A diamond is forever. But for clients of celebrity jeweler Neil Lane, engagements and marriages seem to be be a lot shorter.
Now insiders are speculating that Miley Cyrus could be the latest victim of the ‘Neil Lane curse’.
Back in 2012, Miley tweeted ‘I feel like all my dreams are coming true!’ when fiancé Liam Hemsworth got down on one knee with custom-designed 3.5-carat cushion-cut diamond.
Of course, no Neil Lane proposal would be complete without the ring’s backstory: It was handcrafted in 18-karat gold with carved diamond floral motifs and a center stone that dated back to the 19th century.
Hit by the curse? Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, pictured in December (left) are rumored to have split – though the singer hints she is only without her Neil Lane engagement ring (right) because it is being repaired
Happier times: Singer Britney Spears and Jason Trawick (left) broke off their engagement in January of this year – she too wore a Neil Lane ring (right)
Fast forward to 2013. Star magazine reported that her man was getting hot and heavy with January Jones at a Chateau Marmont pre-Oscar bash, and Miley began stepping out in public minus her rock.
She’s denying the split – for now – in cryptic tweets that seem to suggest the ring is being repaired. But the rumors continue. Liam is still thousands of miles away in Australia. And her ring finger is still bare.
When Jason Trawick proposed to Britney Spears on his 40th birthday in late 2011, he wanted a princess-themed ring. So Lane designed a tiara-motif sparkler with a round white diamond in the center – princess-cut, of course.
Neil Lane fans: Actress Kate Hudson with her husband Chris Robinson of the Black Crows in May 2004 (left) and Reese Witherspoon with then-husband Ryan Philippe at the Oscars in March 2006 (right)
At the time, Lane told people that he believed the couple would be together for the long haul, saying ‘he is her knight in shining armor.’ Two years later Britney gave the ring back.
Promotional opportunity: Ben Flajnik and Courtney Robertson from The Bachelor have split since getting together on the show. Neil Lane is the official jeweler
Experts claim that the average divorce rate is around 30 per cent. Browsing through names of Lane’s A-list clientele, it appears that their rates are considerably higher.
This ill-fated list includes Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe, Madonna and Guy, Zooey Deschanel and Death Cab for Cutie rocker Ben Gibbard, and pretty much every Bachelor couple.
Of course, Lane’s stats can’t have been helped by the fact that he’s the official jeweler for a reality TV wedding show.
Brad Womack proposed to controversial brunette Emily Maynard with a $90,000 cushion-cut diamond set on a pavé band, the most expensive ring in recent history on the show.
They were toast four months later, and he told his local ABC news station: ‘I think I dodged a bullet with that relationship.’
Ali and Roberto split after 15 months. Jillian and Ed called it quits after a year. So did Vienna and Jake.
Even after their love affairs fall apart, some of Lane’s clients continue a relationship with him. Guy Ritchie chose a five-carat Neil Lane designs for both ex-wife Madonna and current fiancé Jacqui Ainsley.
And remember single Bachelor dad Jason? He originally proposed to Melissa. But neither she nor her marquis cut made it through the reunion show. He still went back to Neil Lane for his wedding to Molly, the contestant he originally jilted (as of press time, they are still together.)
At least Lane can take comfort in the fact that for better or for worse, he gets his money back. If a Bachelor engagement is broken, the couple is required to return the ring.
Put a ring on it: Guy Ritchie with his ex-wife Madonna in 2008 (left) and with his current fiancee Jacqui Ainsley (right) in 2011. The movie director chose Neil Lane engagement rings of the same carat size for both women
Still together: Ellen DeGeneres with wife Portia de Rossi in 2007 (left) and Jessica Simpson with Eric Johnson (right). The fact that these couples have Neil Lane rings does not seem to have affected their relationships
Some Neil Lane couples are still together after tying the knot: Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi recently celebrated their fourth anniversary.
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson, and Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga are all still going strong – though none have tied the knot yet.
Tori Spelling and husband Dean McDermott are also still together, though they have recently been battling rumors of an upcoming split. For the couple’s fifth anniversary, McDermott gave her a Neil Lane pink pearl antique ring. Watch this space.
