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Gabrielle Union’s Engagement Ring: The Ultimate Guide

Gabrielle Union’s Engagement Ring: The Ultimate Guide

Gabrielle Union’s Engagement Ring was revealed to the world in a breathtaking Instagram post on December 22, 2013. The actress and fashion icon received her beautiful ring from Miami Heat shooting guard and 12-time All-Star Dwayne Wade.

To add to the special moment, Dwayne Wade enlisted the help of his two children and his nephew in popping the question! Wade and Union went on to make the family affair official, getting married the next year in an elegant outdoor wedding.

But you’re here for Gabrielle Union’s engagement ring! And you’re in the right place.

You’ll find out:

  1. What style Gabrielle Union’s engagement ring is
  2. What diamond shape is Gabrielle Union’s engagement ring?
  3. How many carats is Gabrielle Union’s engagement ring?
  4. How much did Gabrielle Union’s engagement ring cost & what’s it really worth?
  5. Gabrielle Union’s engagement ring copy

What Style Is Gabrielle Union’s Engagement Ring?

Gabrielle’s engagement ring seems to have a flat solitaire band with a raised, pavé-studded basket. The solitaire band lends her ring a classic feel, while the diamond-studded basket gives the ring a surprise pop of sparkle when viewed from the side.

Gabrielle wearing her diamond engagement ring along with a large diamond necklace.
Solitaire Engagement Ring Embellished With a Classic Pavé Basket Head.

Solitaire engagement rings are the most popular setting among ring shoppers. Why? 2 main reasons:

  1. Solitaire engagement rings don’t distract from your center diamond! All the glitter is in your center stone.
  2. Solitaire settings save your wallet. You can invest in the center diamond of your dreams with all the money you save on the band. 

What Diamond Shape Is Gabrielle Union’s Engagement Ring?

Three cushion cut diamonds shown from different angles.

The stunning stone is an enormous cushion-cut diamond. It’s a colorless, eye-clean diamond. It’s at least an F Color with a clarity of VS1 or higher.

How Many Carats is Gabrielle Union’s Engagement Ring?

Reportedly, her diamond is an incredible 8.5 carats. And man, does it impress!

How Much Did Gabrielle Union’s Engagement Ring Cost & What’s It Really Worth?!

Gabrielle’s diamond comprises nearly the entire value of her engagement ring. Rumor has it that it cost Wade nearly $1 million! And such a gorgeous stone is truly worth every penny.

There aren’t many large-carat diamonds in less-common cuts like cushion, but compared to a similar James Allen round diamond, the $1 million valuation seems fair!

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A comparable 8 carat cushion-cut diamond is relatively more affordable. In fact, a cushion-cut diamond usually costs 30-50% less than a round diamond of a similar carat. 

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A “Copy” of Gabrielle Union’s Engagement Ring

Using James Allen’s Ring Studio, you can make your own lookalike of Gabrielle Union’s engagement ring. With a solitaire shank, a pavé-studded basket, and 4-pronged closure, this ring is nearly identical to Union’s stunning ring. All you have to do is choose your own diamond to complete this stunner!

Pavé Basket Head Engagement Ring

Solitaire Engagement Ring Embellished With a Classic Pavé Basket Head

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Another Gabrielle Union-inspired engagement ring is this four-prong solitaire setting with a pavé-decorated basket. The accent diamonds add extra glitter to your center cushion-cut diamond!

Pavé-Adorned Cathedral Engagement Ring

18K White Gold Pavé Adorned Cathedral Engagement Ring

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Gabrielle Union Engagement Ring Pictures 

We love a good photo dump, especially when it features an incredible engagement ring and a beautiful couple!

Gabrielle posing in her veil and holding up her ring finger to display her diamond engagement ring
Gabrielle brushing back her hair while she shows off her sparkling diamond ring.
Gabrielle and Dwayne laughing together. Her engagement ring hand rests on his shoulder displaying the diamond.
Gabrielle and Dwayne posing together on a bed. She rest her hand on his head showing off her diamond engagement ring.
Gabrielle at a fashion show resting her hand on her knee, her engagement ring is on clear display.

