Diamonds AREN'T a girl's best friend! Alexa Chung's 'haunted' Tudor engagement ring is the latest non-traditional sparkler - but would YOU be happy with one of these unusual bands?

It was once guaranteed that if a famous face announced their engagement, the first question on everyone's lips would be 'how big is the rock?'.But now, rather than fighting over who's wearing the biggest diamond, it appears celebrities are all itching to have the most untraditional sparkler.Forget diamonds being a girl's best friend. In the world of the rich and famous, where lavish jewellery is never in short supply, it seems ditching tradition in favour of something a little more unusual when popping the question is a must.The latest to divide opinion is Alexa Chung's, who confirmed her engagement to Sienna Miller's ex Tom Sturridge - and he proposed with a 'haunted' Tudor ring.While the fashion star adores her historic sparkler, she has joked that there could be something unsettling about its origins.She recalled that her hairstylist, Alexandri, exclaimed: 'Oh my god, I think your ring is haunted.' Alexa continued: 'He took it off my finger and started making wishes around it and blowing on it. So I hope that my ring isn't haunted. Or do I? Because that's iconic.'Read on to discover which others celebrities have opted for some truly unexpected designs...Alexa Chung Alexa Chung, 42, confirmed this week that she is set to tie the knot with her partner of four years Tom Sturridge, 40, after he popped the question with a 'haunted' Tudor ring (pictured) Alexa Chung poses for photographers at the photocall for the Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2026 Haute Couture collection presented in Paris in January 2026Alexa Chung, 42, confirmed this week that she is set to tie the knot with her partner of four years Tom Sturridge, 40, after he popped the question with a 'haunted' Tudor ring.In an interview with More Or Less Magazine, the model said: 'My engagement ring is a Tudor... Tom knows how much I adore vintage and antiques, and he got me a beautiful Tudor ring. It's like a table-cut diamond.'The ring's design reminded her of jewellery worn by figures at the court of Henry VIII, including his famously ill-fated second wife, Anne Boleyn.She explained: 'When I went to the National Portrait Gallery and looked at images of Anne Boleyn and all the other people who perished at the hands of Henry VIII, a lot of them had these rings on.'But Alexa's choice of engagement jewellery prompted an unexpected reaction from a friend while she was preparing for a fashion show in Paris.She recalled that her hairstylist, Alexandri, exclaimed: 'Oh my god, I think your ring is haunted.'Alexa continued: 'He took it off my finger and started making wishes around it and blowing on it. So I hope that my ring isn't haunted. Or do I? Because that's iconic.'It is Alexa's first public confirmation of the engagement, which was first rumoured in June 2023 when she was spotted with a ring on her left hand at fashion designer Henry Holland's 40th birthday celebrations. Speculation grew in 2024 after she was photographed wearing a ring during Paris Fashion Week.That year, reports claimed the couple were engaged and looking to have an intimate wedding, although neither publicly announced any plans at the time.Ms Chung – who shot to fame co-hosting Channel 4's music and pop-culture show Popworld – previously appeared unconvinced by the idea of marriage.In a 2018 interview with Porter magazine, she said: 'I just don't get why marriage is different from non-marriage', adding that she did not need 'a wedding day per se'.The couple first went public with their relationship in July 2022, when they were photographed kissing at Wimbledon – directly behind actor Tom's former fiancée Sienna Miller, 44, and her partner Oli Green, 29.Rather than an awkward encounter, the four were also seen taking a group selfie in the stands.Tom and Ms Miller were together from 2011 to 2015. They got engaged and had a daughter, Marlowe, now 14, in 2012, before separating three years later. They have remained close while raising their daughter.Samuel Chatto Princess Margaret's grandson, Samuel Chatto announced his proposal to fellow artist Eleanor Ekserdjian with a porcelain ring he crafted himselfPrincess Margaret's heart-throb grandson Samuel Chatto announced this summer his engagement to 29-year-old Eleanor Ekserdjian with a unique porcelain ring, which he crafted himself. The simple cream-coloured band features a subtle glazed finish rather than a traditional gemstone. But while many praised the sentimental gesture and craftsmanship, others questioned the practicality of the fragile material, with critics calling it 'breakable' and unsuitable for everyday wear. One person wrote on X: 'No diamonds left in the safe? Princess Margaret would be spinning in her urn!'Another said: 'Porcelain? She bangs her hand on anything it's going to break,' while a third added: 'Stunning ring, but I'd be scared it was going to break.''I hope there is a secret ingredient that makes it smash proof,' one worried fan wrote. 