Events & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York ShowThe deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
EditorsJan 06, 2011
Holidays ring in engagements
In the jewelry industry, it's a common truism that the holiday season equals engagement season, and it's one that certainly didn't miss Hollywood this year. Stars including Reese Witherspoon, LeAnn Rimes and Natalie Portman are just a few of the...
In the jewelry industry, it's a common truism that the holiday season equals engagement season, and it's one that certainly didn't miss Hollywood this year. Stars including Reese Witherspoon, LeAnn Rimes and Natalie Portman are just a few of the celebs reported to have said "yes" in recent weeks.
What's interesting is that following a flurry of high-profile engagements featuring colored gemstone center stones (think Kate Middleton and Jessica Simpson), the latest round of engagements sees a return to more traditional, albeit quite large, colorless diamonds.
Rimes, engaged to actor Eddie Cibrian, is now wearing a 5-carat oval diamond (below) designed by jeweler Brent Polacheck. The center stone is surrounded by pave diamonds and set in platinum. Meanwhile, Hugh Hefner recently put a ring on the finger of Playboy Playmate Crystal Harris. Harris told People magazine that the ring features a center stone that's a little more than than 3 carats, plus a pave diamond band set in platinum.
Photo: Courtesy of Platinum Guild International USA
Yet the ring that has really got the gossip magazine press cranking is the one Witherspoon received from fiancé Jim Toth. Designed by William Goldberg, the sparkling stunner features a rare 4-carat Ashoka diamond set on a pave diamond and platinum band (a similar ring to Reese's is pictured below). Though the ring is clearly gorgeous, I wasn't sure what was quite so special about it as I was unfamiliar with Ashokas. I checked in with our diamond editor and William Goldberg for a quick lesson.
Photo: William Goldberg
Today's Ashokas actually refer to a unique diamond cut, with each diamond cut to be visually larger and more brilliant, with 62 displayed facets and rounded corners. The diamonds take their name from the story of the original 41.57-carat, D color, flawless Ashoka diamond owned by India's Ashoka Maruya. Renowned for guiding his subjects on the path of love, respect and compassion, the emperor was thought to possess a magical stone, one with the power to remove sorrow.
That lore, and the rarity of today's Ashoka diamonds (less than 10 percent of rough diamonds mined annually have the potential to become an Ashoka-cut stone, the designer says), make for quite a story for brides-to-be seeking the most unique of rings.
According to Eve Goldberg of William Goldberg, Ashokas have intrigued plenty of potential fiancées since the news hit about Reese's new ring.
"We have received many, many calls about the Ashoka, and we have gotten hundreds of requests on our Web site for more information on the Ashoka," she told National Jeweler.
More on Editors
The Latest
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
MajorsMay 22, 2026
Stuller’s New Packaging, Display Catalog Is Out The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.
Weekly QuizMay 21, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
IndependentsMay 21, 2026
Springer’s Jewelers’ New Flagship Will Serve Next-Gen Luxury ShoppersFourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
Events & AwardsMay 21, 2026
JA Announces Nina Pugliese Memorial ScholarshipThe new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Metal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
Events & AwardsMay 18, 2026
Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
SourcingMay 15, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
White Diamonds Lead Sotheby’s Auction, Blue Diamond Does Not SellA matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.
Supplier BulletinMay 14, 2026
A Diamond Is Forever Continues Desert Diamonds – Bridal ReinvigoratedSponsored by A Diamond Is Forever
