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Jewellery

Style Edit: L’ÉCOLE’s new course on engagement rings and what they mean

STORYSCMP Style Reporter
Courses at Hong Kong’s L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, immerse participants in the world of diamonds. Photo: Handout
Courses at Hong Kong’s L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, immerse participants in the world of diamonds. Photo: Handout
Style Edit

L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, goes beyond celebrity engagement ring hype, discussing meaning, history and handcrafting

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that celebrity engagement rings are no longer about quiet elegance – they’re about statements. Big ones. This year’s proposals have turned engagement rings, with their oversized oval cuts, rare coloured diamonds and deeply personal design touches, into full-blown cultural moments. But while social media is busy zooming in on the carat counts and price tags, there’s a deeper story behind these rings – one that Hong Kong’s L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, is tapping into with its new engagement ring-focused course.

Take model and influencer Georgina Rodríguez’s headline-making ring, the most expensive of the year. Estimated to have cost fiancé Cristiano Ronaldo millions of US dollars, it features a dramatic oval-cut diamond said to weigh between 10 and 15 carats, flanked by tapered side stones on a platinum or white-gold band. It’s classic in structure but maximal in scale – and a perfect example of how diamond cuts shape not just sparkle, but presence too.
Students at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, have an enviable view of Hong Kong harbour from their classroom. Photo: Handout
Students at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, have an enviable view of Hong Kong harbour from their classroom. Photo: Handout
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Model Winnie Harlow’s engagement ring follows a similar oval-cut theme, but with a romantic twist. Valued at between US$150,000 and US$300,000, her ring features a substantial oval centre stone framed by pear-shaped diamonds to make a traditional three-stone setting, symbolising past, present and future. Designed by her fiancé, NBA star Kyle Kuzma, over three months, it proves that even the most traditional formats can feel personal when done thoughtfully.

Then there’s J.Lo’s instantly recognisable green diamond – rare, bold and unmistakably her – as well as Megan Fox’s toi et moi ring. Designed as two magnetised bands, one set with an antique-cut diamond and the other with an untreated Colombian emerald, it underscored the engagement ring’s emotional and symbolic significance beyond mere decoration. Different cuts, colours and compositions, yet all part of the same conversation: what diamonds signify today.
Georgina Rodriguez’ engagement ring from Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo: @georginagio/Instagram
Georgina Rodriguez’ engagement ring from Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo: @georginagio/Instagram
That’s where L’ÉCOLE comes in. Founded in 2012 with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels, L’ÉCOLE exists to unpack the culture behind jewellery – not just how it looks, but where it comes from and how it’s made. From the history of engagement rings (which only became a distinct tradition in 15th-century Europe) to the science and craftsmanship behind diamond cutting, the school connects ancient practices with modern obsessions.

Its upcoming engagement ring course builds on this foundation, guiding participants through the journey of diamonds – from rough stones first mined in India centuries ago to today’s precision-cut gems. Hosted at L’ÉCOLE’s Hong Kong campus, the programme explores the origins of diamonds, cutting techniques, and iconic stones like those from Lesotho – giving context to the rings we see splashed across Instagram.

Because beyond the headlines and hashtags, every engagement ring carries a story – and L’ÉCOLE is here to teach you how to read it.

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