Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt People Magazine Engagement Cover

April 16, 2012 by Hollywoodite

As anticipated, People Magazine released a special issue for the engagement of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

This is one of the rare occasions during which People releases a Monday cover. It’s the kind of release People did for the British royal wedding, and the death of Whitney Houston, if memory serves. It’s a rarity, it’s eagerness to beat tabloids with lesser exclusives inside. And it’s altogether more information than one really needs on the ring, the design, the cost, the carats, and the wedding even though no date has been set.

First things first, the ring: last week, Us Weekly estimated the ring was worth $500,000 which felt like a low-ball. People’s estimate of $1 million seems more likely. Us Weekly also claimed the center stone, alone, was seven-carats for a total 16 carats. People’s expert gives the all-inclusive weight as 10 carats, including the diamonds around the yellow gold band, which sounds about right. In fact, in close-up, it’s a much more bejewelled ring than the side profile would have led us to believe.

Jeweller Robert Procorp told The Hollywood Reporter, in what one can only assume were permitted soundbites: “The side diamonds are specially cut to encircle her finger. Each diamond is of the highest gem quality. Brad had a specific vision for this ring, which he realized over a yearlong collaboration. He wanted every aspect of it to be perfect, so I was able to locate a diamond of the finest quality and cut it to an exact custom size and shape to suite Angelina’s hand. Brad was always heavily involved, overseeing every aspect of the creative design evolution. Each diamond is of the highest gem quality.”

And now everyone’s comparing the ring to Jennifer Aniston’s, which cost an estimated $500,000. People’s estimate makes Jolie’s ring twice as expensive.

PHOTO CREDIT – PEOPLE MAGAZINE