Catherine Zeta-Jones Wears a 10-carat Marquise Diamond Engagement Ring

Capture the Essence! of Catherine Zeta-Jones' Marquise Diamond with this Vintage Marquise Diamond Engagement Ring. Photo ©2014 EraGem Jewelry. After spending Christmas with her family in Wales, Catherine Zeta-Jones flew home to Aspen with her beau Michael Douglas. Their holiday celebrations continued with a lively New Year's Eve party with friends. Cutting out early, the two went home to spend the first hours of the millennium alone together. According to Marc Eliot, who released a biography on Michael Douglas in 2012, the actor had been sitting on the gorgeous antique diamond ring "for some time," and decided at the last minute to surprise her with it that night. The star reportedly told a friend that he had spent the evening comparing Catherine with the rest of the folks at the party, "and no one else compared. Then I thought about how wonderful she is. I decided at the last minute to propose that night." {1} Michael Douglas purchased the diamond in New York from renowned designer and collector Fred Leighton. It is reported to be an antique, though this has not been confirmed by a reputable source. What has been confirmed is that the diamond is a 10-carat marquise-cut, prong-set natural white diamond mounted horizontally on a platinum band. Surrounding the diamond is a recessed halo of micro diamonds which rests atop a thin platinum band which is also paved in micro diamonds. The actress wears her engagement ring with several thin diamond-paved bands that match. According to Mr. Eliot, the distinguished actor paid $250,000 for the ring; however, most news reports estimate the cost and/or value of the ring between $1 and $2 million. This is a huge discrepancy which warrants further investigation. Of note, Celebrity Bride Guide reported that on her wedding day, Catherine Zeta-Jones also wore a diamond tiara borrowed from Fred Leighton's collection for the occasion.

Notes

1. Eliot, Marc. Michael Douglas: A Biography. New York: Crown Archetype, 2012, p. 237.