A single, shimmering rock may be classic, but when it comes to sweet symbolism, there’s nothing like the two-stone (or “toi et moi”) engagement ring.
Most recently exemplified by Megan Fox’s sparkler from Machine Gun Kelly set with both stars’ birthstones — a diamond for the rock star, an emerald for the actress — the romantic style dates all the way back to the 18th century.
Translating to “you and me” in French, the “toi et moi” ring features a (typically coiled) band and a pair of side-by-side stones to symbolize the lovers’ union.
And Fox and MGK are far from the only famous fans of this unique style.
Ahead, discover some stunning examples of the “toi et moi” through the years (or rather, centuries).
Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais
The “toi et moi” trend can be traced back to none other than Napoleon Bonaparte, who in 1796 proposed to Josephine de Beauharnais with a diamond-and-sapphire version. While the two stones weigh in at just around 1 carat each — and Napoleon went on to divorce Josephine in 1809 — that didn’t stop the ring from fetching nearly $1 million at auction in 2013.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
One of the most iconic engagement rings of all time, the Van Cleef & Arpels sparkler Jackie Bouvier accepted from John F. Kennedy in 1953 included a 2.88-carat diamond next to a 2.84-carat emerald. Originally surrounded by tapered baguettes, the First Lady’s ring was later upgraded with an additional 2.12 carats worth of marquise and round diamonds to mimic the look of a laurel wreath.
Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles’ engagement ring from ex Alan Ferguson, whom she wed in 2014, put an Art Deco spin on the “toi et moi.” Comprised of yellow gold and two adjacent white diamonds — one emerald-cut, the other square-shaped — it tragically went missing during the musician’s trip to Mardi Gras in 2016. Perhaps the lost bling was an omen; Knowles and Ferguson went on to split in 2019.
Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski designed her own “toi et moi” engagement ring in 2018, with help from both husband Sebastian Bear-McClard and Alison Lou jeweler Alison Chemla.
“We liked the idea of two stones instead of one and spent a long time looking at rings with multiple stones for inspiration,” Ratajkowski told Vogue at the time.
“At one point it included a ruby as the second stone, [but] ultimately we loved the idea of the femininity of the pear contrasted with the architecture of the princess.”
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande accepted Dalton Gomez’s proposal in 2020, along with a stunning oval-cut sparkler her future spouse designed with Solow & Co. jeweler Jack Solow.
“He had very strong feelings about how he wanted this to look, a contemporary kind of way,” Solow told E! News of the collaboration at the time.
“It was his idea to do the diamond on an angle and he said to me we had to incorporate a pearl into the finished piece because it is very sentimentally special, the element of a pearl is very, very sentimentally special to Ariana. He wanted to include that in the ring.”
The pearl is Grande’s birthstone, and fans believe that the specific one used in her ring came from her late grandfather’s tie pin. Talk about a sentimental touch!
Kylie Jenner and Stormi Webster
In 2021, Travis Scott surprised Kylie Jenner and the couple’s daughter, Stormi Webster, with a matching set of “toi et moi” rings, proving the style needn’t be reserved exclusively for engagements.
The mommy-and-me baubles each include a pear-shaped diamond nestled next to an emerald-cut one.
Megan Fox
Machine Gun Kelly popped the question to “twin flame” Megan Fox in the first days of 2022, presenting her with an especially symbolic two-stone design by Stephen Webster featuring their respective birthstones.
The pear-shaped gems are set “on two magnetic bands of thorns that draw together as two halves of the same soul forming the obscure heart that is our love,” as MGK wrote on Instagram.
“He wanted something that was completely original and meaningful to both Megan and himself. He fed me lots of material in an almost lyrical form,” Webster told Vogue.
“I used this to create the two rings which become one. I used magnets embedded in the gold to attract the two rings together when worn as one. Possibly the most romantic story I have had to work with,” the jeweler added.