We’re Here To Help

Designing your perfect ring isn’t always the easiest task! That’s why you can contact our customer service team and chat with non-commissioned expert gemologists 24-7 regarding any questions you have about the ring-buying process or visit our website at JamesAllen.com

Rachel Hoar

Rachel is an unabashed linguistics fanatic who can identify the ancient Greek root of any word. She promises not to spray you with Windex.

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A Match Made In Heaven: Cushion-Cut Halo Engagement Rings

Take classic glamour to the next level with a cushion-cut halo engagement ring.

Cushion Cut Halo Engagement Rings

The cushion cut diamond has been beloved for over a century! With its rounded edges and soft square shape, the cushion-cut is experiencing a resurgence in popularity as couples throwback to the classics.

And what’s the perfect way to modernize a cushion-cut diamond? A halo! FYI: the now-obsessed-over halo engagement ring rose to popularity in the opulent Roaring Twenties as a glitzy way to show off a gorgeous center diamond.

A Cushion-Cut:

  • Shows off the clarity of your diamond
  • Radiates gentle grace and class
  • Gives engagement rings a romantic feel

A Halo:

  • Adds striking sparkle to any engagement ring
  • Draws attention to its center stone
  • Makes its center stone appear larger

Keep scrolling for our expert picks – the cushion-cut halo engagement rings at the crux of old-style charm and fresh glam:

Marquise Cluster

14K Yellow Gold Marquise Cluster Halo Diamond Engagement Ring

“The ring I purchased looks one-of-a-kind.”
– Michael A.

14K White Gold Navette Leaf Halo Engagement Ring

“The stone looks even bigger on my hand than expected!”
– Ashley T.

Side-stone

14K Rose Gold Sidestone Halo Diamond Engagement Ring

“SHE LOVES IT, I LOVE IT, WE LOVE IT!”
– Zachary K.

Tear Drops

14K Rose Gold Tear Drops Halo Diamond Engagement Ring

“This setting makes a one-carat stone look like a two-carat!”
– Acon L.

Perfect Pavé

14K White Gold Pave Halo Diamond Engagement Ring (Cushion Emerald, Radiant)

“I have never seen anything sparkle so much!”
– Mallarie P.

Regal Frame

14K White Gold Regal Frame Diamond Engagement Ring

“I could not be more pleased with my purchase!”
– Troy V.

Vintage Octagon

14K White Gold Octagon Halo Diamond Engagement Ring

“My fiancee loved its antique yet modern look.”
– Brian M.

Split-Shank 

14K Yellow Gold Round Split Band Diamond Halo Engagement Ring

”All the diamonds are set perfectly and catch everyone’s attention.”
– Kyle K.

Curious about other popular engagement ring styles? Read more below!

Obsessing over one (or more) of the engagement rings in this post? Share the love on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, or in the comments below!

Shout out your style with this pin:

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Rachel Hoar

Rachel is an unabashed linguistics fanatic who can identify the ancient Greek root of any word. She promises not to spray you with Windex.

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Finding Her Engagement Ring Style: A Wink & A Smile

Whether you’re a secret agent or a straight shooter, check out our pro tips for finding her engagement ring style.

finding her engagement ring style cover

Everyone has a personal style. Some are more understated than others and, therefore, harder to discern. Your job as Buyer of Rings, Proposer of Marriage, is to hone in on that style by whatever means necessary. Put on your detective hat and do some snooping around or straight up ask your partner what she’d like. Either way, finding her engagement ring style needn’t be a chore with our handy guide. Just pop on some good music and get sleuthing.

Finding Her Engagement Ring Style: Cut to the Chase

finding her engagement ring style cut to the chase

Let’s start by clearing something up: the ring doesn’t have to be a complete surprise.

