This article takes a look at Melania Trump’s pricey jewelry collection that she has from of course, her husband Donald Trump, from $3 million Graff wedding ring to her diamond Van Cleef & Arpels earrings that she wore on inauguration day in 2017.
Why three rings?
Melania Knauss started dating Donald Trump in 1998, not long after they first met. In 2004, they got engaged, and a year later she officially became Melania Trump, as the two got married in an expensive, lavish wedding in Florida.
Since we had a topic on who buys the wedding bands, I don’t think we should debate in this case who did it. Of course, her husband, Donald Trump. Donald Trump proposed to his wife with a 15-carat raw diamond engagement band that was valued at 4.2 million dollars.
15 years after the wedding, Melania reportedly no longer wears that band. In 2015, when Trump was considering running for president the following year, he gave Melania a new engagement ring to convince her to support him in maintaining his family’s reputation in the public eye.
On the 10th anniversary of their wedding, Trump decided to offer her a new 25-carat raw diamond ring worth 5 million dollars. Even today, it can be seen on the former First Lady’s hand. However, during the husband’s campaign, Melania chose to wear her first engagement ring.
Why doesn’t Melania wear her wedding band?
Tradition says after engagement, you get your infinity wedding band, but Melania Trump may have given up her expensive band for a variety of reasons.
Expert say that it might depend on her personal taste or that she might not want to show off the expensive object. There are three reasons why she might not wear the band in public, he added.
Firstly, if it does not complement her big engagement ring well. Additionally, because it is large and expensive, it might turn off voters who think she is showing her off riches. Or Melania chose not to wear her engagement band in public if she doesn’t want it to draw attention from the media.
What’s Melania Trump’s wedding ring looks like?
1. First engagement ring
When Melania got engaged to businessman Donald Trump in 2004, he gifted her a 15-carat diamond band worth $1.5 million. Each carat weighs 0.86cts and the ring totals 13cts of high-grade diamonds. An unnamed Trump staff member at the time said the band was so bright they “had to put sunglasses on” after seeing it.
Trump made headlines when he revealed that he received a 50% discount on the band at that time. However, the company brand later claimed that they do not sell things for publicity value.
In 2020, it was revealed that the D flawless ring from Graff really was appraised at about US$3 million.
2. Emerald cut wedding band
When the pair got married in 2005 — a year before their son Barron was born— they decided on Graff for Melania’s wedding band. After they exchanged vows in front of a star-studded guest list, a 13-carat emerald wedding band was placed on her finger.
However, she wears her wedding band on her right ring finger because her second engagement ring is so big that she cannot wear both of them on the same finger.
3. The 10-year anniversary ring
Ten years after she and Donald Trump wed in 2005, Melania received an update to the engagement band. The same company —Graff — gave her a 25-carat diamond ring this time, which she wore on Inauguration day and in her formal White House portrait in 2017.
The former first lady, came under fire for displaying the sparkler to the American public while angling the crystal toward the camera. She was criticized that her appearance attracted parallels to remarkably modest portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama.
In 2015, ring cost Donald Trump approximately US$2.7 million, which is today likely due to inflation 3.3 million dollars.
Diamond stud earrings for special occasions
Melania’s blue Ralph Lauren coat in the Jackie-Kennedy style which she wore to the Inauguration day in January 2017, has gained national attention. But the diamond earrings she wore with it from Van Cleef & Arpels were also striking. She also wore the princess-cut stones to the Freedom Ball that evening, where she dressed a Herve Pierre outfit, giving the stones even more exposure.
Since Melania hardly ever wears jewelry, the studs are obviously very important to her. In June 2019, while on a state visit to the UK, she wore the sparkling earrings once more when she visited Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Charles at a Clarence House gathering. Even though, she had worn her hair down, her earrings still stuck out.
The Conclusion
Even before she got married to Donald Trump, Melania worked as a fashion model through agencies in the European fashion capitals. In April 2010, Melania launched her own jewelry collection, named Melania Timepieces & Jewelry, sold on QVC.
In addition to the elegant outfits she displays, Melania’s extremely expensive jewelry, especially her three diamond wedding rings are what people most often talk about.
