Would YOU be happy with a porcelain ring? As baby-faced royal Samuel Chatto proposes with handmade band, the other celeb engagement jewellery that failed to impress – including Megan Fox’s ‘painful’ thorned bespoke piece

A proposal marks the start of a lifelong commitment for couples, but for those obsessed with the finer details, this milestone moment is just as much about the ring.

From timeless solitaires to extravagant halos adorned with diamonds, many brides-to-be dream of receiving the perfect engagement ring. 

But in the world of the rich and famous, where lavish jewellery is never in short supply, it often pays to ditch tradition in favour of something a little more unusual when popping the question.

The latest to divide opinion is Princess Margaret’s grandson, Samuel Chatto, 29, who proposed to fellow artist Eleanor Ekserdjian with a porcelain ring he crafted himself.

While many praised the thoughtful, handmade gesture, others questioned the practicality of the band, with some branding it ‘breakable’. 

But the baby-faced ceramicist is not the only famous face to leave fans scratching their heads with their unconventional ring choice. 

Read on to discover which celebrities have opted for some truly unexpected designs… 

Samuel Chatto 

Princess Margaret’s heartthrob grandson yesterday announced his engagement to 29-year-old Eleanor Ekserdjian with a unique porcelain ring, which he crafted himself. 

The simple cream-coloured band features a subtle glazed finish rather than a traditional gemstone. 

But while many praised the sentimental gesture and craftsmanship, others questioned the practicality of the fragile material, with critics calling it ‘breakable’ and unsuitable for everyday wear. 

One person wrote on X: ‘No diamonds left in the safe? Princess Margaret would be spinning in her urn!’

Another said: ‘Porcelain? She bangs her hand on anything it’s going to break,’ while a third added: ‘Stunning ring, but I’d be scared it was going to break.’

‘I hope there is a secret ingredient that makes it smash proof,’ one worried fan wrote. ‘I would be worried about breaking it. I’ve accidentally smashed loads of porcelain in my time,’ she said.

Rita Ora 

Rita Ora’s estimated £416,000 engagement ring from New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi bears an eye-catching design, featuring a square-shaped, Colombian emerald in a diamond pavé-set bezel and finished with a yellow gold band. 

The ring’s vintage style won plenty of admirers when the British singer, 35, and her 50-year-old husband became engaged in 2022, but others felt differently. 

One person wrote in a Reddit thread: ‘Rita Ora’s ring cost a fortune but my first impression was that it looked like one of those toy rings that you get out of the 25 cent bin.’ 

Emma Louise Connolly  

Scottish model Emma Louise Connolly, 34, received a striking octagon-shaped ring from her then boyfriend Oliver Proudlock, 37, when they got engaged in 2018, marrying two years later. 

The bold, unusual ring was designed by the Made In Chelsea star and featured a diamond from his grandmother’s ring in the centre, surrounded by rows of black and white diamonds and green gemstones. 

While some praising its unique and ‘stunning’ look, others thought the ring’s chunky setting was a little overwhelming. 

On an Instagram post uploaded by the makers of the ring, @vowjewellery, one person wrote: ‘Grim’. 

Another agreed, writing: ‘It’s not the best.’   

Princess Marie of Denmark 

Prince Joachim of Denmark proposed to Princess Marie in Turkey in 2007 with a distinctive ring featuring a central diamond flanked by a ruby and a sapphire and set in a wide gold band. 

To honour the now 50-year-old Marie’s French heritage, the £30,000 design incorporates red, white and blue stones as a nod to the French flag. 

While the colourful design commemorated the former businesswoman’s heritage, not everyone was convinced, with some suggesting the vibrant ring belonged on a pirate’s finger rather than a member of a royal family. 

On a Royal Forums thread, one person said: ‘The contrast of blue, white and red on such a thick gold band looks as if it would be better suited upon Jack Sparrow’s finger than that of a future royal Princess of Denmark.’

Another critiqued: ‘Three ‘busy’ colours in a ring and then add gold as a fourth colour is not good. It lacks elegance and that is a pity.’ 

Megan Fox 

In 2022, rapper Machine Gun Kelly, 36, proposed to Megan Fox, 40, with a bespoke $400,000 (£297,000) toi et moi ring (French for ‘you and me’) featuring pear-shaped emeralds diamonds, each representing one half of the couple. 

