When Kanye West proposed to Kim Kardashian in 2013, he didn’t just buy a ring. He rented out AT&T Park in San Francisco, hired a 50-piece orchestra, and projected "PLEEEASE MARRY MEEE!!!" on a giant jumbotron. The rock that went with it? Pure insanity. But here is the thing: most people forget there wasn't just one kim kardashian ring kanye gave her. There were actually two. One is still tucked away in a vault, destined for their daughter North West, while the other—the massive 20-carat "upgrade"—is likely sitting at the bottom of a furnace or chopped into tiny, unrecognizable pieces on the black market.
It's a weird, sparkling, and ultimately tragic saga.
The First Ring: 15 Carats of Flawless Glass
The original engagement ring Kanye gave Kim was a 15-carat cushion-cut diamond. He worked directly with Lorraine Schwartz, the jeweler to the stars, to make sure the stone looked like it was literally "floating" on Kim’s finger. To get that look, they used a super thin platinum band covered in micro-pavé diamonds.
This stone wasn't just big; it was technically perfect. We’re talking D-color and internally flawless. In the diamond world, that’s as good as it gets. It was also a Type IIa diamond, which is a rare category that contains almost no nitrogen, making the stone incredibly clear. Estimates at the time put the price tag anywhere between $2 million and $4 million, though some appraisers today suggest the replacement value is closer to $8 million because of the rarity of a Type IIa stone that size.
Honestly, it’s a miracle she still has this one.
✨ Don't miss: Shannon Tweed Net Worth: Why She is Much More Than a Rockstar Wife
The $4.5 Million "Upgrade" and the Paris Heist
Fast forward to 2016. Kanye decided the 15-carat rock wasn't enough. He surprised Kim with a second ring—a 20-carat emerald-cut diamond. This one was even more impressive, featuring a massive, rectangular stone that Kim famously flashed in a series of Instagram posts and at the VMAs. It even had "Adidas" engraved on the inside to celebrate Kanye’s massive deal with the brand. Kinda weird for a romantic gesture, but very Kanye.
Then came the night in Paris.
In October 2016, while Kim was staying at the No Address Hotel for Fashion Week, she was robbed at gunpoint. The thieves made off with about $10 million in jewelry. The centerpiece of that haul? The 20-carat kim kardashian ring kanye had just bought her.
One of the men involved in the heist, Aomar Ait Khedache, later told investigators that most of the jewelry was melted down and sold in Antwerp. However, he mentioned the ring was different. Everyone was "afraid to sell it" because a 20-carat D-flawless emerald cut is so rare that it’s essentially a homing beacon for the police. Despite various rumors over the years, that specific ring has never been recovered. It’s a ghost.
🔗 Read more: Kellyanne Conway Age: Why Her 59th Year Matters More Than Ever
Why the Original Ring Survived
You might wonder why the first ring wasn't taken too. It turns out Kanye actually gave Kim some prophetic advice. He reportedly told her, "Don’t you ever wear both of your rings at the same time."
Because she followed that rule, the original 15-carat cushion-cut was sitting safely in a box at home while she was in France. It became the only major piece of jewelry she still owned from that era.
Passing the Torch to North West
In 2025, Kim finally went on record about what she plans to do with the remaining kim kardashian ring kanye gave her. During an episode of The Kardashians, she shared that the 15-carat ring is officially being saved for North West.
The reasoning is pretty sentimental. North was actually there (as a tiny baby in her mother’s arms) when Kanye proposed at the stadium. Kim even has photos of North holding the ring just moments after the "yes." Even though Kim and Kanye’s marriage ended in a very public, often messy divorce, Kim has been vocal about keeping the "good memories" intact for her kids. Giving North the ring is her way of preserving the start of that family story.
💡 You might also like: Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
What to Look for If You Want the "Kim K" Look
If you're looking at your own hand and thinking a 15-carat rock sounds nice, you don't necessarily need Kanye's bank account to get the vibe. The "Kim style" basically reinvented the "floating" solitaire trend.
- The Cut: Stick with a Cushion Cut (for the 2013 look) or Emerald Cut (for the 2016 look).
- The Band: Go for a "whisper-thin" platinum pavé band. It makes the center stone look twice as large.
- The Setting: Use a four-prong setting placed at the "compass points" (12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock) to maximize light.
Just maybe skip the "Adidas" engraving on the inside.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors and Fans
- Check the Specs: If you are buying a diamond for investment, look for "Type IIa" certifications. These stones hold value better because they represent the top 1-2% of all diamonds found in nature.
- Insure Your Jewelry: If Kim Kardashian can get robbed in a high-security hotel, anyone can. Use a specialized jewelry insurer like Jewelers Mutual rather than just a standard homeowners policy.
- Safety First: Take a page from Kanye's book—never wear all your high-value pieces at once. Keeping your "backup" ring in a floor-bolted safe or a bank deposit box is the only way to ensure it stays in the family for the next generation.
The kim kardashian ring kanye story is a reminder that even the most expensive things can vanish in a second, but the history behind them usually stays put.