Reality TV star Montana Brown announced her engagement to boyfriend Mark O’Connor on April 15, 2023. The proposal happened two days earlier in a very romantic setting when Mark asked Montana to marry him with a beautiful emerald cut diamond ring.
Read on to discover more about their relationship, the proposal, how they met, and her gorgeous emerald cut diamond engagement ring.
Making It Official
Former “Love Island” star Montana Brown shared the happy news of her engagement to Mark O’Connor. The couple got engaged in Bermuda while having a private dinner at the beach. Surrounded by fire lanterns, Mark, got down to one knee and proposed to his better half with a stunning diamond engagement ring. The moment was caught on camera when Montana agreed to marry Mark.
The engagement happened after the couple hosted a gender reveal party, letting the world know they were expecting a baby boy. The arrival of Montana’s firstborn is due in the summer of 2023. The engagement is another significant milestone for the couple and their soon-to-be family.
Montana shared the news of her engagement on Instagram with millions of her followers, captioning the picture of Mark proposing with the date “13.04.23” alongside the emojis of an engagement ring and a heart. The famous influencer shared,” I’m engaged to the love of my life and best friend. I’m still in shock.”
Meanwhile Mark also posted the happy news on his account: “She said yes! I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, my soulmate.”
Congratulations were in order as many reality TV celebrities, such as Molly-Mae Hague, Antigoni Buxton, and Zara McDermott, shared happy messages for Montana and Mark.
The Unexpected News
Montana shared the news about expecting her first child with her partner in December 2022. The influencer revealed that her pregnancy was unexpected. She was struggling with hormone therapies, and she and Mark had been trying to get pregnant for a while, but nothing was happening. Montana thought it would take longer to get pregnant, so it took her a while to finally take the pregnancy test. Ultimately, it was a planned pregnancy, but it turned out unexpected.
The former reality TV star has been sharing her pregnancy journey with fans and followers. She documented her babymoon on Instagram, sharing her huge baby bump, and an ultrasound. Montana also shared videos of the gender reveal party when she and Mark popped the neutrally colored balloon to see the blue confetti fly across the room.
How Did the Couple Meet?
Montana’s fiancé used to play rugby for Chiswick and Wales 1st Teams. He now has a property interest in Forge Gym London, and according to sources, that’s where the newly engaged couple met each other. This happened in 2021 during the pandemic and the second lockdown. Soon after they started dating Montana revealed how smitten she was with her new boyfriend.
Before meeting Mark, the former “Love Island” personality vowed to stay single. However, after meeting him she admitted, “I feel like good things always come when you are not expecting it.”
Their first public appearance happened in January 2021 when they took a vacation in the Caribbean.
Let’s Hear More About the Ring
The ring on Montana’s finger is a gorgeous 5-carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring set in a platinum band. The minimalistic band and the shape of the diamond make it different from traditional engagement rings, considering its unique design.
The emerald cut diamond has a rectangular, elongated shape with cropped corners. The cropping prevents chipping and adds to the stability of the diamond. This cut has a large top surface (“table”), offering better reflection to both white and colored light. The emerald cut diamond cut appears more significant than it is, especially when combined with a thin band.
Dimensions are important for emerald cut diamonds. Its depth will significantly impact the diamond’s beauty and light reflection, so opt for a depth below 74%. Another dimension worth considering with this cut is length to width ratio. Depending on this ratio, an emerald cut diamond will have a rounder or more elongated shape.
Clarity and Color
A diamond’s clarity is accentuated with an emerald cut. Because of this, imperfections are visible on the surface of the center stone. The table is like a window, and the pavilion and crown are relatively shallow, making the inclusions in the middle quite visible.
Blemishes in emerald cut diamonds are more visible than in other cuts like round or cushion cut diamonds. Step cuts, such as those in an emerald cut, aren’t for brilliance, so there won’t be any scattering of light to cover up the inclusions. A VS2 clarity (Very Small Inclusions2) is usually recommended for this cut, but if you opt for a lower grade, such as SI1 and SI2, make sure the diamond is “eye-clean.” With SI1 and SI2 clarity grade it’s important to check if inclusions aren’t in the center of a diamond.
The stone’s natural color is more visible with emerald cut diamonds than in other cuts because the large table and step cuts retain more color than different shapes. Another essential color quality in emerald cut diamonds is its compatibility with the setting. It’s important to review both the diamond and the setting, since the setting has an impact on the center stone’s hue.
How Much Is the Ring Worth?
Montana’s massive emerald cut diamond engagement ring weighs 5 carats and is estimated to be worth £200,000 or $248,660.
A 5-carat diamond like Montana’s is five times bigger than the average of 1 carat for engagement rings.
We asked the experts at The Wedding Scoop Jewelry to give us an estimation for this ring. Considering the 4Cs, they estimated Montana Brown’s engagement ring to be worth $350,000.
Talk to a Wedding Expert
Montana’s ring is without a doubt an engagement ring that will be in the spotlight wherever she goes. They can help you choose a ring that will fit your bride-to-be’s preference and style.
