Diamond Expert Ranks The Real Housewives' Engagement Rings

While the Real Housewives are no more "real" than the cast of any other type of reality show, and some of them are no longer even wives (Yolanda Hadid, Adrienne Maloof, Shannon Beador, Sutton Stracke...the list goes on and on), most of these ladies have had someone (a very wealthy someone) put a ring on it at some point, and they've managed to hang onto the rings even if they did give their men the boot.

If there's one thing a Real Housewife knows, it's bling (as opposed to a real real housewife, who is more conversant with crumb-filled minivans, toilet plungers, and frozen pizzas). But what does their bling, specifically, the sparklers they received when they agreed to take on (if only temporarily) that "housewife" status, say about each woman? Engagement ring expert Michelle Demaree, founder and CEO of Miss Diamond Ring, says she's "seen every diamond shape, size, and color you can imagine," and tells us that "the one thing I've learned about diamonds is that every woman's style reflects a certain something about who they are and what type of statement they want to put out to the world." She took a look at five of the rings belonging to some of the best-known housewives and gave us her take on the image they portray.

Dorit Kemsley, according to Demaree, "is known for having an eye for high-quality," and says that her enormous 13-carat ring certainly demonstrates this. Demaree says that Dorit's ring has a center made up of a " gorgeous 5-6 carat Emerald Cut stunner," one that's likely a VVS1 or VVS2 (Your Diamond Teacher says this is a measure of clarity, with VVS1 being the top grade) and a D, E, or F in color (James Allen jewelers says these letters represent the most colorless, thus rarest and most precious, of diamonds.)

Dorit's stone center stone is "kissed by two hand sourced, eye clean tapered baguettes," and Demaree says these "draw the eye in like nothing else." Along with her "classic" three-stone ring, Dorit also wears a matching emerald-cut eternity band set with about 7 total carats' worth of 40-point diamonds. Demaree characterizes this combo as one that "screams prestige," and says it shows that "her man spared no expense to make sure it's known that she's taken!" Perhaps that's why they're still together... though if the couple's house-flipping venture doesn't pan out, their million-dollar debts could put a little strain on the relationship no matter how high-class Dorit's diamond may be.

According to Demaree, Lisa Rinna "marches to her own beat and doesn't change to suit those around her," and gives as an example Lisa's "attraction to vintage estate style rings." She describes several of the rings Lisa has worn throughout her run on RHOBH, including a 6 carat east/west set marquise solitaire diamond that's "a truly classic and vintage cut with massive finger coverage."

Another favorite ring is a 3 carat cushion-cut piece that Demaree says "seems to be the original engagement ring," citing its "more traditional wedding vibe." She describes cushion-cut stones as " romantic stones meant to catch the light," and says that this stone suits Lisa R's "effervescent personality & IDGAF smile." Demaree feels that both of the rings "showcase Lisa's desire to go where her heart takes her," but says they also show how she "stay[s] true to herself."