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Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge have sparked engagement rumours after Rodrigo was spotted strolling in LA wearing what looked like an engagement ring — an enormous square-cut diamond on her left ring finger.
Walking with her actor boyfriend, the Guts singer wore a plaid green mini dress and brown leather ballet flats from Anonymous Copenhagen, perfectly matched to a soft Prada leather shoulder bag. Her hair was swept back, and a pair of Bonnie Clyde tortoiseshell sunglasses stayed firmly in place.
Plaid has been trending for some time — from Burberry and Calvin Klein’s Fall 2025 collections to Australian Fashion Week runways — but it’s the ring on Rodrigo’s finger that taps into the moment we’re seeing everywhere: ultra-maximalist styles.
Whatever you say about the economy, the diamonds on celebrity fingers are getting bigger. Dua Lipa has popularised the chunky engagement ring, while Lauren Sanchez’s 30-carat sparkler lit up Venice (and could probably be spotted from a JetBlue space flight). And just days ago, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and girlfriend Georgina Rodríguez announced their engagement, showing off a staggering oval-cut diamond speculated to be about 25 carats with an estimated value of $10 million.
Partridge and Rodrigo, both 22, have been dating for almost two years and are openly effusive about each other. In an interview with British Vogue, Partridge characterised himself as a “golden retriever” boyfriend. “I think in past relationships my mind worked at a different speed to the women I’ve known,” he explained. “A bit slower. The way I would characterise it is like a Golden Retriever and a black cat. I can imagine being happy sitting and catching a frisbee,” he joked.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, jewellery expert Anya Walsh estimated Rodrigo’s ring to be between 3.5 and 4 carats. “While the photograph is indistinct, the diamond is clearly square-shaped, suggesting it is either an elongated cut or a radiant cut,” she said. “For those seeking a similar ring, prices vary considerably depending on whether the diamond is natural or lab-grown.” Walsh suggested a range of roughly US$55,000–$70,000 (A$84,000–$107,000).
What’s Driving The Maximalist Engagement Ring Trend?
Monika Ruggerino, owner of the eponymous jewellery line Monika Ruggerino, says the rise of lab-grown stones has made these “statement” engagement rings more accessible. “I definitely attribute the rise in popularity of large and extra-large diamonds to the increased use of lab diamonds,” the jeweller explains. “Sizes such as the rumoured 25 ct plus oval cut diamond belonging to Cristiano Ronaldo’s fiancé, are now a dime-a-dozen and cost near nothing in comparison to their natural counterparts,” she says.
Cushla Whiting, Creative Director and co-founder of Cushla Whiting, concurs. “There’s a clear trend towards larger 2 to 4+ carat diamond rings right now. Once diamonds of this size became financially accessible to a wider audience, they started dominating Instagram and TikTok feeds, and the trend took off from there.” Whiting said that the trend is primarily driven by price. “A 2-carat natural diamond in a ring typically starts at $30,000 (AU), with 4-carat options reaching well into the hundreds of thousands. In contrast, lab-grown diamonds offer greater accessibility; a 2-carat lab diamond ring can cost around $6,500 and a 4-carat version just $7,500. That price difference has made the “big” diamond much more mainstream.”
There’s also renewed interest in oversized natural diamonds in more affordable cuts and colours. Cognac and faint yellow stones, for instance, have traditionally been priced lower and sometimes viewed as lacking in clarity, but tastes are shifting. Individuality is being favoured over perfection, with unique hues celebrated and lower-grade or antique, repurposed diamonds increasingly requested. “I am pleased to see a rise in large and extra-large natural diamonds of unique shape and colour. Repurposed antique and fancy cuts, very pale cognac or faint yellow diamonds offer a wonderful natural alternative for sizes that are still relatively attainable and will hold long-lasting investment value.”
“A 2-carat natural diamond in a ring typically starts at $30,000 (AU), with 4-carat options reaching well into the hundreds of thousands. In contrast, lab-grown diamonds offer greater accessibility; a 2-carat lab diamond ring can cost around $6,500 and a 4-carat version just $7,500. That price difference has made the “big” diamond much more mainstream.” Cushla Whiting
Whiting says that while oversized diamonds are trending right now, the novelty may wear off, and brides and grooms will most likely adopt the same mentality they have always had towards rings: personalisation. “Celebrities have always flaunted big rocks, but now, thanks to lab-grown diamonds, everyone can. That said, we predict that we will see a shift. As more people understand the true value and purpose of lab-grown diamonds, many may move away from oversized, attention-grabbing stones —especially for engagement rings. Instead, we predict a return to more meaningful, intentional designs that reflect personal style rather than just size.”
As for the ring in question? Ruggerino speculates that this ring would sit at the higher end of the price range because of the cut, which is less forgiving on diamonds of imperfect clarity. Olivia’s ring appears to feature a large Emerald or Portrait cut diamond, which displays an elevated level of elegance, refinement and value. Only the highest quality diamonds are cut in this style due to their Rectangular faceting, which tends not to hide inclusions as easily as brilliant cuts,” she explains.
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