The story behind JFK and Jackie’s engagement, which took place on June 24, 1953, may be disputed, but what is certain is that President Kennedy had excellent taste in jewelry. When he proposed to Jackie Bouvier, he went with a ring from Van Cleef & Arpels that features two stones: a 2.84 emerald and a 2.88 carat diamond. In 1962, JFK had the ring reset to include the accent diamonds on each side, which included round diamonds totalling .66 carats and marquise diamonds totaling 1.46 carats.

Jewelers Ballard & Ballard estimate the ring would’ve cost approximately 1.5 million dollars back in 1953, so we can only imagine how much it’s worth today.

Jackie Kennedy’s engagement ring now resides in the collection at the JFK Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts

It was exhibited most recently in 2003 in honor of of Jackie and JFK’s 50th wedding anniversary. We’d like to think the President would’ve chosen the emerald as a nod to his Irish heritage. Apparently his father, Joseph Kennedy, Sr. helped him pick it out.

As for their engagement story, there appear to be three versions:

1. Since, at the time Jackie was working as a photographer for the Washington Times Herald and was covering the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in London, JFK popped the question over the phone or by telegram.
2. Others say he proposed in the restaurant of the Omni Parker House Hotel, in Boston, where he made his first speech at just six years old.
3. But the romantics believe the proposal took place at Martin’s Tavern, in Georgetown, in booth number three, one of Jack’s favorite haunts. According to Erin Delmore, at The Washingtonian, history buffs and romantics alike have planned their own proposals in that very same booth.

Here are our vintage diamond and emerald engagement rings!