There must be something in the water, because celebrities have been getting engaged faster than you can say “prenup”. Most notably, rag mag rivals Vanessa Minnillo and Jessica Simpson (one formerly married to boy band hottie Nick Lachey, and one currently sporting his sparkly promise of devotion) have both recently become engaged, and the gloves are off to see which one boasts the better ring.
In a side-by-side comparison, the two rings couldn’t be more dissimilar. Lachey proposed with a fairly standard traditional diamond ring. Although it is not a solitaire, the ring features a platinum band, a center stone that is approximately 4-carats and Asscher cut, as well as trapezoidal diamonds on either side. The ring is unique because of the cuts used, but the diamonds and platinum are an otherwise traditional pairing.
Simpson, on the other hand, received a non-traditional ring from soon-to-be hubby and ex-NFL footballer Eric Johnson (although due to the cost of the ring and the fact that her fiancé doesn’t have a job, it has been speculated that she actually purchased the ring herself). In any case, the symbol of her true love’s devotion comes in the form of a gold band supporting a 4-carat ruby flanked by two diamonds of almost equal size. So Simpson’s ring has a bit more bling and a lot more color, but probably a little less class.
But let’s get to the real question: how much do they cost?! Minnillo’s diamond-studded sparkler comes in at a whopping $125,000 while Simpson’s is just shy of that number at an estimated $100,000. But clearly, Vanessa Minnillo’s situation is superior in just about every way. Sure, she ended up with Jessica Simpson’s cast-off husband, but let’s face it: this millionaire stud is still a pretty good catch with a decent solo singing career, an ongoing stint in reality TV, and a stake in several minor league sports franchises.
Johnson, on the other hand, is an out-of-work, once-divorced mooch who probably can’t afford the ring his fiancé is wearing (it must be true love, right?). Additionally, Minnillo’s ring cost more, despite the fact that it sports less carats (meaning her stones are better quality), and it is a classic and timeless piece that she can pass on to future generations, whereas Simpson’s colorful stone already looks dated with the red and gold color combo. The results of this smackdown are in and probably pretty obvious: Minnillo wins by a long shot.
