When we think of Audrey Hepburn, words like elegance, grace, and timeless beauty instantly come to mind. From her enchanting performances in Breakfast at Tiffany’s to her status as a global fashion icon, Hepburn left a legacy of style and sophistication. But beyond the big screen and red carpets, her love life also captured the public’s imagination, especially her engagement ring, a piece as understated and refined as the woman herself.
The Proposals: Love and Hollywood Glamour
Audrey Hepburn’s most well-known engagement was to actor and director Mel Ferrer, whom she married in 1954. The couple met at a party hosted by Gregory Peck and soon began working together on stage and screen. Ferrer proposed not with one, but three rings, an unusual yet romantic gesture that perfectly reflected Hepburn’s classic yet unique charm.
Before her marriage to Ferrer, Hepburn had been briefly engaged to businessman James Hanson in the early 1950s. Though the two were deeply in love, Audrey called off the engagement, fearing that her career would suffer and that she wouldn’t be able to dedicate herself to both a husband and her rising stardom.
The Ring: A Trio of Timeless Elegance
When Mel Ferrer proposed, he presented Hepburn with a delicate eternity band from Boucheron. The platinum band was set with baguette-cut diamonds all the way around, elegant, subtle, and perfectly in line with Audrey’s minimalist aesthetic. But this was just the beginning.
Later, Ferrer gifted Hepburn two more stackable rings: one in rose gold and one in yellow gold, creating a trio of understated beauty. Rather than a flashy solitaire, this set spoke to Audrey’s refined taste and preference for delicate details over extravagance. The rings were designed to be worn together, forming a harmonious stack that mirrored her effortless style.
A Similar Style
The Cartier tri-colour ring bears a resemblance to the set of rings associated with Audrey Hepburn’s engagement to Ferrer. Hepburn’s engagement ring was a slender platinum eternity band with channel-set baguette-cut diamonds, purchased from Gübelin of Zurich. The similarity between the two lies in the use of multiple gold tones. While Hepburn’s rings were separate bands that could be stacked, the Cartier ring integrates the three gold colours into a single cohesive design. This approach reflects the versatility and elegance of mixing different gold hues, a style that Hepburn’s ring set popularised.
However, it’s important to note that Hepburn’s engagement ring was an eternity band with baguette-cut diamonds, differing from the solitaire brilliant-cut diamond featured in the Cartier ring. Additionally, her rings were individual bands meant for stacking, whereas the Cartier ring combines the tri-colour gold elements into one piece.
A Legacy in Love and Style
Audrey Hepburn’s engagement ring, or rather, her rings. continue to inspire brides around the world who favour timeless elegance over trend. Just like her iconic wardrobe and unforgettable roles, her jewellery choices were a reflection of who she truly was graceful, poised, and quietly powerful.
In a world that often equates luxury with size and sparkle, Audrey’s ring reminds us that true elegance lies in simplicity. Much like the woman who wore them, these rings remain iconic, not because of their size, but because of their story.
