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The 24-year-old heiress to Dell just got engaged — and her ring is gigantic

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alexa dell engagement photo

  • Alexa Dell, the 24-year-old heiress whose father is the CEO of Dell Technologies, got engaged.
  • The engagement ring is reportedly worth millions of dollars.
  • Dell showed followers what is reportedly a 12-carat diamond on her Instagram stories Wednesday night while in Hawaii.
  • Dell joins celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé who also have giant diamond engagement rings. 

Alexa Dell, the 24-year-old whose father is the CEO of Dell Technologies, received a jaw-dropping engagement ring when fiancé Harrison Refoua, 40, proposed to her over the holidays. 

The diamond, which The Daily Mail estimates to be 12 carats and valued at $2-$3 million, is an emerald cut bordered by more sparkling diamonds. Hamish Shephard, Founder of Bridebook.co.uk, told The Daily Mail that "a 12-carat diamond engagement ring would likely start from $500,000, but could easily cost several million dollars based on its cut and brilliance" he said.

Dell proudly showed off the jewelry in a series of Instagram videos on Wednesday, many of which have disappeared from Dell's account by the time of this post. 

alexa dell ring

The Daily Mail reports that the heiress received the ring at a candlelit beach dinner at the Four Seasons Resort in Kona, Hawaii, when she took to social media to share her ring. It's worth noting that the resort is owned by Dell's father, Michael Dell, who is 52 years old with a net worth of $23.7 billion.

Thank you for all the well wishes and congratulations. We’re so happy to share this with all of you ✨💖

A post shared by Alexa Dell (@alexakdell) on Dec 27, 2017 at 12:04pm PST on

"Thank you for all the well wishes and congratulations. We're so happy to share this with all of you ✨💖," she wrote.

And the newly engaged couple seems to have genuine support behind them, with plenty of positive comments on Dell's Instagram post.

One user wrote, "Congratulations!! Wishing you and your fiancé the best."

A person with her fiancé's last name said, "Never been so happy!!!Congratulations!!! Thrilled to have you a part of our family!!! You are the perfect couple💑 Love you both!!!!!"

12.26.17

A post shared by Alexa Dell (@alexakdell) on Dec 28, 2017 at 9:50am PST on

If experts have speculated correctly, Dell's ring puts her among the ranks of major celebrities like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian who also have larger-than-life diamond engagement rings

Mariah Carey holds the record for the most expensive engagement ring after receiving a 35-carat emerald-cut diamond from James Packer that valued at $10 million and never even made it down the aisle. 

Mariah Carey and James Packer engagement ring

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Paris Hilton just got engaged and her ring is unreal

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paris hilton engagement

  • Paris Hilton and Chris Zylka got engaged over the weekend while on a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado. 
  • Her teardrop-shaped diamond ring is huge and gorgeous.
  • "I am so excited to be engaged to the love of my life and my best friend. I have never felt so happy, safe and loved," she tweeted about her engagement.
  • Hilton compared their relationship to a fairy-tale.

Over the weekend, Paris Hilton got engaged to Chris Zylka, and she's now wearing a huge ring on her wedding ring finger.

The couple was on a weekend ski trip in Aspen, Colorado, when Zylka proposed, and the mountains provided a perfect backdrop for an engagement photo shoot. People first reported the news on Tuesday.

"I said Yas! 👰🏼💅🏼💍💎 So happy & excited to be engaged to the love of my life," Hilton wrote in the caption of her post. "My best friend & [soul mate.] Perfect for me in every way. So dedicated, loyal, loving & kindhearted. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!"

Hilton's caption was sweet, as were the pictures she shared. In one, she put her massive, gorgeous ring on display. The ring is reportedly worth almost $2 million, according to People.

paris_ring_skitch

On New Year's Eve, the former "Simple Life" star allowed her diamond ring to shine while posing with Sofia Richie, who was on the star-studded ski trip along with Rita Ora.

Ready to rock 2018! 🎉👯🎉

A post shared by Paris Hilton (@parishilton) on Jan 1, 2018 at 10:37pm PST on

Hilton and Zylka, an actor who appeared on "The Leftovers," have been dating for two years, according to People. But this massive ring wasn't Zylka's first grand, romantic gesture. In November 2017, the actor had Hilton's name tattooed on his forearm in the iconic Disney font.

On Tuesday, Hilton compared their romance to a fairy-tale on Twitter. 

"I am so excited to be engaged to the love of my life and my best friend. I have never felt so happy, safe and loved," she wrote. "He is perfect for me in every way and showed me that [fairy-tales] really do exist."

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Everything you need to know about Andrew Youmans, Michelle Williams' reported fiancé

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Michelle Williams

  • Michelle Williams is reportedly engaged to Andrew Youmans.
  • The two were first linked in July 2017, when they were photographed together in Rome during the filming of Williams' newest film, "All the Money in the World."
  • Youmans is a successful businessman and entrepreneur. 


Michelle Williams wore a heart-shaped diamond ring on her wedding finger to the 2018 Golden Globes. At the time, the actress told People it was simply "beautiful jewelry," but Williams has also donned the mysterious ring during a tropical getaway on New Year's Day and at the premiere of her highly publicized film, "All the Money in the World."

Although she has been famously private when it comes to her love life, the actress reportedly started dating financial consultant Andrew Youmans last summer. Now, Us Weekly reports that the two are engaged

"She wants a good guy and a stable family life," a source told the publication.

michelle williams engagement ring

A representative for Williams told INSIDER that she is "neither confirming or denying" the engagement. 

There may be plenty of uncertainty surrounding Williams' new leading man, but here is everything we know about Youmans right now.

Youmans was first spotted with Williams in July 2017.

According to People, the couple made their first public appearance strolling the streets of Rome while Williams was filming "All the Money in the World."

