Grace Kelly Had 2 Engagement Rings, Including a 10-Carat Stunner from Prince Rainier

Grace Kelly’s engagement jewelry is often reduced to a single iconic diamond, but the full story is more layered, and it reveals how timing, symbolism, and image-making shaped one of the most famous royal romances of the 20th century.

Grace Kelly is remembered for her cool, luminous screen presence and her Academy Award–winning talent. Her engagement rings also built a lasting legacy.

Nearly 70 years after she traded movie sets for palace life, the jewelry Prince Rainier III gave her is still cited as the blueprint for a “royal-worthy” diamond: classic, structured, and undeniably grand.

From Cannes Trip to Monaco Meeting

Kelly’s path to royalty began on the French Riviera in 1955. While in the region for the Cannes Film Festival, she took part in a photocall at the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, where she met Prince Rainier. The encounter, arranged during the Cannes whirlwind, sparked a courtship that quickly drew international attention.

By the end of that year, their relationship had accelerated dramatically. Rainier proposed over the Christmas holidays in 1955, setting the stage for one of the most famous marriages of the 20th century.

Engagement Ring No. 1: The Ruby-and-Diamond Eternity Band

Although many people picture only one ring when they think of Kelly’s engagement, there were actually two. The first was an eternity band set with alternating rubies and diamonds, often described as featuring heirloom red rubies from Rainier’s family.

The design was not just beautiful. It carried symbolism. The red-and-white pairing echoed the colors of Monaco’s flag, turning a romantic gift into a subtle statement of identity and duty.

This ring is sometimes framed as a “starter” or “placeholder,” mainly because the ring that followed became the enduring icon. Still, the band matters in the story. It marked the moment the engagement became official, before the world saw the dazzling diamond that would later dominate headlines.

Engagement Ring No. 2: The Cartier 10.48-Carat Emerald-Cut Showstopper

Kelly’s second engagement ring is the jewel that lives forever in jewelry history books. It was a Cartier three-stone ring featuring a large emerald-cut diamond in the center, flanked by two baguette side stones in a clean, elegant setting. The center stone is widely reported at 10.48 carats, a size that is breathtaking, yet balanced by the sleek geometry of the cut.

According to widely repeated accounts, Rainier gave her this ring while she was filming "High Society." The detail feels especially fitting because the 1956 movie became her final film before she left acting behind to embrace royal duties. She even wore the ring on screen, which only increased its visibility and mystique.

Over time, Kelly was often photographed wearing the emerald-cut ring instead of the ruby-and-diamond band. That choice helped cement the Cartier diamond as the engagement ring in the public imagination.

A Ring With a Price Tag That Still Stuns

The Cartier emerald-cut ring is also famous for its value. It has been widely reported to have cost around $4 million in 1956. More recent estimates commonly place it at roughly $38.8 million today, which helps explain why it is so often labeled one of the most expensive engagement rings in history.

Valuations can vary depending on the source and assumptions. Even so, few rings rival this one for its provenance, star power, and enduring influence.

Their marriage unfolded over two days in April 1956. The civil ceremony took place on April 18, 1956, in the throne room of the Prince’s Palace. The religious ceremony followed the following day at Saint Nicholas Cathedral. With that, the actress became Princess Grace, and her engagement rings became part of royal history.

After becoming Princess Grace, Kelly and Prince Rainier built a family that became central to Monaco’s modern royal identity. They welcomed three children: Caroline (born January 23, 1957), Albert (born March 14, 1958), and Stéphanie (born February 1, 1965).

Their children remain among the principality’s most recognized figures, and Albert II’s reign as Monaco’s sovereign prince has kept Grace’s legacy in the public eye long after her Hollywood career ended.