A top jeweller has put a price tag on Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus’ engagement ring after the Aussie golden girl announced her engagement to fiancé Mac Powell.
Titmus and Powell shared the happy news in a joint Instagram post on Monday night, revealing photos from the romantic September 7 proposal – which fell on the athlete’s 26th birthday.
‘You + me forever,’ Titmus wrote alongside a series of snaps from the beachside proposal.
But it was the enormous sparkler on her left hand that quickly caught the eye – and it’s a world away from your typical solitaire.
The statement ring features an oval-cut centre diamond in a raised claw setting, flanked by two pear-cut side stones that taper outwards.
Sweeping, diamond-set, wing-like shoulders sit beneath the stones, with the intricate design set throughout in yellow gold.
Wedding and engagement ring expert Nilesh Rakholia, founder of Abelini, estimates the centre diamond alone could weigh up to five carats – with the complete ring potentially worth as much as $250,000.
‘It’s a distinctive ring. The centre stone sits raised on its own in a clean claw setting, flanked by two pear-cut accent stones tapering outward on either side,’ he said.
A top jeweller has put a price tag on Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus’ engagement ring after the Aussie golden girl announced her engagement to fiancé Mac Powell
Wedding and engagement ring expert Nilesh Rakholia, founder of Abelini, estimates the centre diamond alone could weigh up to five carats – with the complete ring potentially worth as much as $250,000
‘That three-stone structure, combined with the sweeping shoulders underneath, gives the ring a real sense of movement a plain solitaire wouldn’t have.’
Nilesh said the oval-cut centre stone was also a ‘great choice’, both for its impact and the flattering effect it creates on the hand.
‘It elongates the finger and tends to look larger than a round brilliant of the same carat weight, since the surface area is spread out rather than concentrated in a circle,’ he explained.
‘Adding pear-shaped stones on either side, tapering away from the centre, echoes that elongated line and makes the whole hand look longer too. It’s a lovely way of extending the design rather than just adding size.
‘This is a considered, architectural piece rather than a straightforward diamond on a plain band.’
Based on the proportions of the ring against Titmus’ finger in the photos, Nilesh estimates the centre stone sits somewhere between three and five carats.
‘It’s a genuinely substantial stone, and that’s before you factor in the additional carat weight from the two pear-cut side stones,’ he said.
‘An oval of that size has real presence on the hand, which fits with how popular bold, statement centre stones have become in recent celebrity engagement rings.’
Titmus and Powell’s romance began away from the sporting spotlight after the pair were set up on a blind date by a family friend
If the ring features natural diamonds, Nilesh estimates a centre stone of that size paired with proportionate pear-cut diamonds could put its value anywhere between $90,000 and $250,000, depending on the stones’ colour, clarity and certification.
The engagement marks another major new chapter for Titmus, who earlier this year revealed she had decided to retire from competitive swimming to spend more time with Powell and her family.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist and women’s 200-metre freestyle world record holder moved from Queensland to Melbourne to live with Powell shortly after stepping away from the sport.
In July, she also opened up about having two benign tumours removed from one of her ovaries and how the health scare had shifted her perspective on life.
Titmus and Powell’s romance began away from the sporting spotlight after the pair were set up on a blind date by a family friend.
Powell, who works in finance, hadn’t watched the Olympics and didn’t recognise the swimming superstar when they met – something Titmus has previously credited with allowing their relationship to develop naturally.
‘He is incredible,’ Titmus said.
‘We come from totally different walks of life. I feel very grateful he’s never looked at me as Ariarne the swimmer that everyone sees.
‘He’s taught me the importance of family.
‘[He’s also taught me] how precious time is with the people that you love and I’m very grateful that I found someone that was going to support me either way.’