Though they have never attended an event together, the pair was recently photographed again in the Bahamas, where they rang in the new year with Williams' 12-year-old daughter Matilda. 

The financier has built a successful career in the business world.

Youmans graduated from two Ivy League universities — Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School — according to his profile on Handel Group. The profile labels him as an "Investor and Operations Management-Consultant."

In 1996, Youmans left his family's business, the manufacturing company Connecticut Spring. He founded his own firm, Yomo Consulting, and acted as the firm's president for 15 years before stepping down in 2011. 

More recently, Youmans has delved into entrepreneurial endeavors, according to his Handel Group profile.

He has teaching experience.

People reports that Youmans co-created and taught a class at the Stanford Graduate School of Business from 2015-2016. The second-year course focused on the Toyota Production System (TPS), which is a socio-technical system that combines Toyota's management philosophy and practices.

His post-grad research on TPS was eventually published by the Harvard School of Business.

Neither Youmans nor Williams have commented publicly on their relationship.

Until now, a source told Us Weekly that "Michelle was totally focused on giving Matilda the best upbringing possible."

"It took her a long time to get over Heath," another added.

Williams began dating actor Heath Ledger in 2005 and gave birth to their daughter later that year. Following Ledger's death from an accidental overdose in 2008, the "Brokeback Mountain" actress has kept her romantic and familial lives extremely private.

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Take a look at Princess Eugenie's insane pink sapphire engagement ring, which looks almost identical to her mother Sarah Ferguson's $35,000 design

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princess eugenie sarah ferguson engagement rings

  • Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Princess Eugenie and boyfriend Jack Brooksbank on Monday.
  • The Princess showed off her pink sapphire ring in official engagement photos.
  • Her ring bears a striking resemblance to the one her father, Prince Andrew, used to propose to her mother — his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
  • Ferguson's ring cost £25,000 ($35,000) at the time and is now worth around £71,000 ($100,000).


Princess Eugenie and her London socialite boyfriend Jack Brooksbank announced their engagement on Monday, and Buckingham Palace quickly followed the news with the release of official engagement photos of the couple.

In the pictures, Eugenie is showing off her padparadscha sapphire engagement ring surrounded by diamonds — and it bares a striking resemblance to her mother's.

princess eugenie engagement

27-year-old Eugenie is the youngest daughter of Prince Andrew, the Queen's second-born son, and his ex-wife Sarah Feguson, Duchess of York.

When Prince Andrew got engaged to Ferguson in 1986, he gave her a large oval ruby ring set in 10 drop diamonds on a yellow and white gold band.

sarah ferguson prince andrew engagement photos

Take a closer look at Princess Eugenie's ring:

princess eugenie engagement ring

Now, here's her mother's again:

sarah ferguson engagement ring

According to Metro, Prince Andrew designed Ferguson's £25,000 ($35,000) ring, which was created by Garrard & Co. It's reportedly appreciated in value since, to around £71,000 ($100,000).

While the value of Princess Eugenie's ring is unknown, her wedding to the man UK society magazine Tatler described as "the king of the London club scene" is sure to be an event to remember.

The couple will marry in Autumn 2018, according to the palace's official statement, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle — the same venue where Prince Harry will marry Meghan Markle in May this year.

princess eugenie engagement getty wpa pool

SEE ALSO: Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's royal engagement photos have been published

SEE ALSO: Princess Eugenie is getting married to her London socialite boyfriend in the second royal wedding of 2018

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An engagement ring is a major purchase — here’s the best way to pay for it

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engagement ring

  • Buying an engagement ring is exciting, but it takes a lot of research. Paying for the ring is something you'll need to consider, too.
  • There are a few different ways to pay for a ring, including saving and paying outright or taking out a loan.
  • One of the best ways to pay without depleting your cash reserves is to use a credit card with a 0% introductory APR, which lets you take your time to pay without having to pay interest (until the introductory period is over).  
  • One of the best cards with an introductory APR is the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Buying an engagement ring is a big deal. It's a thing that takes research, patience, and decisiveness. As Josh Marion, a vice president at Ritani, an online diamond and jewelry retailer points out, buying an engagement ring "is a decision on par with buying a car or a house — you can't just jump into it."

Of course, whenever you start thinking about an engagement ring, it's not long before the cost comes into play.

Whenever you decide you're ready to propose to that special someone, how much you spend on the ring, whether you're resetting a diamond that has been in your family for generations or buying a new one, is a personal decision. There's a ton of advice out there, and plenty of schools of thought, but there are no hard and fast rules; ignore anyone who tells you that you absolutely have to spend three months' salary, or that you have to spend a certain amount for each year you've been together. 

However much you decide to spend, though, chances are it'll be a lot — likely the most expensive thing you've ever bought. When I proposed to my (now) wife, that was certainly the case — not counting college and grad school, of course.

One thing that's for sure, though, is that you shouldn't spend outside of your means. When you're ready to pop the question, and in a financial position to do so, there are a few ways to pay for an engagement ring.

The first, and most obvious, is to save up enough money and buy it outright. However, there are reasons you may not want to do this. For instance, you may want to keep a cash cushion in case of emergency, rather than committing to spending it all at once. After all, that's why people finance things like new appliances or cars.

The next option is to finance the ring with a loan arranged through your jeweler. Using loans to make major purchases and keep cash on hand can be a smart financial move, and in some cases, the loans offered by your jeweler may fit your needs. However, other times they may not have the best terms or interest rates, and you generally won't get any cash back or rewards on the purchase.

Fortunately, there's a third option, which is what I went with. Instead of taking out a traditional loan, or financing a ring through a credit card offered by the jeweler, you can open a new credit card that has a 0% introductory APR on purchases for a certain amount of time. 

jewelry shopping

When I bought the ring, I opened a card that had that introductory APR for the first 15 months. That meant that instead of paying cash all at once, I was able to charge the ring to the card, and pay it off over a bit more than a year without having to pay any interest. As a nice cherry on top, I even got a signup bonus for opening the card, and cash back on the ring itself, which I was able to put right toward paying it off.

