We all know Grace Kelly’s dazzling $4 million diamond, but did you know there was another ring? Her lesser-known first engagement ring from Prince Rainier was a stunning Cartier piece with its own rich history. The story behind its replacement is just as fascinating. Which piece of royal jewelry do you find more captivating?

Grace Kelly, a paragon of Old Hollywood glamour, not only set an unbelievably high standard for royal elegance upon her marriage in 1956 but also possessed an engagement ring story far more intricate than most realize. While her iconic $4 million diamond is universally celebrated, a significant and equally stunning predecessor often goes unmentioned, offering a deeper insight into her royal journey and the fascinating history of her jewelry.

The 10.4-carat emerald-cut diamond ring, a gift from Prince Rainier III of Monaco, quickly became one of the most expensive celebrity gems and iconic royal jewels ever. Its dazzling brilliance and immense value have cemented its place in public memory, defining an era of unprecedented luxury and cementing Grace Kelly’s image as a true princess.

However, the narrative of Prince Rainier’s proposal to Grace Kelly in December 1955, following their meeting at the Cannes Film Festival earlier that year, began with a distinctly different piece of jewelry. This initial offering, while not as widely recognized, carried its own unique beauty and profound symbolic meaning.

Engagement ring specialist Laura Taylor shed light on this lesser-known piece, highlighting its importance within the annals of royal jewelry history. The first ring, also from Cartier, was an eternity band exquisitely set with a combination of sparkling rubies and diamonds, each stone meticulously chosen to represent an everlasting bond.

According to Taylor, eternity bands were frequently exchanged in aristocratic and royal circles to commemorate significant milestones or engagements, symbolizing enduring love and commitment. Given its historical provenance and the esteemed figure it adorned, this initial ring could command a value exceeding $100,000 today, making it a valuable artifact in its own right.

Despite being photographed wearing the ruby and diamond eternity band in her official engagement portraits, Grace Kelly was notably seen sporting a completely different ring by the time of her final on-screen appearance in the film “High Society.” This transition has fueled various theories, including the popular belief that the Prince acquired the larger diamond to fulfill a cinematic requirement for her character.

Regardless of the precise reasons behind the switch, the replacement ring remains a marvel of design and craftsmanship. Laura Taylor further details its breathtaking features: a magnificent 10.47 carat emerald-cut diamond flanked by elegant tapered baguette side stones, a design perfectly suited to the unparalleled sophistication and grace of Princess Grace of Monaco.

The choice of an emerald cut for such a prominent engagement ring is particularly noteworthy. As a step cut, it presents a more subtle sparkle compared to brilliant cuts like round or cushion diamonds. This characteristic, however, means that any internal flaws within the diamond are more easily discernible, thus necessitating a stone of exceptional clarity and color, underscoring Prince Rainier’s impeccable taste and the diamond’s superior quality.

Both of Grace Kelly’s engagement rings—the understated, symbolically rich Cartier band and the globally recognized colossal diamond—stand as testament to a captivating period in royal history and the enduring allure of extraordinary royal jewels and celebrity diamonds. They collectively tell a tale of love, cinema, and an indelible legacy that continues to fascinate audiences worldwide, solidifying their place among the most cherished historical jewelry pieces.