of Hailey’s new ring is a bit thicker than her previous ring. A large diamond needs the correct structure to ensure it’s wearable and secure.”
Mazuera and Boc noted that Hailey’s ring has added fuel to the growing trend of elongated diamond rings.
“Hailey’s ring has undeniably sparked a shift toward larger, more elongated engagement rings,” Mazuera told ELLE, noting that “the key to making a trendy ring style feel enduring and truly your own is collaborating with a jeweler who can tailor the design to reflect your personal style while capturing the essence of your inspiration.”
Boc added, “Hailey is such a trendsetter. She popularized oval engagement rings as the trendy shape back in 2018 when she got engaged. Her new, more elongated oval engagement ring is also right on trend, as we’re seeing more people gravitate toward longer, skinnier shapes like elongated ovals and marquise cuts.”
Boc noted that upgrade rings don’t always look like Hailey’s. “We work with a lot of couples who are resetting their diamonds into new engagement rings, but it’s less common to purchase a new diamond like Hailey has for her updated ring,” she explained. “Often our clients decide to update their ring as part of a milestone wedding anniversary like five or 10 years. They’re usually looking for a design that’s more practical, or their style has changed, and they want to update the design.”
Mazuera shared that she believes “it’s becoming more and more normalized to reset an engagement ring.” She added, “I’m seeing more clients who want to take their more traditional engagement rings and reset them into more unique, sculptural and personalized settings. There’s a magic to recycling previously loved materials and creating something new that speaks to who you have grown into over time.”
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