It was basically free money for buying the ring.

The key is that you make sure you pay off the whole thing before the introductory APR ends and the normal one becomes effective. In my case, I decided to be safe and divided the total cost of the engagement ring by 14. I paid that amount each month, and that way, I was finished paying off the whole thing a month early.

A great feature is that you have extra flexibility if you go this route. If you come into some extra cash, or decide that you want to just finish the payments from savings, you can pay off the balance in full at any time.

While there are a few different cards that offer introductory APRs, the one I would pick now is the Freedom Unlimited card from Chase.

That's because in addition to offering a long 15-month term on the 0% introductory purchase and balance transfer APR (which goes up to a normal 16.24%–24.99% variable APR afterward), it offers 1.5% cash back on every dollar spent, and a sign-up bonus of $150 when you spend at least $500 in the first three months of opening the card. 

Put another way, if you were using the card to finance a $3,000 purchase, you'd get $195 total cash back.

Plus, if you have a premium card from Chase, like the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred, you can turn your Freedom Unlimited's cash back into Chase Ultimate Rewards points instead, and move those points to the premium card. That way, you can do things like transfer the points to frequent flyer partners, which is usually a much more lucrative way to use them than as cash back.

Regardless of which route you choose to go toward paying for the ring, this is an exciting time, but you have a lot of research to do. If you’re not sure where to start, Ritani offers a number of guides on picking out diamonds and settings, as well as how to go about actually buying the ring.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited card from Insider Picks' partner The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: Here’s how to make credit cards work for you — instead of the other way around

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Gwyneth Paltrow showed off her engagement ring this weekend — and it's a massive stunner

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Gwyneth Paltrow Producers Guild Awards

  • Gwyneth Paltrow is newly engaged to writer and producer Brad Falchuk.
  • The Goop founder recently debuted her gorgeous engagement ring while presenting at the Producers Guild Awards.
  • The ring features a massive center stone with a deep blue hue. 


Gwyneth Paltrow stepped out for the first time since announcing her engagement to writer and producer Brad Falchuk, giving fans a first look at her engagement ring. 

The Goop founder attended the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday to present an award to Ryan Murphy, who co-created "Glee" and "American Horror Story" with Paltrow's fiancé. She also took the opportunity to debut her gorgeous engagement ring, which features a massive center stone with a deep blue hue

Gwyneth Paltrow Ryan Murphy engagement ring

Paltrow complimented her jewelry with a red Alex Perry dress and blue Christian Louboutin shoes, according to People. 

Gwyneth Paltrow Ryan Murphy

Fans first got a look at the rock when the couple shared their happy news with a center spread in Goop magazine's Sex & Love issue. One photo even shows Paltrow embracing Falchuck with her left hand draped perfectly over his shoulder, offering a clear angle for ring appraisal.

It immediately appeared darker in color than traditional diamonds — but as the photos were printed in black and white, the gemstone's vivid color was unclear. 

Paltrow, who "consciously uncoupled" from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in 2014, opened up about her relationship in the magazine's cover story. She calls Falchuk "the man I was meant to be with."

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This jeweler makes buying an engagement ring online easy — and it has an amazing return policy

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engagement ring

If you're reading this and it's at all relevant to you, then congratulations! You're thinking about getting engaged.

Even before you start figuring out proposal plans — not to mention wedding details — you may be thinking about an engagement ring. As someone who's been through it myself, and watched friends do the same, I know that the process can get overwhelming rather quickly, especially if you've never shopped around for jewelry before.

If you're the one getting the ring, hopefully you've been able to talk to your partner about what they want, what style they're interested in, and what price range is reasonable. However, that might not be the case for any of a few reasons — especially if you want your proposal to be a surprise.

Whether you haven't even set foot on square one yet, or you have some idea of where to start, there's a lot to think about. The traditional diamond engagement ring is still the reigning classic, and buying a diamond can be complicated, between figuring out whether something is a fair deal or not, to learning what clarity and grades mean — not to mention cost and how to pay for the ring.

Fortunately, an online jeweler called Ritani has made it its mission to make the process easier for men and women everywhere. Whether you've ever considered buying a diamond ring online, or you know you'd rather go in-store, here are some of the things Ritani does to make it easy.

Click here to visit Ritani and learn more about choosing an engagement ring.

SEE ALSO: An engagement ring is a major purchase — here’s the best way to pay for it

Ritani partners with local jewelers so you can see your ring before buying it.

Although Ritani is an online seller, it has partnerships with independently owned local jewelry stores around the US. When you browse Ritani's selection of diamonds and ring settings online, you can make an appointment to go see either the same type of ring, or even that exact one, in person at the closest store to you.

That way, you can get help figuring out what you want in person, you'll know exactly what you're buying, and you can make changes and really customize the ring — this is all before you've paid or even committed to making a purchase. When you're ready to buy, you can either order it right in the store, or head back to Ritani's website — either way, the store gets a commission.

This "clicks-and-bricks" combination of online commerce with the chance to see the stones and settings in-store makes sense, according to Ritani Vice President Josh Marion, because an expensive diamond ring is the type of thing that people aren't keen to buy based on only a photo.

"A car, a house, and a diamond; people want to see these things, feel them, really know what they're getting before they buy," said Marion.

Other major retailers, like Kay Jewelers, also offer a website with in-store varieties. However, you may not be able to preview the exact diamond and setting you're buying, and if you order something at all customized, you can neither preview it, nor make a return or exchange.



You can ship your ring to your home or a nearby store — and make changes thanks to the return policy.

One thing that's always risky is getting a ring as a surprise, without having your significant other's input. There are so many differences, even within each style of ring, whether your looking at halos, solitaires, three-stones, or something else.