There, we’ve said it.

These days, it’s perfectly acceptable – preferable even – to bring your partner into the design process. No one knows the wearer’s style better than the wearer herself, so why not involve her in the decision making? Goodness knows you’ll need all the help you can get when confronted with terms like pavé, halo, and tension! (That last one’s a setting style btw, not a headache.) By promoting your partner to Chief Ring Adviser, you’ll come across as the sensitive and considerate human being you are while eliminating much of the guesswork. It’s a win-win.

Now, the direct approach won’t work for everyone, mind you. Some customers – proposer and proposee alike – have their hearts set on a solo ring selection, culminating in the Big Reveal. To those irrepressible romantics, we say… read on!

Finding Her Engagement Ring Style: A Spy on the Wall

finding her engagement ring style spy on the wall

Like all good detectives, you’ve been waiting for the right case to come along; a case worthy of your powers of deduction. Finding her engagement ring style is right up there with #WhoBitBeyoncé and that whole Yanny vs Laurel thing – except the odds of you solving this one are far higher!

Seriously though, your partner’s online and offline activity might give away key clues about her ring preferences. If she has a Pinterest account, it’s worth checking to see if she’s created any boards with sparkle-related titles or pinned any specific rings. Assuming you have access to her Facebook account, check her profile and activity log for any ring posts she’s liked or shared.

What’s the Buzz?

Even if she’s been careful not to leave a digital trail, she may have confided in her best friend or sibling. Once you’ve got a sparkly bee in your bonnet, it’s almost impossible to keep it to yourself! Listen for subtle hints that might come up when she’s chatting with her inner circle, especially if the topic of celebrity engagement rings comes up.

Finding Her Engagement Ring Style: How She Rolls

finding her engagement ring style how she rolls

When finding her engagement ring style, it often helps to draw on your own personal experience. Presumably, you’ve spent a fair bit of time with your SO and have gleaned an insight or two about her day-to-day.

What kind of lifestyle does she lead? If she has a job or hobby that requires her to wear gloves, she’d be better off with a setting that doesn’t have exposed diamonds on the band. Solitaire and channel-set rings are both practical options as they minimize the risk of the diamonds getting caught or falling out. A less hands-on lifestyle would allow for more exposed diamonds on the band – pavé being the obvious example.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

14K White Gold Vintage Inspired Floral Bouquet Engagement Ring
Vintage Inspired Floral Bouquet Engagement Ring
14K White Gold Spiral Tension Set Engagement Ring
Spiral Tension Set Engagement Ring

If your girl is more Devil Wears Prada than Devil Wears Nada, you might consider a more daring setting. Pay close attention to her wardrobe. If she dresses to impress and won’t touch anything unless it’s by a top designer, go for something with character, such as a vintage engagement ring or hyper-modern tension ring.

Read more about designing the perfect engagement ring

Glow-Key Glam

14K White Gold Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring
Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring

If, on the other hand, her idea of glamour is a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt, we’d recommend opting for something simple like a baguette side-stone engagement ring. Understated yet elegant.

Read more about choosing an engagement ring she’ll love

Finding Her Engagement Ring Style: A Sure Thing

14K White Gold Presentation Solitaire (Six Prong)
Six Prong Presentation Solitaire Engagement Ring

If none of the above tips speak to you, no one would fault you for playing it safe and going with a classic style such as a solitaire. This is essentially a single center diamond mounted on a plain setting. Solitaires are considered classics for a reason: they work with practically any individual style and never go out of fashion.

Once you’ve figured out your setting style, it’s time to consider the diamond shape. If you have even the slightest doubt about what shape to get, you can’t go wrong with a round cut. Round-cut diamonds are by far the most popular shape for engagement rings, owing to their perfect geometry and abundant sparkle. These timeless classics are tried and true, but if it’s a little more edge you’re after, a princess or cushion-cut diamond should suffice.

