Actor and reality TV personality Nick Viall proposed to his long-term girlfriend, Natalie Joy. Like a true romantic, Nick planned the surprise perfectly. Natalie said yes to a stunning diamond engagement ring and life with him.
Read on to learn about their relationship, the proposal, and the beautiful engagement ring she received.
A Romantic Proposal
The proposal was well-planned, and the bride-to-be didn’t suspect a thing. The 24-year-old model and surgical technologist thought she and Nick would see Tom Hanks in a screening of “A Man Called Otto.” Instead, she entered a room covered in lighted candles and a video of Nick expressing his feelings for her.
Nick made a video because, according to him, he wouldn’t have been able to do it in person. Even in the footage, Nick barely holds back tears of joy for her.
During the big event, Natalie stood in a pathway of candles in a dimly lit room. Nick walked down the stairs, kissed her, and got down on one knee. In the footage, Nick gives a speech about what she means to him, ending the video with the words, “I can’t wait to start a family with you. It’s unreal to me that you get to be the mother of my children. I love you.”
After she said yes, Natalie showed the camera her engagement ring and said she would never recover from that. They shared that special moment on Instagram, captioning the video with “A glimpse into the best night of our lives.”
Nick later jokingly said that unfortunately they didn’t get to meet Tom Hanks.
How Did the Couple Meet?
The newly engaged couple were first linked in 2019 when they made a few public appearances. It wasn’t clear then whether they were in a relationship or just friends. In September 2020, Nick posted a video where Natalie could be seen by the pool. However, they didn’t officially announce they were dating until the following year. Nick addressed this matter during his podcast “Viall Files” when he said, “I’m super happy.”
The lovebirds met on social media in 2020. Everything began when Natalie slid into Nick’s DMs. The message that got Nick’s attention and curiosity was, “You’re unreal.” After that, the affectionate couple could often be seen in public and on trips to romantic locations such as Paris and Cancun. They aren’t shy on social media either; they often post pictures together with loving and romantic descriptions.
The 18-Year Age Gap
Things didn’t seem perfect at the start of Nick and Natalie’s relationship. After the proposal, the couple discussed why their relationship almost didn’t happen. Nick recently revealed on Taylor Lautner’s podcast “The Squeeze” that he hesitated about dating Natalie because of their 18-year age gap. When they were first linked together in 2019, Nick had already turned down Natalie several times.
Nick was self-conscious about their age difference, and even after telling Natalie it would never happen, the couple started officially dating in 2020. After Nick decided to give Natalie a chance and the couple started texting, it was a few weeks until they met in person. That first in-person meet happened in New York where the couple spent the whole weekend together. Natalie admitted that weekend was enough for her to know that Nick was the man she would spend the rest of her life with.
Nick later admitted that he was in it for the long haul and envisioned a life with Natalie. Even though he kept turning Natalie down, he knew they would end up together.
Let’s Hear About the Ring
After two and a half years of dating, Nick wanted to make it official with a 5-carat elongated cushion cut diamond ring on an 18-k yellow gold scallop pavé diamond band.
A cushion cut diamond is a mix of modern and classic. It usually appears as a soft square or rectangle with curved edges. This rectangular shape with smooth edges is reminiscent of a pillow, which is why this cut is called a “cushion” cut.
Natalie’s diamond is an elongated cushion cut, which differs from the standard. An elongated cushion cut diamond has round corners, but the length of the diamond is longer. This shape adds even more brilliance than the standard cushion cut diamond offers. An elongated cushion cut has a crushed ice look, with dazzling fire and brilliance.
This elongated cut will also appear more prominent, and putting it on a pavé setting – like Natalie’s engagement ring – will enhance the size even more. Another good thing about the elongated cushion cut is its durability since the rounded corners are not likely to chip easily.
Color and Clarity
Regarding the shape of the cushion diamond, the more elongated the shape, the rarer it is to find. It all depends on the proportions of the diamond. Tall and slender proportions aren’t produced as often, and anything above 1.5 length-to-width ration is considered rare. The large top surface of this elongated shape will display more blemishes or inclusions. This is why you should opt for a clarity grade of VS2 (Very Small Inclusions 2) or higher. Above all, you need the clarity to be eye-clean because it’s more likely to show imperfections.
Additionally, the longer shape of the cushion cut diamond will display more color, which doesn’t necessarily mean a bad thing. You should opt for the higher color grade for white diamonds, but if you prefer a warm diamond, choose a colored diamond or a gemstone. How warm or cool a diamond will be depends only on personal preferences. If a diamond engagement ring is set on a yellow gold band, like Natalie’s, a diamond with a yellow hue would also be a good option for the center stone, and it would emit a more golden warmth.
The ring on Natalie’s hand is set on a scallop pavé diamond band. The metal beads on a scalloped pavé have U-shape cut-outs, creating a scalloped look, hence the name. The scallop pavé setting will accentuate the sparkle of a diamond.
How Much Is the Ring Worth?
We already mentioned that Natalie’s center stone weighs 5 carats and its set on an 18k yellow gold pavé diamond band. The price for her diamond engagement ring is not indicated, as the couple didn’t disclose this information. However, reputable jewelers can make an educated guess based on the details revealed by the couple.
We contacted The Wedding Scoop Jewelry experts to help us. They estimated this engagement ring to be worth $500,000.
Talk to a Wedding Expert
An elongated cushion cut diamond ring, like Natalie’s, is excellent if you want the prominent stone to be the focal point of the piece. However, if you’re still not sure which ring will suit your significant other, contact our wedding shopper experts. They will help you with the selection process and help you find the perfect style for the big question.