Fortunately, unlike many online jewelers, Ritani offers a return policy on all purchases — even custom designs and creations.

That means that you can buy the ring, and after you propose, if your partner had something else in mind, you can either send it back to Ritani for tweaks, or you can return it altogether and start fresh.

You can also bring it in to one of the local jewelers that works with Ritani to modify or return it. Plus, if you're worried about having such a valuable package delivered to your home, but you order something that a jeweler didn't have in stock, you can always have it shipped to the store and pick it up when you have a chance.



Ritani wants its customers to be informed.

According to Marion, consumer education is crucially important to Ritani. In addition to encouraging potential customers to go into a local affiliate jeweler's store to talk things through, Ritani offers a ton of walk-throughs and guides to help you get started, whether it's figuring out the four Cs, what's trendy these days, or how to pick a diamond shape or ring style.

Additionally, Ritani's in-house customer support center is staffed with certified gemologists. You can call with any questions, whether general or basic, and get help. 



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Everything you need to know before buying an engagement ring

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engagement diamond ring

  • US consumers spend an average of $6,351 on an engagement ring.
  • Aside from a diamond's size, various factors go into the pricing of an engagement ring.
  • A diamond's cut, carat, color, and clarity determine its price.

  

Online diamond retailer Ritani knows exactly what its customers are looking for when they visit the site: an engagement ring.

"Not only is this [ring] generally [our customer's] largest purchase to date, it's typically the millennial male, and he has no idea what he's doing," Ritani's Vice President of Marketing, Mark Keeney told Business Insider during a visit to their Manhattan diamond factory.

We toured the diamond factory to find out everything you need to know when it comes to purchasing a diamond engagement ring. Below, see how much people are spending, the most popular cuts, settings, and how the "four C's" can affect price. 

 

SEE ALSO: What Americans spend on an engagement ring in each state, ranked from lowest to highest

US consumers spend an average of $6,351 on an engagement ring.

According to The Knot's 2017 Real Weddings Study, which surveyed 14,000 engaged or recently married individuals, consumers are spending an average of $6,351 on the ring.

And while the rule of "save up two to three month's worth of salary" is long outdated, experts are advising couples to seriously consider finances before buying a ring.



Diamonds are graded and priced based on the "four C's," which include cut, carat, color, and clarity.

The four C's are important to know because they help you understand the quality of the diamond, and they also help determine its price.

For example, a one carat round shaped diamond with an "ideal" cut grade can range from $2,521 to $12,857 at Ritani depending on its grade for clarity and color.

 



Cut grade determines the diamond's "sparkle" effect.

The cut grade is determined by the diamond's proportions and symmetry of each facet of the diamond — which directly effects the way the diamond captures and reflects light, creating that beloved "sparkle" effect.

Cut grade is measured on a scale from "ideal" to "poor."



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Prince Harry likely won't wear a wedding ring when he gets married — here's why

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prince harry meghan markle

  • Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will wed on May 19 at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.
  • But Prince Harry may or may not choose to wear a wedding ring to symbolize the marriage.
  • Prince William and Prince Philip have never worn wedding bands.

 

Conventional marriage rules need not apply to the royal family.

Prince Harry will wed Meghan Markleon May 19 at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, but if he's anything like his brother or grandfather, he'll eschew one universal marriage tradition: wearing a wedding band.

Despite his near six-year union, Prince William has never worn a wedding ring to symbolize his marriage to Kate Middleton. Prince William apparently "isn't one for jewelry," much like his grandfather Prince Philip, who's been married to the Queen of England for nearly 70 years and doesn't sport a wedding band.

Indeed, it seems as though opting out is a matter of personal preference rather than royal family folklore. Prince Charles, William and Harry's father, wore a ring throughout his marriage to Princess Diana and wears one now in his second marriage to Camilla — albeit on his pinky finger rather than left-hand ring finger.

In November, Prince Harry proposed to Markle with a show-stopping three-carat diamond ring — complete with stones from Princess Diana's collection — that's estimated to be worth up to $1 million (though the retail value is likely closer to $50,000). Markle is expected to wear that ring, as well as a wedding band she'll receive at the ceremony, to represent their royal union.

Markle and Prince Harry's whirlwind romance and wedding plans have already proved a break from tradition, so whichever decision he makes likely won't come as a shock.

And Middleton and Prince William have done a good job of setting a precedent as far as modern royal couples go.

"Kate omitted the word 'obey' in her wedding vows, and William has opted not to wear a ring, which makes them like many millennial couples — intent on doing things their way," Diane Clehane, author of "Imagining Diana," said in Vogue.

SEE ALSO: Meghan Markle could get an allowance from the British royal family — but she may have to pay double the taxes

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People are getting engagement piercings instead of traditional rings — here's what you need to know before getting one

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download 11

  • People are getting matching engagement piercings on their fingers in lieu of traditional rings.
  • The specific kind of piercing is called a dermal piercing.
  • It is fairly common and becoming more popular.
  • It is different from a lobe piercing, but has all the same risks. 


From avocado proposals to Harry Potter-inspired motifs, people are really going the extra mile to prove their everlasting love in the age of Instagram.

But the latest engagement trend is uniquely eye-catching. Some couples are reportedly forgoing traditional engagement rings for more permanent matching engagement piercings on their fingers.

And while engagement piercings seem to be a new phenomenon, this style of piercing has been around for some time and is known as a dermal or microdermal piercing.

But, as Cheryl Wischhover pointed out on Racked, not every Instagram trend is real. To get to the bottom of this one, INSIDER spoke to Martine, a piercer based out of Toronto's Piercings by Martine, and Sarah Perez, a piercer based out of Los Angeles, California, to learn the ins and outs of this romantic body modification.

Dermal piercings can be done anywhere on the body.

