Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s Breathtaking Toi et Moi Engagement Ring

​Estimated to be worth approximately £619,000 to 1 million euros, or the equivalent of $750,000 to $1,059,550 in US dollars, Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s ring is considered one of the most expensive and unusual engagement rings in royal history. Most royal engagement rings have a traditional center stone setting, but the known-to-be creative Danish monarch who has never been one to adhere to conventions proudly wears her two-stone, Toi et Moi style engagement ring. “Toi et Moi,” is a French phrase that translates as “You and Me.” The two stones in a Toi et Moi ring symbolize the committed union of two lovers and are considered by many to be the most romantic engagement ring style. Queen Margrethe’s opulent ring features two colossal square-shaped, cushion-cut diamonds juxtaposed diagonally on a yellow gold band. It’s been estimated that each diamond weighs between 6 to 8 carats. Highly-graded natural diamonds with such a hefty carat weight are extremely rare, hence the jaw-dropping price tag.

​Together For Over Half a Century

Married for over 50 years, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik wed in 1967. Margrethe, a princess, and heir to the Danish throne met Henrik in 1963 while studying at the London School of Economics. Prince Henrik, who died on February 13, 2018, worked as a French Diplomat when the duo first met. Henrik, who during that time bore the title, Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, purchased Margrethe's engagement ring from acclaimed French jewelry house, Van Cleef and Arpels. Working as a diplomat at the French embassy in London afforded Henrik the means to purchase Margrethe’s impressive ring. While living in the UK, the then-Princess Margrethe and then-diplomat Henri tried to keep their romance a secret. To the couple’s chagrin, the Danish press took a photo of the duo publicly embracing each other in September 1966 upon Henrik’s arrival at Copenhagen’s airport. Since their engagement was not initially accepted in Denmark, King Frederick IX held a special meeting of Denmark’s parliament and asked the representatives to approve his daughter’s marriage. Parliament issued their approval for the wedding to occur on June 10, 1967. The future queen began publicly wearing her ring in October 1966 following the engagement announcement.

After her father’s death in 1972, Margrethe ascended the throne, and Henrik was granted the royal title of Prince Consort of Denmark. Queen Margrethe’s ring is considered by many to be the embodiment of the quintessentially romantic Toi et Moi engagement ring style. The monarch’s engagement ring is a passionate and sentimental representation of her and Prince Henrik's deep-rooted and enduring love. Along with her gold wedding band, her magnificent engagement ring continues to grace her left hand.

​Toi et Moi Engagement Rings Have a Rich History

Over two centuries ago, the Toi et Moi ring style rose to prominence in 1796 when Napoléon Bonaparte proposed to Josephine de Beauharnais with an engagement ring of his design that featured a pear-shaped white diamond alongside a pear-shaped sapphire set in gold, symbolic of their passionate love story. In 2013, Josephine’s legendary engagement ring was auctioned in France and sold for close to $1 million due to its historical significance. Queen Margrethe is a direct descendant of Josephine twice over, making the Toi et Moi-style ring a fitting choice for the Danish monarch.

The ever-elegant first lady, Jackie Kennedy, also wore a contrasting Toi et Moi engagement ring, further popularizing the style. The former first lady's Toi et Moi ring featured a 2.88-carat diamond and a 2.84-carat emerald, both emerald-cut. A decade after her engagement, Jackie upgraded her ring to include an additional 2.12 carats worth of marquise and round diamonds to resemble a laurel wreath. 

Toi et Moi rings often feature two stones of the same cut and size, although contrasting stones with different cuts and sizes have become trendier in recent years. 

Ritani proudly offers engagement rings in this infamously romantic style. Check out our selection of Toi et Moi engagement rings here! We can help you custom-design your perfect diamond engagement ring. Our gemologists are ready to assist you—contact us today!

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