‘Toi et Moi’ literally means ‘you and me’ in French. A fitting name given to a ring coiling around the finger and having two main gems signifying a someone special and yourself. These rings are all the rage right now with celebrities like Emrata Ratajkowski, Ariana Grande and even Megan Fox wearing them as ‘relationship’ rings or engagement rings. When I see this ring, to me, the shape of the ring makes it look like the two stones went symbolically through their own journey around the finger and came together. This is exactly what the ring signifies – an emotional connect between you and your loved one coming together as one.
Although this style has gained popularity recently, the design actually originated in 1976. Royal engagement pieces have been trendsetting throughout history, but one that stands out has been the one that Napoleon Bonaparte proposed with, to his future wife-to-be, Josephine de Beauharnais. A little about their love story will tell you why the ring today is valued at much more than $1 million. Their love story was as significant and distinct as the ring. When Napoleon Bonaparte met Josephine de Beauharnais in 1795, they weren’t obviously destined to be partners in a great love story. Napoleon was engaged to Desiree Clary; Josephine (whose husband had died in the Reign of Terror) was having an affair with Paul Barras. Beyond that, Josephine was six years older than Napoleon, and she was a widow with two children. But they fell passionately in love, and neither previous relationships nor familial objections could keep them apart. (Don’t pity Desiree too much — she ended up becoming Queen of Sweden, and her descendants are still sitting on several European thrones.)
To celebrate their engagement, Napoleon reportedly gave Josephine the Toi et Moi ring: a pear-shaped sapphire and diamond, each weighing just under one carat nestled invertedly next to the other. But unfortunately, their happily ever after was not as happy. The couple married in 1796 but both were unfaithful. After Napoleon became emperor, Josephine’s failure to provide him with an heir was the final straw. They divorced in 1810 — although both maintained that they still loved and were devoted to each other. When Napoleon died, Josephine’s name was his last word.
The list of famed historical wearers of the Toi et Moi does not end there. Jackie Kennedy, an icon of her time, also wore a Toi et Moi ring with a cushion cut diamond and emerald with elegant yet grand marquis detailing. In more recent times, Kylie Jenner had posted on her Instagram with her daughter, Stormi, matching Toi et Moi rings. While Kylie wore it not as an engagement ring, her ring consisted pear-shaped and an emerald-shaped diamonds next to the other with a little gap and her daughters was the same jus with smaller diamonds.
The Toi et Moi ring design is as distinct as it is elegant. Whether designed with bigger stones or smaller ones, it looks as beautiful. And what’s better than getting them in lab grown diamonds that are more cost effective, eco-friendly yet have no distinctions to natural diamonds. Check out the stunning range or customize your own size and shape on our website (hyperlink to webpage).
References:
https://www.thecourtjeweller.com/2016/11/the-sunday-ring-empress-josephines.html
https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/toi-et-moi-ring-trend