Walk a Mile in Her Style

How did you manage to pinpoint your partner’s style preference? Did you go undercover or were you upfront about it? Let us know in the comments below or over on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter.

For more invaluable ring-buying tips and tricks, check out the previous posts in our men’s FAQ series.

Pin the style on your fiancée!

finding her engagement ring style pinterest pin

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Jonny Hart

Jonny is passionate about puns, adores alliteration, and finds diamonds positively facet-nating! Since joining James Allen, he has written the word 'sparkle’ 9,732 times and counting.

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cushion cut diamonds halo engagement ring

Cushion Cut Diamonds with a Classic Glow

Cushion cut diamonds are the chic descendant of the historic old mine cut. A square shape with rounded corners, these pillow-shaped diamonds are a total dream.

cushion cut diamonds halo engagement ring

Browse Cushion Cut Diamonds

Why Cushion Cut Diamonds?

The cushion brilliant cut features 58 facets that reflect and refract light, carrying its antique romantic charm into the 21st century.

Fleur De Lis Pavé Engagement Ring

14K Rose Gold Art Deco Inspired Fleur-De-Lis Pavé Engagement Ring

Originally, cushion cut diamonds were designed to catch the beauty of candlelight in the 18th century (A.K.A. when every dinner was a candlelit dinner).

Princess Channel-Set Engagement Ring

14K Yellow Gold Channel Set Princess Shaped Engagement Ring

Looking for a fancy colored diamond? Look no further than the cushion cut! Cushion cut fancy colored diamonds are especially vivid.

Cross Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring

14K Pink Gold 3.3mm Cross Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring

View Cushion Cut Diamonds in 360°

Who Rocks Cushion Cut Engagement Rings?

Almost every engagement ring featured a sparkling cushion cut diamond until the early 1900s. In the century that followed, cushion cut diamonds went through a gorgeous renaissance.

Comfort Fit Solitaire Engagement Ring

14K Rose Gold 1.5mm Comfort Fit Engagement Ring

Among those who have chosen cushion cut allure for their engagement rings? Celeb powerhouses including Sofia Vergara, Kelly Rowland, Jessica Biel, Kim Kardashian, and Bar Refaeli.

Cushion Outline Halo Engagement Ring

Sofia Vergara's 14K White Gold Cushion Outline Pavé Engagement Ring

Shop Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Rings

What to Know About Cushion Cut Diamonds

Make sure the corners and sides of the diamond are symmetrical to achieve ideal sparkle! For surefire harmony, choose a True Hearts cushion cut from our premier collection of perfectly symmetrical diamonds.

Frame Halo Vintage Engagement Ring

14K Yellow Gold Vintage Inspired Antique Frame Halo Engagement Ring

Standard or Modified Cushion Cut Diamonds?

Modified cushion cuts have an extra row of facets on their pavilion, which gives them a kind of “crushed ice” look. To the untrained eye, standard and modified cushion cut diamonds look mostly identical.

Petite Diamond Accent Engagement Ring

14K White Gold Petite Diamond Accent Engagement Ring

More Dreamy Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Rings

Baguette Three-Stone Engagement Ring

14K White Gold Tapered Baguette Diamond Engagement Ring

Lotus Basket Pavé Engagement Ring

14K Yellow Gold Pave Knife Edge Lotus Basket Engagement Ring

Ready to cushion the glow? Create your Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Ring.

If you’re obsessed with one (or more!) of these rings, let us know in the comments below, or on our social channels: Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter.

Learn more in our diamond shapes blog series!

Pin this image to return to vintage sparkle:

cushion cut diamonds pin pinterest

Subscribe to our email list for access to secret sales, practical ring-buying tips, and $100 off your first purchase!

Tova Kamioner

Tova is a lover of fantastic stories, and although she is skeptical of romantic comedies, she can quote most of the classics by heart.

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