'I would be worried about breaking it. I've accidentally smashed loads of porcelain in my time,' she said.Scarlett Johansson Actress Scarlett Johansson's engagement ring is an unusual, 11-carat diamond ring mounted on a dark, sculptural, curved ceramic bandScarlett Johansson's engagement ring from Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost features a yellow-brown, elongated, 11-carat diamond mounted on a dark, sculptural, curved ceramic band by luxury jeweller Taffin. Valued at around $450,000 (£335,000), the 41-year-old actress's modern dome-shaped design – which she received in 2019 – stood out from traditional engagement rings. While some hailed the ring's 'cool' central diamond, others admitted it wasn't quite to their taste. On a Reddit thread, one person wrote: 'It’s a beautiful stone, but that band looks odd.' In a separate thread, another described the ring as 'hideous', while a third added: 'I hate the setting of this ring so much.' Emma Stone Emma Stone became engaged to her now husband Dave McCary after two years of dating in September 2019Emma Stone became engaged to her now husband Dave McCary after two years of dating in September 2019.The Oscar winner's engagement ring is from jeweller Yoshinobu Kataoka and features a radiant pearl in the centre, rather than the usual diamond.There's still several diamonds surrounding the 8mm pearl on the 18k vintage gold band.The La La Land actress, who welcomed her daughter, Louise Jean, with husband Dave McCary in March 2021, is famously private. She's never posted about her child on social media – in fact Emma is not on social media at all – and even kept her pregnancy under wraps at the time. But in an interview with Vogue in 2025, she offered a rare, heartfelt glimpse into her life as a mother, complete with pumpkin oatmeal desserts and cartoon marathons.'There's nothing I feel luckier about,' the Oscar winner said of her little girl, reportedly named after her great-grandmother Jean Louise. 'She's the greatest gift of my life, for sure.'The star has fully embraced life's quieter moments with her mini-me, from making memories in the kitchen to watching the Bluey episode, Sleepytime, countless times.Ariana Grande Dalton Gomez proposed to Ariana Grande with a ring featuring a large oval-cut diamond with an off-set pearl believed to have been taken from her grandfather's tie pinAriana Grande's ring from her now ex-husband Dalton Gomez asymmetrically combined a large oval-cut diamond with an off-set pearl. Sharing an image of the $750,000 (£559,000) ring on X, the 7 Rings singer wrote: 'Nonna had a ring made for me with the pearl from grandpa's tie pin. She says he told her in a dream it'd protect me.'Ariana's grandmother, Marjorie (Nonna) had a custom ring made for her using a pearl taken from her late grandfather's tie pin. According to British Vogue, it is believed the pearl from her engagement ring is the same family heirloom.The unusual pairing was widely praised for its sentimental meaning but others questioned its practicality, pointing out that pearls are one of the softest gemstones and can be easily scratched or damaged through daily wear. According to fine jewellery brand Angara, pearls rank only 2.5 on the Mohs scale (which measures a material's scratch resistance, with one being the softest and ten the hardest), making them risky for daily wear. Taking to Reddit, one person wrote in a post: 'That is one of the WORST materials to have for a daily wear as they are so delicate. I'm sure she knows that.' Another agreed, commenting: 'Pearls aren't ideal for an engagement ring – and since the pearl is sentimental, I would probably assume she would only wear it on special occasions.'Myleene Klass Myleene Klass designed her own untraditional engagement ring after Simon Motson proposed in 2020 with a promise band on the fifth anniversary of their first dateMyleene Klass designed her own untraditional engagement ring after Simon Motson proposed in 2020 with a promise band on the fifth anniversary of their first date.After the initial shock wore off, the couple got to work designing a unique band for the singer, eventually settling on a black diamond ring that is the only one of its kind.For the project, Myleene enlisted the help of Ira Kormind, the director of 77 Diamonds and a personal friend of hers.Together, they came up with a head-turning 7.63 carat emerald-cut natural black diamond centre stone and a dazzling split band set with 114 delicate white diamonds, meaning the whole ring comes in at around 9-carats in total. Oliver Horner, gemologist at Prestige Pawnbrokers of Channel 4's Posh Pawn, told the Daily Mail that the ring would retail up to £35,000. He said: 'The beautiful Art Deco style ring that Myleene has designed for herself is truly stunning and unique, you won't find another one in the world.'With an approximate total diamond weight of 9ct I estimate the value to be in the region of £25-35,000 for this special, bespoke ring.' Speaking to HELLO! magazine about the design, Myleene gushed: 'This diamond is the only one of its kind in the world. 'Ira was sending us photos and we were sitting around the kitchen table, drawing pictures and sending her bits of paper. It was about making something we both loved.' Ira told this publication that the stone is 'irreplaceable', explaining: 'The centre stone is the only one of its kind in the world and was sourced and secured by the 77 Diamonds team. It was a joy for me to work with my friend Myleene on this ring. 'Working with any couple to realise their dream ring is always an exciting and emotional experience for us at 77 Diamonds and it's what we do daily, but when it's your friend, it's all that and then some.' Anna Paquin When True Blood co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer got engaged in 2009 it was a moonstone engagement ring that stole the show, rather than a traditional diamondWhen True Blood co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer got engaged in 2009 it was a moonstone engagement ring that stole the show, rather than a traditional diamond.The round-cut moonstone is surrounded by gemstones and then set in oxidised gold, making the band look charcoal in appearance.Anna and Stephen fell in love in 2009 on the set of the series True Blood and a year later wed. They are parents of twins Charlie and Poppy.Stephen gushed about working with his wife to People magazine in January 2024, explaining: 'We were on set every day together for seven years. And so actually when we're not working together, it feels like I miss her. It feels weird.''We sort of have this sort of language where I can look at her and she'll go, yep, got it. We [are] finishing each other's sandwiches basically,' he said, adding: 'That's a line from Frozen.'