Celebrity Jewelry

Judge the Jewels: Drake’s $12.5M Necklace Represents the 42 Times He ‘Almost’ Proposed

This jaw-dropping necklace is called “Previous Engagements.”

Published

1 year ago

February 7, 2023

Becky Stone

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The sighting: Rapper Drake recently revealed a very sparkly new diamond necklace. The piece is noteworthy not only for its carat weight, but for what it represents.

The jewels: This jaw-dropping necklace is called “Previous Engagements” and was created for Drake by Alex Moss New York. Each of the piece’s 42 diamonds signifies an almost-proposal, a time when Drake considered asking one of his prior lovers to marry him but then decided not to pop the question after all.

The necklace is 18K white gold, Y-shaped, and features variously shaped diamonds – including round, princess, and pear cuts – totaling an incredible 351.38 carats. Drake’s never-fiancées would have been lucky women indeed, because these stones are gorgeous. According to the jeweler’s Instagram, the sourcing process for the diamonds took 14 months.

351.38 divided by 42 is 8.36, so that’s an average 8 carats per almost-fiancée, although I’m pretty sure the pear at the middle of the Y and the emerald cut at the bottom are larger than the other stones. One must wonder if those two nearly-wives were more treasured or if it was simply a design choice.

Zack Stone of UK Retailer Steven Stone estimates that the piece could be worth approximately $12.5 million.

The trends: Try as I might, I cannot connect this to any trends. It’s just Drake being Drake.

What do we think? I literally laughed out loud when I heard about the story behind this necklace. The news dropped shortly after Saturday Night Live aired a sketch about a fake support group for Drake’s almost-exes, women who Drake used as song inspiration after interacting with them only briefly. This necklace immediately made me wonder if these 42 women would have agreed with Drake that they were in potentially serious relationships with the singer…or if these almost-proposals also happened mostly in Drake’s head.

If Drake is in on the jokes people make about him and this necklace is his way of owning it in a dramatic and sparkly way, I think that’s delightful and I am laughing with him. If he’s completely serious and he doesn’t realize how this is going to be perceived, then it’s a bit cringey and I’m laughing at him.

Either way: I’m amused and it’s an impressive necklace!

Judgement: 14/10 for big sparkle with a fascinating backstory

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This Third-Generation Jeweler Was Ready for Retirement. He Called Wilkerson

Retirement is never easy, especially when it means the end to a business that was founded in 1884. But for Laura and Sam Sipe, it was time to put their own needs first. They decided to close J.C. Sipe Jewelers, one of Indianapolis’ most trusted names in fine jewelry, and call Wilkerson. “Laura and I decided the conditions were right,” says Sam. Wilkerson handled every detail in their going-out-of-business sale, from marketing to manning the sales floor. “The main goal was to sell our existing inventory that’s all paid for and turn that into cash for our retirement,” says Sam. “It’s been very, very productive.” Would they recommend Wilkerson to other jewelers who want to enjoy their golden years? Absolutely! “Call Wilkerson,” says Laura. “They can help you achieve your goals so you’ll be able to move into retirement comfortably.”