How Much Are The Engagement Rings On The Bachelor?

Highlights

• The Bachelor's engagement rings can range from $4,000 to over $690,000, with an impressive design process tailored to the couple's unique relationship.
• Contestants must return the Neil Lane ring if they split within two years; at least one couple opted to purchase their own ring instead.
• The Bachelor's rings can be valued at over half a million dollars, with lavish designs featuring large stones of up to 5.09 carats.

It's hard to believe, but The Bachelor has been inundating our living rooms for a whopping 22 years!

You would need to think all the way back to 2002 to remember the very first red roses presented to a gaggle of gorgeous women, all vying for the love of the first The Bachelor contestant.

When all goes well, the series ends with the contestant (the titular "Bachelor") choosing one lucky lady to receive his final rose — plus a gorgeous diamond engagement ring, offered on one knee.

The finale of season 28 did end happily, as Bachelor Joey Graziadei proposed to Kelsey Anderson on March 25th in an emotional live episode from a dreamy beach in Tulum, Mexico.

Graziadei chose the 25-year-old Kelsey from 32 original contestants at the start of the season.

Kelsey's ring was a real sparkler: A four-carat Neil Lane Art Deco design, featuring an emerald-cut diamond in the center, with two smaller diamonds on either side.

Unfortunately, we don't know the exact value of the ring; The Bachelor would only disclose that Neil Lane designs range in price from $4,000 to over $690,000.

Lane explained his design process for The Bachelor rings to InStyle:

I actually start the design process long before I meet the groom. The groom and I spend a lot of time together while he’s selecting the ring.

We collaborate and through our dialogue, he reveals the characteristics that make his bride and the relationship he has with her unique. With these concepts in mind, I help guide him to the ring that is the true embodiment of his love for her.

According to standard operating practices for The Bachelor, the groom-to-be receives the ring gratis — with one stipulation.

Though the rock is paid for, the couple is obligated to return it to ABC if they end their engagement within a two-year period.

An interesting side note: The Bachelor's contestant is welcome to purchase his own ring, if he'd rather dip into his savings than accept a Neil Lane freebie.

At least one Bachelor contestant did exactly that, electing to purchase a rival jeweler's wares:

"Aaron Buerge allegedly bought a $35,000 Harry Winston diamond for his Bachelor winner, Helene Eksterowicz, who sold it on eBay for $28,300 after the pair split."

If the couple splits after the two-year grace period, they are permitted to sell the Neil Lane ring, but ABC has first dibs with respect to repurchasing it, if the couple decides to auction it off or outright sell the rock.

All the diamonds presented over the past 22 years have been spectacular. But how much are the engagement rings on The Bachelor, anyway?

Let's take a look at The Bachelors' rings, their estimated valuations, and which Bachelor engagement ring has the honor of being the most expensive on the show.

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Diamonds Are Forever, Even When Love Isn't

The network, ABC, has a long-standing contract with Neil Lane Bridal to provide unique rings for each season of The Bachelor.

An official Neil Lane website offers a glimpse into some of the sparklers presented on "Bachelor Nation" over the years.

Lane himself was quoted, quite poetically saying of his rings and The Bachelor's couples:

"It’s my hope that the spark between them lasts forever. And if it doesn’t, I like to think that the ring goes to heaven."

Although ABC has never disclosed the exact value of each ring, it's estimated that the jewels typically cost anywhere from $45,000 to upwards of $100,000.

Season 21 Bachelor Nick Viall presented a ring estimated to be worth $100,000 to bride-to-be Vanessa Grimaldi, according to StyleCaster. The couple broke up in 2017, less than a year after their finale aired.

E! News reported in 2016 that Season 20 Bachelor Ben Higgins used an estimated $95,000 ring to propose to Lauren Bushnell. Ben and Lauren also split in 2017, just a year after their finale aired.

The Golden Bachelor's Gerry Turner selected a more modest ring for Theresa Nist in January.

The sparkler was described as "a 3.5-carat princess-cut diamond ring with two baguette-cut diamonds set among smaller diamonds in a brilliant cut."

An expert estimated the ring to be valued at around $40,000.

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Size Matters

Although Neil Lane's rings range dramatically in price (when prices are disclosed), engagement rings featured on The Bachelor are typically of unknown value.

However, here's a look at the largest stones enjoyed by some of the lucky ladies of The Bachelor:

ABC has yet to confirm production for The Bachelor's season 29, but the franchise has been so consistently popular for the network that a future season is most likely in the works.

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