Kim Kardashian and jewelry. It’s a whole saga. Honestly, if you’ve followed her for the last two decades, you know the sparkle is as much a part of her brand as the shapewear. But when people talk about the Kim Kardashian engagement ring, they usually just mean the big Kanye ones.
That’s a mistake. There’s a whole trail of diamonds behind her.
Most people forget she’s been engaged four times and married thrice. Each ring tells a different story of where she was in her life—from a teenager eloping in Vegas to a global icon being robbed at gunpoint in Paris. Some were heirlooms. Some she literally bought herself. One was auctioned off for a fraction of its "estimated" value. It’s kinda wild when you look at the receipts.
The One You Forgot: The Damon Thomas Era
Let’s go way back to 2000. Kim was 19. She eloped with music producer Damon Thomas. At that time, she wasn’t "Kim K" yet. She was just Kris Jenner’s daughter.
Because they eloped, there wasn't this massive media frenzy over the rock. Interestingly, Kim recently revealed on The Kardashians that this first ring was actually a 14-carat cushion-cut diamond that belonged to her mom, Kris. It was a family heirloom.
Most people assume she ditched everything from that first marriage, but she actually still has it. It’s tucked away. Probably because it's a family piece rather than something Damon picked out. It’s the most "normal" ring in the collection, if you can call 14 carats normal.
The Kris Humphries Scandal: Who Actually Paid?
This is where things get messy. 2011. The 72-day marriage. We all remember the televised wedding and the $2 million price tag attached to the ring.
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It was a beast. Designed by Lorraine Schwartz, the ring featured a 16.21-carat emerald-cut center stone with two 1.8-carat diamonds on the sides. Total weight? Roughly 20 carats of platinum-heavy drama.
But here is the kicker: Kim recently dropped a truth bomb. She paid for about 80% of it.
"I bought it," she admitted to Khloé. "He contributed a fifth."
When the divorce turned into a legal war, Kris Humphries insisted on getting the ring back. Even though she paid for most of it, she gave it up just to get the divorce finalized while she was pregnant with North. In 2013, Kris auctioned it at Christie’s. The "2 million dollar" ring sold for just $749,000. That's a massive hit in value, but I guess when the "K [hearts] K" inscription is inside, the resale market gets a bit niche.
The Kanye West Era: Two Rings, One Nightmare
Kanye didn't just do things big; he did them twice.
The 15-Carat "Floating" Diamond
In 2013, Ye proposed at AT&T Park with a 15-carat cushion-cut diamond. Also Lorraine Schwartz. He wanted the stone to look like it was floating on her finger. It was a Type IIa diamond—internally flawless and D-color. Basically the purest diamond you can get.
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Experts valued this one at roughly $2 million to $4 million. This is the "survivor" ring. Kim still has it today. She’s mentioned she’s keeping it for North because North was there for the proposal.
The 20-Carat "Adidas" Upgrade
Then came 2016. Kanye woke her up in the middle of the night and put a box on her pillow. He told her he got her something from "Adidas." Inside was a 20-carat emerald-cut diamond.
It was even bigger than the first one. It was engraved with "Adidas" on the inside. This is the ring she was wearing in that famous Instagram post right before the Paris robbery.
We all know what happened next. Five men dressed as police officers broke into her hotel, tied her up, and took everything. That 20-carat ring—worth an estimated $4 million to $8 million—was gone.
Where is the Paris Ring Now?
Honestly? It’s probably gone forever.
Police reports and testimony from the "Grandpa Robbers" (yes, that’s what they called them because of their age) suggested the jewelry was taken to Antwerp. While the gold was melted down, the 20-carat diamond was likely too famous to sell as-is. Experts believe it was recut into smaller stones to hide its identity.
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Kim does wear a replica sometimes. Lorraine Schwartz made her a "fake" version so she could still have the look without the anxiety. After the heist, Kim’s whole vibe changed. She stopped being "flashy."
The Current State of the Collection
If you’re keeping score at home:
- Damon Thomas Ring: 14-carat cushion cut (Heirloom). She still has it.
- Kris Humphries Ring: 20.5-carat total emerald cut. Sold at auction for $749k.
- Kanye Ring #1: 15-carat cushion cut. She still has it for North.
- Kanye Ring #2: 20-carat emerald cut. Stolen in Paris. Gone.
It’s a weirdly fragmented legacy. She has the first and the third, but the ones that made the most headlines are either in someone else's jewelry box or scattered into a dozen smaller diamonds in Europe.
Actionable Insights for Jewelry Lovers
If you're looking at Kim's history to help pick your own ring, here's the "expert" takeaway from her hits and misses:
- Emerald Cuts Need Clarity: Both of Kim’s biggest rings were emerald cuts. This "step-cut" style acts like a hall of mirrors. If there’s a tiny speck or flaw in the diamond, you’ll see it instantly. Unlike round diamonds that hide flaws with "sparkle," emerald cuts require a higher clarity grade (VS1 or higher).
- The "Floating" Look: If you want that Kanye-era look, ask for a "micro-pavé" band. It uses tiny diamonds set into the metal so the band almost disappears, making the center stone look massive.
- Insurance is Non-Negotiable: Kim’s $5.6 million insurance claim in 2016 saved her from a total financial loss. If you’re buying a ring—whether it’s $5k or $5 million—get a separate jewelry rider on your insurance.
- Type IIa Diamonds: If you want the "whitest" possible look, look for Type IIa. These diamonds have no measurable nitrogen impurities. They are the 1-2% of diamonds that look "water-clear."
If you are planning a purchase, start by deciding between a cushion cut (soft, romantic, sparkly) or an emerald cut (architectural, clean, sophisticated). Kim has vacillated between both for twenty years, proving that both styles are truly timeless regardless of the drama that follows them.
Check your homeowner's insurance policy today to see if your current jewelry is actually covered for "mysterious disappearance" or theft outside the home. Most standard policies have a very low cap (often $1,500) unless you add a specific endorsement.