Both women stressed that dermals are different from lobe piercings for a number of reasons. While all other piercings have clear entry and exit points, dermal piercings do not, Martine explained. Instead, dermals lay flat against the surface of the skin and are kept in place with L-shaped jewelry that acts as a sort of anchor. 

Although engagement piercings are getting the most press, dermals can be done in other places besides fingers. Martine said she often pierces hips and back dimples. Meanwhile, Perez said she pierces cheeks and fingers most often, noting that they can be done in almost any place on the body.

Chest dermal ~dm for appointments

A post shared by Tattoos and Piercing (@piercings_by_martine) on Feb 3, 2018 at 2:04pm PST on

Dermal piercings may be rejected or migrated by the body.

In addition to taking the normal pre-piercing safety precautions, Martine and Perez stressed the importance of trusting your piercer. 

"As long as the piercer uses sterilized tools and the client does their part to keep it clean, the risk of infection is very low," Martine said. 

The versatile dermal runs the same safety risks as other piercings, but Perez said that it does have one major setback. "It doesn't work for everyone," she said. "It is sometimes rejected or migrated by the body." Both women recommended carefully following the after-care instructions given to you by your piercer to avoid rejection or migration.

download 11

Both women also explained that the process of swapping pieces isn't simple. Simply switching the jewelry like you would with other piercings isn't an option because scar tissue grows as the dermal piercing heals, which keeps the anchor rooted in place. Instead, to change the look of the jewelry, you have to swap out the tops of the jewels.

Yes, engagement piercings are real.

Although dermal piercings aren't as well-known as other piercings, they are becoming more popular. Perez said that she's done about five engagement finger piercings. 

"It went pretty good," Perez said. "They were able to go through the process without any issue, some are even healed."

Martine estimated that she does dermal piercings two or three times a week, but she's never done an engagement piercing.

Both women advocated for the piercing, which Martine called "unique."

"I think dermal engagement rings are a fun, modern way to express your love," she said. "Rings you can take off or lose. Dermals, like diamonds, are forever."

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What the average wedding budget looks like in America, from the engagement ring to the wedding dress to the venue

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Wedding, couple

  • A wedding budget is essential when planning for your big day.
  • On average, Americans spend $33,391 on their weddings, with the venue and engagement ring being the most expensive.
  • Seemingly small details can drive up a wedding budget, including the floral arrangements, transportation, and party favors.

Deciding how to break down your wedding budget can be overwhelming.

Americans spend $33,391 on average for their weddings, according to the The Knot's 2017 Real Weddings Study.  Much of the average wedding budget is spent on the venue itself.

However, other factors — including the floral arrangments, catering, and party favors — can drive up a wedding budget if you aren't careful.

The amount of guests is also a contributing factor to the overall wedding budget. While there's a current trend toward hosting fewer guests, the average cost per guest is increasing. That's because couples want to create a unique and memorable experience for all those involved, The Knot found. 

average wedding cost chart

Below, see how couples across the US spend their wedding budget for their big day. Prices listed first represent the average spender, according to The Knot's survey, while prices listed second represent the highest spender.

SEE ALSO: The average wedding cost in America is over $30,000 — but here's where couples spend way more than that

DON'T MISS: What Americans spend on an engagement ring in each state, ranked from lowest to highest

Venue (reception hall): $15,163 - $42,801



Engagement ring: $5,764 - $13,933



Reception band: $4,019 - $7,145



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The 6 most common mistakes you're making with your engagement ring

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kate middleton diamond ring

  • You will likely be wearing your engagement ring for the rest of your life, so choosing the right one isn't easy.
  • If it looks or seems too good to be true, it probably is.
  •  

Whether you’re clandestinely shopping or dictating to your S.O. exactly what you want, choosing the right ring can be as hard as choosing “the one.” After all, you’re supposed to wear that thing ’til death does you part. So we tracked down Stephanie Gottlieb of New York City’s SG Fine Jewelry to find out the most common mistakes she sees customers make when looking for engagement rings. Here’s what she told us. (Also, if you love all things sparkly, do yourself a favor and follow the lady on Instagram.) 

Under-guestimating the ring size

kate middleton wedding ring gemstone

“Worst-case scenario? Proposing with a ring that is too small. Yes, it’s tough to guess a finger size, but there are ways to get close. My favorite undercover option? Ask a friend to take them to the jewelry store under some other guise to try on rings. If not, find another ring to bring to your jeweler to size (as long as you know which finger they wear it on…that’s super important), or you can guess based on height/weight. Psst: It’s always safer to go a little bit bigger than smaller.”

Shopping for diamonds online

melania trump ring

 “It’s important to see diamonds in person and educate yourself based on real-life samples to understand the size/quality that works with your budget. Most people start their diamond education online, and therefore have preconceived notions about what quality is ‘acceptable’ for their diamond selection. It’s extremely difficult to judge a diamond without having seen one in person, and most of the time our clients end up loosening their requirements for quality when they’ve had that opportunity.”

Obsessing over the setting

Engagement ring

“An engagement ring setting can change the entire tone of the piece. But at the center of it (usually) is the main stone you choose. This takes up the most of your budget. So above all, make sure you love your diamond more than your setting, which is changeable down the road.”

Going for an uber-trendy setting

Engagement ring

“Can you change your setting? Yes. But a setting can run anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 depending on how intricate the details are. Also, some people have an emotional attachment to their original engagement ring design and don’t want to change it later on. So, even though it’s totally doable to update, I usually recommend not to pick something too trendy that you might regret in just a few years."

Trying too hard to avoid being a copycat

engagement rings

“Pictured in the middle above is two pavé engagement rings with round stones, our most popular request, and also the number-one style clients come in saying they ‘can't get’ because their friend has it already. A lot of women stay away from certain ring styles because their friends have it. But this is a big purchase and something you have to wear and be happy to see on your hand every day. So you should get what you want. Who cares if your friend has something similar? The regret you’ll have for not getting what you love will definitely outweigh the amount of time you spend with your friend.”

