In 1949, while draped in bright pink silk and glittering in carats upon carats of diamonds, Marilyn Monroe said, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”
And in the engagement ring arena, that’s especially true. Sparkling, timeless, elegant and durable, diamonds have been the go-to for rings for decades.
But if diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then non-diamond engagement rings are a girl’s playful mate who’s always sending her DMs from her weekend escapes.
That is: exciting, fun and unexpected.
Over the years, several celebrities have opted to buck the diamond tradition in favour of something a touch more out of the box. Whether it’s a gemstone like a sapphire or a ruby, or something truly unique like a pearl or a moonstone, these 15 stars embraced something a little different.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Although she doesn’t wear it often (opting, more often than not, for a gold signet), Gwyneth Paltrow’s engagement ring from husband Brad Falchuk is a massive round-cut sapphire, weighing in around 12 carats.
![Gwyneth Paltrow engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75681/gwyneth-paltrow.jpg)
Emma Stone
Opting out of stones altogether, Emma Stone wears a ring featuring an 8mm round pearl, set into beige gold.
![Emma Stone engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75679/emma-stone.jpg)
Kate Middleton
Maybe one of the most famous non-diamond rings ever, Kate Middleton’s 12-carat Ceylon sapphire ring was inherited from her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales.
![Kate Middleton engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75684/kate-middleton.jpg)
Katy Perry
Combining a halo of diamonds with a pink centre stone (rumoured to be either a ruby, a pink sapphire or a pink diamond), Katy Perry’s ring from Orlando Bloom is set in a distinct ‘daisy’ style, mirroring her daughter’s name, Daisy Bloom.
![Katy Perry engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75685/katy-perry.jpg)
Anna Paquin
Another celebrity who chose not to go with a precious stone is Anna Paquin, who wears a moonstone from husband Stephen Moyer.
![Anna Paquin engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75677/anna-paquin.jpg)
Eva Longoria
Similar to Katy Perry’s, Eva Longoria also wears a ruby ring surrounded by a diamond halo. However, Longoria’s is set in platinum.
![Eva Longoria engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75680/eva-longoria.jpg)
Penélope Cruz
Cruz was gifted this stunning sapphire-and-diamond ring by husband Javier Bardem in 2010.
![Penélope Cruz engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75687/penelope-crus.jpg)
Sarah Ferguson
Rumour has it that in the ’80s, when Sarah Ferguson became engaged to Prince Andrew, she requested a ruby engagement ring to ‘match her hair.’ She got her wish—the royal gave her a Burmese ruby set into yellow gold, with pear-shaped diamonds cut to look like petals.
![Sarah Ferguson engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75690/sarah-ferguson.jpg)
Princess Eugenie of York
Sarah’s daughter, Princess Eugenie (who is currently expecting her first child!), reportedly requested a ring from her then-boyfriend Jack Brooksbank that was inspired by her mother’s. And while it is pink, the stone is actually a padparadshca sapphire.
![Princess Eugenie engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75689/princess-eugenie.jpg)
Halle Berry
Halle Berry’s rustic gold-and-emerald ring was hand-forged by famed French jeweller Robert Mazio, and reportedly includes ‘Phoenician codes’ that have personal meaning for Berry and Olivier Martinez.
![Halle Berry engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75682/halle-berry.jpg)
Lady Gaga
Although her engagement has since ended, Lady Gaga’s ring from Christian Carino was a six- or seven-carat pink sapphire in a diamond halo, worth approximately $400,000 USD.
![Lady Gaga engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75686/lady-gaga.jpg)
Zoe Saldana
Since she originally wore a more traditional diamond ring, it’s thought that this pear-shaped emerald is either a second engagement ring or an anniversary gift from husband Marco Perego-Saldana.
![Zoe Saldana engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75691/zoe-saldana.jpg)
Elizabeth Hurley
Her engagement to Shane Warne may not have lasted but the appeal of this emerald-cut sapphire is forever.
![Elizabeth Hurley engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75678/elizabeth-hurley.jpg)
Poppy Delevingne
A truly unique setting, Poppy Delevingne’s ring from James Cook consists of an emerald-cut blue diamond flanked by heart-cut white diamonds.
![Poppy Delevingne engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75688/poppy-delevingne.jpg)
Jessica Simpson
Set in a classic trilogy setting, Jessica Simpson’s ring combines a five-carat ruby flanked by two diamonds.
![Jessica Simpson engagement ring.](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/media/75683/jessica-simpsno.jpg)