When Emily Ratajkowski first flashed her engagement ring on Instagram back in 2018, the jewelry world basically stopped spinning for a second. It wasn't just big. It was weird. Well, weird for the time. Before the "Em Rata wedding ring" became a global mood board staple, most people were still obsessing over classic solitaires or maybe a halo setting if they were feeling spicy. Emily and her then-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard did something different. They went with a Toi et Moi style—French for "You and Me"—featuring two massive, contrasting diamonds nestled against each other.
It looked expensive. It looked intentional. Honestly, it looked like a piece of art that just happened to be stuck on a finger.
But here’s the thing: that ring wasn't just a fashion statement. It kicked off a massive shift in how people think about engagement jewelry. Suddenly, asymmetry was cool. Mixing cuts was the new standard. But the story of how that ring came to be—and where it ended up after her divorce—is way more interesting than just a high price tag or a carat count.
📖 Related: Robert Downey Jr and Hugh Jackman: The Truth Behind Marvel's Multiverse Bet
The Breakdown of the Original Emily Ratajkowski Wedding Ring
Let's talk specs because that's what everyone actually wants to know. The ring features two distinct stones. You've got a pear-cut diamond and a princess-cut diamond.
They aren't just sitting there; they are angled toward each other on a thick, 18-karat yellow gold band. The pear shape is roughly five carats, while the princess cut sits at about three. That’s a lot of ice. Most experts estimate the value somewhere between $50,000 and $90,000 depending on the clarity, though some celebrity jewelers have argued it could be worth much more given the provenance.
Interestingly, Emily actually had a hand in the design. She didn't just walk into a store and point. She told Vogue that she and Sebastian went through a whole process. They looked at a bunch of different stones. At one point, they were even using a safety pin as a temporary band while they figured out the design.
Can you imagine? One of the world’s most famous models walking around with a diamond held on by a safety pin? It’s kind of iconic.
Eventually, they landed on the two-stone look. They worked with the jewelry brand Alison Lou, specifically the creative director Alison Chemla, who is a close friend of Emily’s. The goal was to create something that felt "untraditional" but still high-end. They nailed it. The thick gold band was a specific choice, too. It makes the diamonds look grounded rather than delicate. It’s a sturdy, bold piece of jewelry that doesn't apologize for its size.
Why the Toi et Moi Style Exploded
After Emily debuted her ring, the "Toi et Moi" trend went nuclear. We started seeing it everywhere. Kylie Jenner got one. Megan Fox got a version with an emerald and a diamond. Ariana Grande had one with a pearl.
But Emily’s version remains the blueprint.
The appeal is pretty straightforward. You get two different "personalities" in one ring. The princess cut is sharp, architectural, and stable. The pear cut is soft, teardrop-shaped, and elegant. Putting them together creates a visual tension that a single stone just can’t replicate. It’s a metaphor for two different people coming together. Romantic? Sure. But mostly, it just looks incredible in photos.
There’s also the historical angle. This isn’t a "new" invention. Napoleon Bonaparte famously gave Josephine a Toi et Moi ring in 1796. It featured a sapphire and a diamond. So, while Emily popularized it for the Gen Z and Millennial crowd, she was actually tapping into a very old, very classic French jewelry tradition.
The "Divorce Rings" Evolution
Fast forward to 2024. The marriage ended. In most cases, the engagement ring ends up in a safe, or it gets sold, or it becomes a source of bitterness. Not for Em Rata.
She decided to repurpose the stones.
This is where she really changed the game again. She took the original diamonds from her wedding ring and turned them into "Divorce Rings." Working again with Alison Lou, she separated the pear and princess diamonds. The pear-cut stone was set onto a new yellow gold band, positioned horizontally (often called an "east-west" setting). The princess-cut stone was flanked by two additional trapezoid diamonds to create a whole new piece.
She shared the results on Instagram with the caption "Divorce Rings."
The move was polarizing. Some people thought it was a bit much. Others found it incredibly empowering. It’s a literal manifestation of taking something from a past chapter and reshaping it into something new for yourself. It’s about personal evolution.
From a technical standpoint, the redesign is brilliant. By turning the pear diamond sideways, it looks completely different. It no longer screams "engagement." It looks like a high-fashion cocktail ring. It’s a way to keep the value of the stones without the emotional baggage of the original setting.
What This Means for Jewelry Trends in 2026
If you’re looking at the Emily Ratajkowski wedding ring as inspiration for your own jewelry, there are a few takeaways that aren't going away.
First: Yellow gold is king. The choice of 18k yellow gold for both the original ring and the divorce rings proves that the cool-toned platinum/white gold era is taking a backseat to warmer, richer metals.
Second: Asymmetry is here to stay. People are moving away from perfect symmetry. They want pieces that feel "found" or custom-built. Mixing a round stone with a baguette, or a marquise with an oval—this is the new standard for custom engagement rings.
Third: Jewelry is fluid. You aren't stuck with a setting forever. If your style changes, or your life changes, the "Em Rata" approach shows that diamonds are just raw materials for your current identity.
How to Get the Look (Without the Celeb Budget)
You don't need $100,000 to pull off this vibe. If you love the look of the Emily Ratajkowski wedding ring, you can achieve it through a few smart choices:
- Lab-Grown Diamonds: You can get the same carat weight for a fraction of the price. Since the Toi et Moi style relies on the scale of the stones, lab-grown is a great way to get that "big" look.
- Moissanite: If you want the sparkle of the pear and princess cuts without the diamond price tag, moissanite is a durable, high-brilliance alternative.
- Alternative Gemstones: Think about mixing a clear stone with a colored one. A blue sapphire and a white diamond look stunning in this setting.
- Focus on the Band: Don't go too thin. Part of what makes Emily’s ring work is the "chunky" gold band. It gives the ring a modern, editorial feel.
Ultimately, the legacy of this ring isn't just about the diamonds. It’s about the fact that Emily Ratajkowski treated her wedding jewelry like a fashion accessory rather than a sacred, unchangeable relic. She took risks with the design, she took risks with the redesign, and in doing so, she gave everyone else permission to do the same.
Whether you're getting married, getting divorced, or just buying yourself something nice, the lesson is clear: your jewelry should tell your story, even if that story has multiple chapters.
Actionable Insights for Jewelry Buyers
- Prioritize the Pear: If you’re doing a two-stone ring, the pear cut usually provides the most "visual real estate," making the ring look larger than its carat weight suggests.
- Width Matters: For a Toi et Moi setting, ensure the band is at least 2.5mm to 3.5mm wide to support the weight of two stones and prevent them from spinning on your finger.
- Think Long-Term: Choose stones that you actually like individually. If you ever decide to reset them—as Emily did—you want two stones that can stand alone as beautiful pieces of jewelry.
- Angle is Everything: When designing an asymmetrical ring, the "tilt" of the pear diamond is crucial. Work with a jeweler to see how different angles look against your specific finger shape; a slight tilt can make your fingers look longer and more slender.