Cristiano Ronaldo’s engagement ring could be worth millions, but what happens if the engagement is called off? Here, McAlister Family Law’s Lisa Brown explains who legally owns the engagement ring and what couples can do to protect themselves in the event of a breakup.
Christiano Ronaldo’s engagement to Georgina Rodriguez was announced via social media on Monday this week and the size of the engagement ring has shook the internet. Though the average spend on an engagement ring in 2025 is less than £2,000, experts are estimating that the Ronaldo Rodriguez oval-cut 30 carat diamond could be valued at up to £4million.
However, as couples are spending more time enjoying their engagement, not every engagement leads to a wedding, and even for those who do get married, there may be a divorce down the line. As divorce lawyers, it’s not unusual for the soon-to-be-ex-couple to argue about who keeps the engagement ring, particularly if the ring is valued as a multi-million pound asset.
One half of the couple will put forward the argument that they bought it, so they own it. The other half of the couple, naturally, will advance the argument that the ring was given to them as a gift, so they can claim rightful ownership.
What does the law say about engagement rings?
The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1970 states:
“The gift of an engagement ring shall be presumed to be an absolute gift; this presumption may be rebutted by proving that the ring was given on the condition, express or implied, that it should be returned if the marriage did not take place for any reason.”
This means that unless there was an agreement to return the engagement ring if the wedding was cancelled, then the recipient is under no obligation to return the ring.
What if the engagement ring is a family heirloom?
If the engagement ring is a family heirloom, perhaps passed down through the family for many generations – and the recipient was made aware of this at the time – then it may be easier to succeed in an argument that the ring should be returned if the wedding is called off. However, no matter how sentimental the ring may be, if there has been no agreement made that the ring must be returned to the proposer, the Act still stands.
How do you ensure that you keep the ring if things don’t work out?
Many couples now enter into a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. If the parties feel really strongly about it, provision for the fate of the engagement ring can be included in the agreement as a specific term should the couple divorce. Otherwise, the same general rule applies: the engagement ring is an absolute gift (and therefore not returnable) unless there was a condition made about the ring being returned when it was given.
So, if you are planning to ask your loved one to marry you, maybe consider the future of the ring. We know that thoughts of break-ups and divorces should be the last thing on your mind, but if the ring has a lot of sentimental value, it might be worth protecting it in some way.
If you need advice on this topic, or any other matters concerning divorce or family law, please get in touch with our team at McAlister Family Law.
