Two Stones Symbolizing Love since 1796, The Toi et Moi Ring

Learn more about the Toi et Moi ring, French for You and Me.

History of Toi et Moi Ring

The concept of the Toi et Moi ring dates back to at least the 18th century. These rings were designed to symbolize two people coming together as one. Each stone in the ring represents one half of the couple, highlighting the union and balance between the two people. One of the most famous early examples of a Toi et Moi ring was given by Napoléon Bonaparte to Joséphine de Beauharnais in 1796. Napoléon's ring featured a pear-shaped sapphire and a diamond, each stone representing one half of the couple. This iconic ring set a precedent for the Toi et Moi style, making it a popular choice for engagement rings among European aristocracy and the affluent.

Throughout the 19th century, Toi et Moi rings continued to gain popularity. The Victorian era, in particular, saw a surge in their popularity, with couples choosing various gemstones and intricate designs to represent their unique love stories. During this period, the rings often featured detailed engravings, filigree work, and were sometimes set with birthstones or other meaningful gems.

The Toi et Moi style experienced a revival in the early 20th century, especially during the Art Deco period. The clean lines and geometric shapes of Art Deco designs lent themselves well to the Toi et Moi design. Rings from this era often featured contrasting gemstones, such as diamonds paired with onyx, sapphires, or emeralds, creating striking visual effects.

Popularity of Toi et Moi Ring

The Toi et Moi ring remains a popular style today. The most basic styles feature two diamonds of similar size on a simple gold or platinum band. Most rings feature different two diamond shapes or a diamond and a colored gem stone in the same or different shapes. Most Toi et Moi rings feature diamonds and/or gem stones in a similar carat weight for a balanced ring. Since the ring symbolizes the coming together of two people the stones should also reflect that balance versus one stone being materially larger than the other. The Toi et Moi is a unique alternative to the traditional engagement ring that generally has a single center diamond or gemstone. It is also a popular choice for celebrating an anniversary or other significant life event.

Celebity Toi et Moi Rings

One of the most famous celebrity Toi et Moi rings was given to Jacqueline Bouvier by John F Kennedy in 1953. The Van Cleef and Arpels ring featured a 2.88 carat diamond and 2.84 carat emerald that were both emerald cut. The original band was covered in baguette diamonds. Ten years later, Jackie Kennedy had the baguette diamonds replaced with more dramatic marquise and round diamonds by Van Cleef and Arpels. The engagement ring is now part of the permanent collection at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

Megan Fox's Toi et Moi engagement ring from Machine Gun Kelly in 2022 also features an emerald and diamond, both pear shaped. The stones represent the couple's birthstones. Ariana Grande's Toi et Moi ring featured an oval diamond and a pearl on a simple gold band. Kylie Jenner had matching Toi et Moi rings custom made for herself and her daughter Stormi. Both rings feature a pear shaped and radiant cut diamond. Emily Ratajkowski's engagement ring in 2018 featured a 2 carat princess cut diamond and a 3 carat pear shaped diamond.

Upgrade to a Toi et Moi Ring

A unique engagement ring upgrade is to use the original engagement ring center stone and reset it as a Toi et Moi ring. The new ring will be a dramatic change from the original with double the bling and sparkle. The flexibility of the design also means you can adjust the new ring in many ways. Toi et Moi rings can feature diamonds in the same cut, different cut and different colored diamonds. Toi et Moi rings often pair a diamond with a colored gem stone like an emerald, sapphire or ruby. Luxury buyers are often looking for Toi et Moi ring that features stones that are at least 3 carats. A Toi et Moi ring balances the importance of the original diamond by adding a similar size stone to celebrate an important milestone. Additionally the cost to upgrade to Toi et Moi ring is also likely to be less than buying a larger single diamond upgrade.

High Jewelry Toi et Moi Ring

Sotheby's has sold many High Jewelry Toi et Moi rings at auction. The flexibility of the design allows for two impressive diamonds or gem stones to take center stage on a single ring versus just one stone. A few favorites include Toi et Moi ring designs that feature a fancy colored diamond with a white diamond. In 2024, Sotheby's auctioned a Toi et Moi ring for 825.5K CHF featuring a pear shaped fancy intense blue diamond weighing 3.03 carats and pear shaped white diamond weighing 2.82 carats. In 2022 Sotheby's sold a Toi et Moi ring featuring two pear shaped diamonds, white and fancy orangy pink for 756K CHF. The ring featured over 9 carats in total diamond weight including a 5.01 carat fancy orangy pink pear shaped diamond. If you are interested in a High Jewelry Toi et Moi ring, you can contact a Salon Client Adviser to view review your ideal Toi et Moi ring so we can source from our global supplier network.

Buying a Toi et Moi Ring at Sotheby's

Sotheby's sells Toi et Moi rings on its marketplace, available for immediate shipping. Prices start at around $10,000 for a Toi et Moi ring and prices can vary significantly depending on the diamonds versus gemstones and the size and quality of the stones. Sotheby's also sells rare and impressive Toi et Moi rings at auctions in New York, London, Switzerland, Paris and Hong Kong. You can also contact a Client Advisor in New York or Bucherer in Zurich to learn more about Sotheby's diamond engagement rings including Toi et Moi rings. In addition to the available Toi et Moi rings listed on marketplace or available at auction, Sotheby's is also able to source a special Toi et Moi ring from its global supplier network. Browse our curated selection online and reach out to a Salon associate to schedule a viewing.