Former Love Island reality TV star Montana Brown and Mark O’Connor will be marrying soon! On April 13, 2023, Montana Brown’s engagement ring from Mark captivated fans the world over.
We went on an EXCLUSIVE phone call with Benjamin Khordipour, G.D., the GIA-certified gemologist, author, lecturer, and jewelry specialist of NYC’s Estate Diamond Jewelry for his professional appraisal of the ring. Click here to see what he said.
Montana Brown’s Engagement Ring
The cute couple got engaged during their “babymoon” at the Bermuda Islands. Their first baby was already on the way when the lovely moment transpired.
During a super romantic, candlelit beachside dinner, former rugby player and now real estate mogul Mark got down on one knee and proposed with Montana Brown’s engagement ring, which features a huge 5-carat oval-cut diamond set in 4 prongs on a platinum band.
In one of the carousel photos on Instagram, Mark was wearing a hoodie during their romantic dinner date, which prompted Montana to post the caption, “stuck with me now… HA 💍 also only Mark would wear a hoodie on engagement day 😆”
The Saltmoore Hotel co-owner and entrepreneur and her soon-to-be hubby dated for more than 2 years. Montana was just 2 months shy of her due date before welcoming Jude Isaiah O’Connor on June 23. This was technically their first family vacation.
How Much is Her Ring Worth?
Our phone call with Benjamin Khordipour, G.D., the Gemological Institute of America-certified gemologist and jewelry specialist of Estate Diamond Jewelry, enabled us to understand the ring more and get its professional appraisal.
He placed its value at a whopping $350,000.
First off, the 5-carat high-quality diamond is already rare and expensive. These bigger diamonds even get a bigger price tag with higher clarity levels and color grades. The simple yet elegant 4-prong setting on platinum adds to its overall price.
How Did Montana and Mark Meet?
Montana and Mark occasionally post about each other online, but for the most part, they’ve kept their personal lives a little more discreet than most celebrities.
Their beginnings were a mystery to the worldwide press, but they spotted them early on back in early 2021, enjoying each other’s company in beautiful Barbados, where they first met.
The couple actually met sometime in late 2020, as elaborated by Montana to New! Magazine, “Mine and Mark’s relationship was born out of the second lockdown. I feel like good things always come when you are not expecting it.”
After her experience in Love Island UK, Montana didn’t want to date or have new romantic relationships again. However, Mark came along and changed her mind about loving again. Plus, he was his type, athletic, sweet, and good-looking.
“It’s been lovely to feel in a good headspace. Last year I convinced myself that I didn’t want to meet anyone – I’d be on my own forever instead, but he came along when I wasn’t looking,” she added.
Mark fits her type and more. He played rugby for Chiswick and Wales 1st Teams. He co-owns Forge Gym London, where gym and fitness enthusiast Montana worked out.
When they came back to England after the second lockdown, their time together at the gym further escalated their love early on in their relationship. They became Instagram-official on October 11, 2021, after she shared adorable photo booth snaps of her and Mark.
Baby On The Way and Engagement
Montana shared happy news about expecting her first child on December 24, 2022, on her Instagram account. She also shared her journey as a first-time mom, including her challenges and lovely progress, with constant support from her beau.
On March 18, 2023, the couple had a gender reveal party for their first child, a boy. About a month later, the couple announced their engagement, and on June 23, they welcomed their son Jude Isaiah O’Connor.
Speaking with Irish Mirror, Montana explained the baby’s name, particularly his second name, Isaiah, “He is named after my grandad Isaiah (Stein), who was a pretty spectacular activist at the time of the apartheid.”