Buying a diamond online that seems too good to be true

Yellow diamond, New York Loan Company

“If a diamond price seems too good to be true, it probably is. The diamond industry has become pretty transparent, and I actually encourage my clients to check out Bluenile.com because it’s definitely a good place to price-check. But there are often small things about a diamond’s quality that can change the price drastically, and these are often qualities you might not know to look for. Things like ‘strong fluorescence,’ which may or may not actually affect the visual appearance of a stone, but it definitely affects the price; or, perhaps the stone is not certified by an esteemed diamond-grading lab (like the GIA); it may be clarity-enhanced, which hugely takes away from the value of the stone. It’s always best to see a stone in person if possible, and if not, to buy from a trusted source that will stand behind their sales and be available should you end up not being happy with the purchase.”

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Costco is selling diamonds worth $400,000 'between bulk AA batteries and dustpans' (COST)

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Diamond diamond ring

  • Costco sells 10-carat diamonds worth as much as $420,000. 
  • Sky News reporter Jennifer Bechwati tweeted Sunday that she found a diamond ring costing 499,999.99 AUD (or roughly $388,900 USD) at a Costco store in Australia "between bulk AA batteries and dustpans." 


Costco sells 6.5-carat diamond rings worth nearly $400,000 amid the bulk groceries and home goods that lure bargain seekers to its warehouse stores. 

Sky News reporter Jennifer Bechwati tweeted Sunday that she found a diamond ring costing 499,999.99 AUD (or roughly $388,900 USD) at a Costco store in Australia "between bulk AA batteries and dustpans." 

She posted a photo of the round-cut ring that listed its weight as 6.55 carats with color and clarity of "G" and "VS1," respectively. The diamond was set in a platinum band.

It turns out that the warehouse chain sells a host of expensive diamonds in stores and online. Costco's US website lists 303 diamond rings with stones as big as 10 carats. Prices range from $159 to $420,000.

Shoppers might not expect to find such expensive rings in stores, but a Costco spokeswoman told the Daily Mail that every one of its warehouses has at least one "WOW" item in its jewelry department. 

Some people commented online that the color and clarity of the 6.55-carat stone could be better for the price. A search online at James Allen, another diamond retailer, shows a diamond with a similar cut, clarity, and color for $354,000, or about $34,000 cheaper than the Costco ring.

Costco was ordered to pay the jewelry company Tiffany more than $19 million last year for selling about 2,500 rings falsely identified on store signs as "Tiffany" rings. Costco argued that the description referred to the rings' settings, and wasn't meant to be confused with Tiffany's brand.

SEE ALSO: A billionaire just bid $890 million to save Toys R Us

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Meghan Markle could wear a custom-designed tiara worth nearly $700,000 on her wedding day — here's how much the tiaras of other British royal brides are worth

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meghan markle prince harry

  • The world debates whether Meghan Markle will wear a tiara during her wedding to Prince Harry.
  • Queen Elizabeth II has one of the world's best jewel collections from which to loan Markle a tiara.
  • It's speculated the future Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales could wear the Strathmore Rose Tiara or the Spencer Tiara.
  • Markle could also wear a custom-designed tiara, which one expert says would cost about $687,360.

 

Will she or won't she?

Besides the wedding dress, one of the biggest speculations regarding the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is whether the future Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales will walk down the aisle at Windsor Castle in true royal fashion — donning a dazzling tiara

If Markle does opt for this regal look, she has plenty of diamonds and gems to choose from. Queen Elizabeth II has a famed, well stocked royal collection of tiaras — one of the best in the world.

The Queen lent the Queen Mother's Cartier Halo Tiara to Kate Middleton as a "something borrowed" for the Duchess' wedding to Prince William. If tradition dictates anything, she'll also loan a princess' ultimate treasure to her future granddaughter-in-law.

While it's not expected that Markle will wear the same tiara as the Duchess of Cambridge, rumors are circulating about what possible tiaras she could wear — such as the Strathmore Rose Tiara or Princess Diana's Spencer Tiara. The latter would be fitting considering Markle's engagement ring contains two diamond stones from Princess Diana's collection, and that she and Harry plan to honor his mother on the big day.

Then again, she and Harry are a modern-day couple — she could also have her own tiara made for her.

Whether Markle goes for an heirloom tiara or a custom tiara, there's no denying the jewels and metals that will sparkle atop her head go for a pretty penny. 

We took a look at some of the most famous weddings in the British royal family and their equally famous tiaras — and just how much those tiaras might be worth.

SEE ALSO: Meghan Markle will have loads of tiaras to choose from on her wedding day — and she could pick one worn by Princess Diana

DON'T MISS: The royal wedding is a month away — here's how much Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are expected to spend on their big day

Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne — Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara

When Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) married Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947, she sparkled underneath the Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara. It was gifted from Queen Mary to her daughter-in-law, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who loaned it to Elizabeth as a "something borrowed." In tune with tradition, the tiara was then loaned to Elizabeth's daughter, Princess Anne, to wear as she tied the knot to Mark Phillips. 

This dazzler is actually the product of dismantled jewelry — it's comprised of 47 diamond bars using diamond stones taken from a necklace Queen Victoria gifted to Queen Mary. Jeweler Garrard & Co. set the stones in gold and silver and separated the bars with smaller diamond spikes.

There's no word on its value, but a 0.5 carat diamond averages around $1,500 while a 2-carat diamond can range from $18,000 to $21,000, depending on cut and clarity.



Princess Margaret — Poltimore Tiara

Princess Margaret departed from tradition and wore a tiara that wasn't already part of the royal collection, acquiring it shortly before her wedding to Lord Snowdon in 1960. The Poltimore Tiara, another Garrard creation, boasts cushion-shaped and old-cut diamond clusters and diamond-set scroll motifs surmounted by old-cut diamond terminals, all mounted in silver and gold. 

