Love it or loathe it, reality television is a cultural phenomenon and national obsession. From the “Real Housewives” and “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” to the escapades of “Bethenny Ever After,” there is an endless mix of savvy stars that are milking every second of their 15 minutes of fame.
One of the pluses of reality television is its celebration of luxuries, which translates into eye-popping displays of engagement rings for diamond lovers everywhere. In 2009, Bethenny Frankel, star of the “Bethenny Ever After” series, set the standard with a sparkling 8-carat engagement ring. The $150,000 ring features a pear-shaped, 6.5-cart center stone that is flanked by two side stones. Frankel’s pricey and stylish ring set the standard on the popular “Real Housewives” franchise.
“Keeping up with the Kardashian’s,” and its multiple spin-offs, chronicle the lives of America’s most famous reality television family. The show follows the exploits of the popular Los Angeles socialites, chronicling their affinity for all things glamorous and seemingly endless supply of rich suitors.
Khloe Kardashian, wife of current Los Angeles Laker star Lamar Odom, set the gossip blogs afire back in 2009 when she showed off her $850,000 engagement ring. The not-so-subtle 12.5-carat ring features a radiant-cut diamond with a sparkler-paved band. Khloe’s engagement ring supremacy was short-lived. She was upstage in early 2011, when her sister Kim got engaged to New Jersey Nets star, Kris Humphries.
Kim Kardashian’s whopping 20.5-carat engagement ring was presented to the starlet during a made-for-television proposal scene. The bauble-shaped ring features a 16.5 carat, emerald center-cut stone that is flanked by 2-carat diamonds, while the inner band is inscribed with secret Bible passages. With a reported price-tag of $2.5 million, Kim Kardashian’s engagement ring ranks among the priciest in the celebrity world.