Upgrading Your Engagement Ring: Everything You Need to Know (Plus Celebrity Inspiration)

Why Are So Many People Upgrading Their Engagement Rings?

The engagement ring upgrade has gone mainstream and it makes perfect sense. When couples get engaged, they're often younger, working with a tighter budget, and still figuring out their personal style. Fast-forward five, ten, or twenty years, and everything has changed: finances, taste, and the sentimental weight of the relationship itself.

Upgrading doesn't mean the original ring wasn't special. It means your love has grown, and your ring gets to grow with it.

The Celebrity Moment That Started Everyone Talking: Hailey Bieber's £1.5 Million Ring Upgrade

No engagement ring upgrade story has captured the public imagination quite like Hailey Bieber's in early 2024.

Justin Bieber originally proposed to Hailey in 2018 with a stunning oval-cut solitaire diamond, estimated at 5–10 carats. Beautiful by any measure. But in 2024, alongside a pregnancy announcement and a vow renewal, Hailey debuted something extraordinary: a new ring designed by the legendary Lorraine Schwartz, featuring an elongated oval-cut diamond estimated at 10–18 carats, set on a delicate thin yellow gold band.

The estimated value? Between £1 million and £1.5 million (roughly $1.25M–$1.9M USD).

What makes Hailey's upgrade particularly fascinating from a design perspective is the subtlety. She confirmed in W Magazine in July 2024 that the stone is only slightly larger in carat weight than her original, but the elongated, "East-West" orientation gives it a dramatically larger visual presence. It's a masterclass in how cut and proportion can transform a stone's impact without simply going bigger.

Her original ring? Moved to her pinky finger; a chic and sentimental touch that's inspired countless brides to do the same.

The takeaway: An upgrade doesn't have to mean abandoning what came before. Hailey kept both rings in her story.

Frequently Asked Questions About Upgrading Your Engagement Ring

1. Is it okay to upgrade your engagement ring?

Absolutely. There is no rule, sentimental, cultural, or otherwise, that says you must keep the same ring forever. Many couples plan upgrades as part of milestone anniversaries (5th, 10th, 25th). Others upgrade after a significant change in financial circumstances, or simply because their style has evolved. What matters is that both partners are aligned and the decision feels right for your relationship.

2. When is the right time to upgrade?

There's no universal timeline, but common moments include:

• Milestone anniversaries — particularly the 5th, 10th, or 25th
• Vow renewals (as Hailey and Justin did)
• Significant life events — a promotion, a business success, children leaving home
• A shift in personal style — many people's taste changes dramatically in their 30s and 40s

3. What are my options for upgrading?

You have more options than you might think:

• Upgrade the centre stone — go larger, change the cut, or improve the quality (colour and clarity grade)
• Change the setting — keep your original stone but restyle the band and setting entirely
• Add a new ring — wear a new ring alongside the original, as Hailey does
• Repurpose the original — reset your original stone into a different piece of jewellery, such as a pendant or earrings
• Commission something entirely new — start fresh with a bespoke design

4. How much does it cost to upgrade an engagement ring?

The range is vast. A simple setting change can cost as little as a few hundred pounds. Upgrading a centre stone to a larger or higher-quality diamond can range from £2,000 to well over £100,000, depending on the stone. At Harmony Jewels, we work across all budgets and always start with a no-obligation consultation so you know exactly where you stand before committing to anything. The good news: lab-grown diamonds have made it significantly more affordable to go larger without the same price tag as a natural diamond.

5. Should I trade in my old ring or keep it?

At Harmony Jewels, we offer a trade-in programme that puts the value of your original ring toward your upgrade — though it's worth knowing you'll rarely receive the full original retail value. Whether to trade it in is a deeply personal decision. Some couples, like the Biebers, find a new purpose for the original piece — as a pinky ring, a right-hand ring, or repurposed into another item of jewellery. Others prefer a clean slate. We're happy to talk through whichever direction feels right for you.

6. What's the most popular upgrade choice right now?

The elongated oval cut is having a major moment; Hailey Bieber's ring being a prime example. Other popular upgrade choices include:

• Pear cuts for their elongating, vintage-meets-modern aesthetic
• Emerald cuts for a sleek, Art Deco feel
• Cushion cuts for those moving toward something warmer and more romantic
• Hidden halo settings, which add visual drama without increasing the stone size dramatically

The broader trend is toward "quiet luxury", understated, high-quality settings that let the stone do the talking. Think thin bands, minimal metalwork, exceptional stones.

7. Can I upgrade without my partner knowing — as a surprise?

It's romantic in theory, but risky in practice. Ring upgrades are deeply personal, and style preferences can differ significantly. At Harmony Jewels, we usually recommend involving your partner in the broad direction; metal colour, stone shape, overall feel, while keeping the final design a surprise. That way you get the joy of the reveal without the risk of a miss.

8. What happens to the sentimental value of the original ring?

This is the most emotionally loaded question, and rightly so. At Harmony Jewels, we hear it in almost every upgrade consultation, and our honest answer is always the same: the sentiment lives in the relationship, not the ring. The original ring was special because of the proposal, the person, and the moment and none of that disappears. Many of our clients find that an upgrade deepens the story rather than erasing it. If you want to honour the original, we can incorporate its stone into the new design or transform it into a keepsake piece; a pendant, earrings, or even a gift for a future generation.

9. Are lab-grown diamonds a good option for an upgrade?

Yes, increasingly so. Lab-grown diamonds are physically and chemically identical to natural diamonds, certified to the same standards, and typically cost 60–80% less per carat. This makes them an excellent option if your priority is size or quality over natural provenance. They're now widely accepted in the bridal jewellery world and are a practical way to make a dramatic upgrade more accessible.

More Celebrity Ring Upgrades Worth Knowing

Hailey Bieber isn't alone in the upgrade club. The celebrity world is full of memorable ring refresh moments:

• Mariah Carey famously received a 35-carat emerald-cut diamond from James Packer — one of the most dramatic upgrades in celebrity history (though the relationship didn't last, the ring certainly made headlines)
• Victoria Beckham has been gifted numerous rings by David Beckham over the years and has been photographed wearing different stones at different life stages
• Jennifer Lopez had one of the most talked-about ring stories of recent years — receiving a green diamond engagement ring from Ben Affleck in 2022, having previously worn a famous pink diamond from him in their first engagement in 2002

These stories remind us that engagement ring upgrades are as much about the evolving chapter of a relationship as they are about jewellery.

Your Ring, Your Story

Upgrading your engagement ring is a deeply personal decision, and there's no single right way to approach it. What matters is that the new ring, like the original, feels like a genuine reflection of who you are as a couple at this moment in your lives.

Whether you're inspired by Hailey Bieber's quiet luxury oval or drawn to something entirely different, the best upgrade is always the one that makes your heart skip a beat when you look down at your hand.

At Harmony Jewels, we specialise in making that moment happen; from the very first sketch to the moment you slip it on. We'd love to be part of your story.