The question pops up every time a red carpet photo resurfaces : what is the price of Miley Cyrus’s engagement ring from Liam Hemsworth? The piece made headlines in 2012, not just because of the proposal, but because the diamond was a rare old mine cut set by celebrity jeweler Neil Lane.
Here is the context that matters right away. The ring features a 3.5-carat cushion-shaped old mine diamond mounted in 18-karat gold with a diamond-accented band. Neil Lane confirmed the stone’s 19th-century origin and hand-cut look when speaking to People in June 2012, while declining to disclose the price. That silence fueled a decade of speculation.
Miley Cyrus engagement ring price : what reports actually say
So, how much is it worth? Contemporary coverage in the entertainment press landed on a wide range. E! News in June 2012 cited an estimated value near $250,000, while Us Weekly the same month placed the figure closer to $100,000. People reported the 3.5-carat specs and antique pedigree, but noted that Neil Lane did not share the cost.
Those estimates reflect more than just carat weight. Old mine diamonds – hand-cut before modern symmetry standards – command premiums for character and rarity. Add a known designer and an 18-karat gold setting, and the price climbs quickly. In other words, the ring’s value sits at the intersection of history, craftsmanship, and celebrity demand.
For perspective, the average amount American couples spent on an engagement ring was $5,800 in 2022, according to The Knot’s Real Weddings Study 2022. That gap illustrates why celebrity valuations feel dizzying: one high-carat antique stone can equal dozens of mainstream purchases.
Why the Neil Lane design costs that much : carat, cut, provenance
Start with the centerpiece. A 3.5-carat old mine diamond from the late 1800s is not just a bigger stone – it is a scarce one. Compared with modern round brilliants cut for uniform sparkle, old mine cuts show chunkier facets and a candlelit glow that collectors pay for. The Neil Lane signature also matters, since designer premiums reflect brand reputation and archival sourcing.
The setting contributes, too. The ring combines 18-karat yellow gold with a pavé diamond band. Higher gold purity costs more than 14-karat, and a pavé shank adds dozens of tiny stones and labor hours. These details do not change the headline carat, yet they elevate the final price in ways that casual onlookers sometimes miss.
Lastly, timing plays a role. The engagement became public in June 2012, just as vintage-inspired designs were surging across Hollywood. Media buzz can influence retail pricing for similar designs in-season, even when the actual purchase price remains private, as People underscored at the time.
From red carpet to reality : getting the look for less
Plenty of readers want the same vibe without six figures. That is practical – and doable. The essence of Miley Cyrus’s ring is the cushion shape, a softly rounded square, plus the antique-feel facets and warm yellow gold. Replicating those cues, not the exact stone, changes the budget drastically.
One path is to choose an antique-style cushion brilliant rather than a true old mine cut. You keep the pillowy outline without chasing a 19th-century stone. Another is to scale the carat to the hand: a well-cut 1.50 to 2.00-carat cushion can look substantial on most ring sizes, especially with a slim band and minimal halo. Switching from 18-karat to 14-karat yellow gold retains color while trimming cost on materials and wearability.
There is also the designer question. Neil Lane’s original has provenance baked in. Commissioning a local bench jeweler to craft a cushion solitaire with a pavé band mimics the silhouette for a fraction of the premium. If a vintage soul is non-negotiable, antiques from the 1920s to 1940s deliver period character without the 1800s rarity markup that a star’s ring often implies.
For anyone weighing numbers on a real-life budget, that $5,800 average spend from The Knot’s 2022 study frames expectations. It shows why public estimates for Miley Cyrus’s ring – from $100,000 in some reports to around $250,000 in others – live in a separate category shaped by celebrity visibility, a designer of record, and a scarce old mine diamond linked to the 1800s. The exact figure was never released, as People made clear. The value conversation, though, is anchored by carat, cut era, metal, and name – the same levers any shopper can tune with a trusted jewellry professional.
Sources : People, June 2012 – ring details and designer confirmation. E! News, June 2012 – estimate near $250,000. Us Weekly, June 2012 – estimate around $100,000. The Knot, Real Weddings Study 2022 – $5,800 average spend.