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Zendaya has offered fans a rare glimpse at her engagement ring this week while out walking her dog with Tom Holland in London. It’s not often that we see the pair out and about together, but in photographs published by The Sun, Zendaya and Holland are dressed casually while walking their pup, with the sparkling engagement ring noticeably standing out against her pink sweater and black pleated Bermuda shorts.
It’s been a busy couple of months for the couple, who announced this week that production has begun on the highly-anticipated Marvel film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, in which they star alongside one another. Zendaya has also been busy filming Euphoria‘s third season this year.
We first caught a glimpse of Zendaya’s engagement ring on January 5th, when she arrived on the Golden Globes red carpet, wearing an east-west diamond ring on that finger. The jewel was large enough to distract from her burnt-orange Louis Vuitton gown and glittering Bulgari jewels, and fans immediately went into detective mode. Zendaya, of course, knows just how to court attention and the Challengers star played it coy when a reporter from Los Angeles Times asked whether the sizable rock was an engagement ring from long-term boyfriend Tom Holland. According to Times? “Zendaya flashed her ring, smiled coyly and shrugged her shoulders.” An enigmatic queen, but we now have our answer.
Zendaya and Tom Holland, who have been dating since 2021, have become one of Hollywood’s steadiest and most beloved couples. It is now confirmed that the pair are engaged, and the mystery ring is a sign of commitment between two of Hollywood’s brightest stars.
The first tip-off the ring held special? It wasn’t from Bulgari, the jewellery house Zendaya is a global ambassador for. Instead, Tom Holland’s choice is far more personal. The engagement ring, reportedly designed by UK-based jeweller Jessica McCormack, is a 5.02-carat east-west cushion diamond in a Georgian-style cut-down setting in 18k white and yellow gold. DeauxMoi has already run a blind item speculating the ring is worth over $200,000 (roughly AU $315,000 for those playing at home). It seems Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco have set the bar for celebrity engagement ring pricing.
Keira Wraae Stewart, jewellery consultant and founder of fine jewellery line aetla, specialises in antique jewellery. Stewart says the appeal of the east-west cut lies in its blend of historic design with modernist execution, a style Zendaya herself displays on the red carpet, frequently drawing on Old-Hollywood references and giving them a contemporary It-girl twist. Indeed, this ring has many special features that mirror the unique charisma that has made Zendaya a one-name actress in a… two-name actress town.
“The east-west orientation highlights the diamond’s natural symmetry and unique shape,” Stewart tells ELLE Australia. “The Georgian-inspired button-back setting adds a rich historical layer, harkening back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries when diamonds were hand-cut to maximise their sparkle in candlelight.” Stewart explains that this gives the broad surface the “lit from within” quality we all noticed on the red carpet.
“This design creates a luminous effect that feels rich and understated, with the setting enhancing the stone’s presence by drawing all attention to its surface.” Meanwhile, the cut-down setting takes inspiration from the French serti dresse style that further maximises the diamond’s brilliance.
Stewart observes that choosing a delicate gold ring shank complements the large diamond perfectly. “It strikes a balance between softness and strength.” Just like our girl.
What Is A Cushion Cut Diamond?
Zendaya’s engagement ring is a “cushion cut diamond” and searches for the term have skyrocketed following her Golden Globes appearance. “A cushion cut diamond has a square or rectangular cut with rounded edges,” Talitha Cummins, founder of The Cut jewellery, tells ELLE, “this gives them a ‘pillow-type’ look.” Cummins says that while round cuts for diamonds are usually brighter, the cushion cut offers more sparkles from different angles for a luminous effect. “There is no doubt in my mind the cushion cut will be a trend this year,” says Cummins, “it’s a stunning ring and Zendaya is a tastemaker so many will be looking for a similar style.”
It’s certainly spearheaded the trend for more unique engagement rings, and since Zendaya debuted it other celebrities like Dua Lipa have flashed bold engagement rings with larger rocks. Three cheers to the queen.
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