It was auctioned for £5,500 (roughly $7,570) at the time it fell into Princess Margaret's hands, and was recently sold at a 2006 auction for £926,400 (around $1,275,154) — about four times its estimate. 



Princess Diana — Spencer Tiara

When marrying Prince Charles in 1981, Princess Diana donned a tiara not from the royal treasure troves, but from her family's own aristocratic archives — the Spencer Tiara. This diamond encrusted piece shaped into tulips, stars, and scrolls belonged to her father and was worn by her mother and sisters on their wedding days.

This dazzler is made of a variety of other jewelry — the central portion was part of a wedding present to Lady Cynthia Hamilton (Diana's grandmother) when she married Albert, Viscount Althorp; the topper was given to Cynthia by Albert's great aunt, Lady Sarah Isabella Spencer; and the ends come from a tiara once belonging to Frances Manby, the last known Viscountess of Montagu. The current version was reportedly finalized in the 1930s.

There is no estimate on how much it's worth, but a similar headpiece with 800 cut diamonds and an estimated weight of 48 carats was recently sold by the Spencer family for $225,000.

 



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Mariah Carey reportedly sold her engagement ring for $2 million — but that's only a fraction of its original value

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mariah carey engagement ring

  • Mariah Carey has reportedly sold her engagement ring from James Packer for $2 million, according to Page Six.
  • The 35-karat ring was originally valued at around $10 million.
  • The loss in value likely comes from the fact that engagement rings almost always depreciate in value over time.


Romantic relationships, as everyone knows, are often unpredictable. They may end with marriage, tearful breakups, and, in some cases, an attempt to pawn off your old engagement ring for several million dollars.

Well, the latter might only apply to you if you happen to be Mariah Carey. According to Page Six, the singer recently sold her 35-karat engagement ring from ex-fiancé James Packer to an unnamed Los Angeles jeweler for a cool $2.1 million. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, it's significantly less than the ring — which is valued at around $10 million — is actually worth.

Losing out on a potential $8 million may seem like a bummer. But there are a few things to consider before chalking it up as a loss. First of all, it is more common than one might expect for engagement rings to lose value over time. According to Smart Asset, a diamond ring is considered a "depreciating asset" that loses value as soon as it is purchased. So it would have been unlikely that the ring, which was probably purchased in 2016 when Carey and Packer were engaged, could have been re-sold for the same amount Packer originally paid for it.

mariah carey james packer

One way Carey could have sold the ring for more than Packer paid would have been through a novelty-style auction. But it doesn't seem that Carey's intention was making a profit. According to Carey's publicity team, her goal in parting with the ring was to quietly unburden herself from her past relationship, not necessarily to turn a profit.

"Mariah has been very vocal recently about her choice to move forward in her life surrounded by positivity," Carey's publicist told Page Six. "That requires leaving emotional and material baggage behind, including an old engagement ring from an ex-boyfriend."

Of course, Carey made a profit regardless since she did not buy the ring herself. And she stands to make more, given the $50 million "inconvenience fee" Carey reportedly requested from Packer following their engagement.

It's safe to say that Carey isn't hurting in the post-relationship financial department.

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A woman proposed to her son's girlfriend and asked to be her mother-in-law

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engagement story thumb

  • Catherine Lopez, a 21-year-old college student from Portland, Texas, is close with her boyfriend Ricky Camp's mom, Sabrina Lopez.
  • So, close in fact, that when Sabrina proposed to Catherine, she said yes.
  • Catherine's tweet about the situation went viral. People don't know what to think about the proposal.
  • But everyone involved wants to be clear: this is not a marriage proposal.
  • It's just an expression of how close Sabrina and Catherine are.


While some people agonize over meeting their partner's parents, that was never a concern for Catherine Lopez, a 21-year-old college student from Portland, Texas.

Lopez told INSIDER that not only does she get along well with her boyfriend Ricky Camp's mom Sabrina Lopez, but they're pretty much best friends. 

So on June 4, Sabrina took the next step in their relationship and asked Catherine to be her "daughter-in-law." Sabrina proposed to Catherine with a card and her first wedding rings

"These were my first wedding rings. I want you to have them for three reasons. 1. I trust you with my son's heart! 2. I want my son to marry the woman of My Dreams LOL. 3. Because … I love you," a card accompanying the rings said.

"It made me laugh but it made me feel happiness," Catherine said of Sabrina's proposal, which she accepted.

The dental hygiene student decided to share her joy on Twitter— where a picture of the rings and the card went viral.

Sabrina said that asking Catherine to be her daughter-in-law was a no-brainer. "Catherine is everything a mother prays for in a woman for their son," she said. "She is genuine, authentic, and beautiful inside and out."

But people online weren't sure what to think about the gesture.

Some found it endearing.

Others were a little confused. It struck them as odd that a person's parent would propose to their significant other for them.

But everyone involved wants to be clear: This was not a marriage proposal. The couple is waiting until after college to get engaged or married — if they decide to do so at all.

"Some people think my boyfriend's mom proposed for him, but that's just not the case, it was a joke," Catherine said. "My boyfriend's mom wanted me to have her first wedding rings because she says, 'I captured her son's heart and she loves me dearly.'"

Sabrina agreed.

"Ricky is an adult who makes his own decisions, including when he is ready to get married. Believe it or not, I don't meddle in Ricky and Cat's relationship," she said. "I honestly wouldn't know when they're having a tiff."

And while the trio never expected to go viral, but they're glad it happened.

"It's been fun and cool having people joke around saying I'm famous or something," Ricky said. "And what I think people are getting wrong is that they're taking it too seriously."

If Sabrina had the choice, she'd do it all again.

"Catherine is a key element to my son's happiness and that's something I value, treasure, and respect," she said. "She and I are all about empowering the relationship between a mother and daughter-in-law or the 'Someday Daughter-in-Law' as I like to call it."