The stones sat on magnetic bands lined with hidden thorns that, according to singer-songwriter Kelly, who designed the piece, would hurt if the actress tried to remove the ring. 

Some admired the symbolism and dedication to love and marriage, though many others described the design as unsettling rather than romantic.

On an Instagram post, one person wrote, ‘Anyone else see this as a massive red flag?’ while another commented, ‘Tell me you’re toxic without telling me you’re toxic’. 

A third added: ‘Yeah “cute and romantic”, except when she wants to get in the shower or put lotion on and can’t take it off unless she wants to hurt herself.’ 

After an on-and-off relationship, sadly the couple split after the birth of their daughter, Saga Blade, in March 2025.

Scarlet Johansson 

Scarlett Johansson’s engagement ring from Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost features a yellow-brown, elongated, 11-carat diamond mounted on a dark, sculptural, curved ceramic band by luxury jeweller Taffin. 

Valued at around $450,000 (£335,000), the 41-year-old actress’s modern dome-shaped design – which she received in 2019 – stood out from traditional engagement rings. 

While some hailed the ring’s ‘cool’ central diamond, others admitted it wasn’t quite to their taste. 

On a Reddit thread, one person wrote: ‘It’s a beautiful stone, but that band looks odd.’ 

In a separate thread, another described the ring as ‘hideous’, while a third added: ‘I hate the setting of this ring so much.’ 

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande’s ring from her now ex-husband Dalton Gomez asymmetrically combines a large oval-cut diamond with an off-set pearl. 

Sharing an image of the $750,000 (£559,000) ring on X (formerly Twitter) in 2014, the 7 Rings singer wrote: ‘Nonna had a ring made for me with the pearl from grandpa’s tie pin. She says he told her in a dream it’d protect me.’

Ariana’s grandmother, Marjorie (Nonna) had a custom ring made for her using a pearl taken from her late grandfather’s tie pin. According to British Vogue, it is believed the pearl from her engagement ring is the same family heirloom.

The unusual pairing was widely praised for its sentimental meaning, but others questioned its practicality, pointing out that pearls are one of the softest gemstones and can be easily scratched or damaged through daily wear. 

According to fine jewellery brand Angara, pearls rank only 2.5 on the Mohs scale (which measures a material’s scratch resistance, with 1 being the softest and 10 the hardest), making them risky for daily wear. 

Taking to Reddit, one person wrote in a post: ‘That is one of the WORST materials to have for a daily wear as they are so delicate. I’m sure she knows that.’ 

Another agreed, commenting: ‘Pearls aren’t ideal for an engagement ring – and since the pearl is sentimental, I would probably assume she would only wear it on special occasions.’

Paris Hilton

In 2018, American actor and model Chris Zylka proposed to now 45-year-old Paris Hilton with a breathtaking 20-carat pear-shaped diamond ring, worth an estimated $2million (£1.4million). 

Set on a diamond-encrusted platinum band, the enormous sparkler became almost as famous as the proposal itself. 

It later made headlines after the heiress temporarily lost it in a Miami nightclub, leading many to joke that such an extravagant ring was always going to be impractical.

At the time, one person sarcastically responded under Paris’ X post: ‘Example of the wealthy’s most unfortunate issue: diamond on my engagement is so heavy that I lost it!’ 

Another joked: ‘I knew she was gonna lose that thing at least once.’  

Katy Perry 

Pirates Of The Caribbean star Orlando Bloom, 49, proposed to pop singer Katy Perry, 41, with a unique, cluster-set ring shaped like a blooming flower, on Valentine’s Day in 2019. 

The striking ring, said to have been worth nearly £4million, featured a large oval pink gemstone, believed to be a ruby or vivid pink diamond, surrounded by eight white diamonds.

Fans and commentators on the internet heavily critiqued the ring, with many labelling the flower aesthetic childish and ‘ugly’. 

On Reddit, one person wrote in a thread: ‘Omg Katy Perry’s ring is SO fugly.’

Another said: ‘I hate Katy’s! It looks like a 5 year old picked it out.’

A third added: ‘Orlando should have gone with a simple beautiful ring instead of a statement piece. A flower ring does not go with all outfits. Smh.’ 

The couple never made it to the altar, splitting up in 2025 after nearly a decade together.