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Ariana Grande's supposed engagement ring reportedly cost Pete Davidson about $100,000 — here's what it looks like

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ariana pete


 

On Monday, Us Weekly reported that Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson are engaged. According to TMZ, the diamond ring cost almost $100,000 and was made in nearly two weeks.

As reported by TMZ, Davidson dropped $93,000 on a custom-made VVS1 clarity diamond set in platinum and made by New York City-based jeweler Greg Yuna.

Grande was actually seen wearing the ring on her left hand while performing at iHeartRadio's Wango Tango on June 2, 2018 at Banc of California Stadium. 

Here's a closer look at the ring.

ariana grande engagement ring

Grande and Davidson have not commented publicly on their reported engagement, but fans are convinced that the couple went to Disneyland to celebrate their milestone.

In addition, Grande has been active on Twitter, liking marriage-related tweets from users and responding to comments.

Grande  also had a Twitter exchange with singer Camilla Cabello that had fans reeling, after Cabello jokingly told her to "keep the ring."

According to Us Weekly, they "were telling people that they're engaged" at a birthday party for Robert Pattinson that took place on June 9, 2018. 

It's unclear when the couple started dating, but Grande and Davidson have been sharing plenty of videos and photos of each other in recent weeks. Davidson also got two new tattoos inspired by the "No Tears Left to Cry" singer.   

Representatives for Grande and Davidson didn't immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment.

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Emily Ratajkowski showed off her blinding engagement ring — and it may have cost up to $90,000

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Emily Ratajkowski and Sebastian Bear-McClard

  • Emily Ratajkowski revealed a close-up look of her stunning engagement ring on Instagram.
  • Page Six reports that the ring is estimated to cost between $50,000 to $90,000.
  • Ratajkowski married filmmaker Sebastian Bear-McClard in February.


If there's one thing celebrities love more than extravagant weddings, it's over-the-top engagement rings. From Paris Hilton's $2 million stunner to Kate Middleton's sapphire heirloom, there's no shortage of eye-catching rings donning the fingers of the biggest celebrities. 

Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski is now the latest to join the impressive ring club. The 26-year-old married 31-year-old filmmaker Sebastian Bear-McClard in February. On Thursday, she revealed a close-up look at her massive engagement ring via Instagram

A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) on Jul 11, 2018 at 7:23pm PDT on

According to Page SixBrilliant Earth‘s VP of strategy and merchandising Kathryn Money estimated that the ring cost anywhere between $50,000 to $90,000. While that's expensive, it's not quite as much compared to other celebrities whose rings have price tags in the millions

Money also estimated that the ring features a 2-carat princess-cut diamond and a 3-carat pear-shaped diamond on a gold band. It's certainly a head-turning design.

A post shared by Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) on

Ratajkowski previously talked about her husband's proposal on an April episode of "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon," where she revealed that he didn't have a ring at the time. 

"He proposed to me at Minetta Tavern and he didn’t have a ring, so I was like, ‘Mmm, nah,'" she said. "And then he took the paper clip that the bill was paid with and made me a ring, which I actually thought was really romantic."

She then revealed that the two made their own temporary wedding rings from a piece of gold purchased in Chinatown the night before the wedding. She wasn't wearing her engagement ring during the interview, so it seems to be a fairly recent addition.

Emily Ratajkowski's temporary engagement ring

Now that she has a massive engagement ring to join it, it's safe to say she's definitely upgraded from a paper clip.

Ring experts did not immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment.

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These beautiful engagement rings are inspired by iconic Disney princesses

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tiana princess and the frog Disney Zales Engagement Ring

Engagement ring shopping just got a lot easier for Disney fans and royals enthusiasts alike.

Zales' "Enchanted" collection includes over 70 pieces of jewelry, all inspired by different Disney princesses. While the line also features necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, the engagement rings have taken the internet by storm.

In case you're curious, the collection ranges from a $160 snowflake ring, inspired by Elsa from "Frozen," to a limited edition Snow White ring that'll set you back more than $6,000. If you're having trouble deciding, Zales even made a quiz to help you figure out which princess you're most like.

Here's a closer look at our favorites, and the princesses who inspired them, below.

This snowflake-shaped engagement ring would be perfect for Elsa from "Frozen."

Cost: $1,560.30

Find out more on Zales >



The yellow gold in this ring is as bright as Tiana's crown from "The Princess and the Frog."

Cost: $5,683.30

Find out more on Zales >



The twisting gold design of this ring looks like Rapunzel's long, flowing hair in "Tangled."

Cost: $2,337.30

Find out more on Zales >



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Jordan Spieth and longtime girlfriend Annie Verret appear to be engaged

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Jordan Spieth Annie Verret

  • Photos on social media appear to show Jordan Spieth and his longtime girlfriend Annie Verret are now engaged.
  • Spieth and Verret have been together since high school, and Verret has been by the young golfer's side for some of the biggest wins of his career.
  • While the couple has not made an official announcement yet, Verret's new ring and the smiles on the couple's faces make it pretty clear that they're tying the knot.


It appears that Jordan Spieth and his longtime girlfriend Annie Verret are tying the knot.

Photos emerged on social media on Sunday with the couple wearing big smiles and Verret showing off an impressive diamond on her left hand.

While no official announcement has been made yet, it sure looks like the couple is engaged. Fellow golf pro Colt Knost offered his congratulations to the two, while also empathizing with the young women out there who never got their chance to steal Spieth's heart.

Spieth and Verret began dating during their senior year of high school. An events coordinator by trade, Verret has been by Spieth's side for some of the biggest wins of his young career. Now it looks like they'll have many more ahead of them.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

SEE ALSO: Knicks center Kyle O'Quinn has picked up a surprising hobby in his spare time — entertaining bar mitzvahs in New York City

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