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Madison Beal and Justin Herbert announced their engagement in July, with Biel showing off the elongated cushion-cut diamond ring he gave her. The diamond, which has a nearly 2:1 ratio, is particularly rare and could be worth more than $1 million, the jeweler told ELLE. They break down the details of beer rings and how they amplify multiple bridal jewelry trends.
After nearly a year of dating, Madison Beal and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert announced their engagement on Instagram, showing off Beal’s elongated cushion-cut diamond ring. Sparklers appeared in multiple images from near and far.
The ring uses diamonds and is fueling trends in bridal jewelry in terms of stone shape, setting style and diamond cut, the jeweler told ELLE.
Overall, “Madison’s ring is a beautiful example of understated luxury,” says Logan Hollowell, founder and CEO of Logan Hollowell Jewelry. “A classic solitaire setting, it features a very elongated cushion-cut diamond, allowing the center stone to take center stage. The proportions of the diamond give it an elegant, fashion-forward feel, while the minimalist setting lends it a timeless quality.”
Jewelers note that the diamond appears to have an antique cut, a style that other stars like Taylor Swift and Zoe Kravitz helped popularize last year.
“I love that she chose a design that combines an elongated shape with wide, antique-style facets,” says Steph Mazuela, who founded her own brand of custom engagement rings of the same name. “Both elongated proportions and antique cuts are making a big comeback as couples gravitate towards diamonds with more character and personality.”
Below, the jeweler breaks down the details of the beer ring for ELLE.
The beer ring features an elongated cushion-cut diamond, designed to appear larger than it actually is.
The beer has a fairly large diamond on it, but the shape of the stone makes it look even bigger. “The most striking feature is the diamond’s elongated proportions,” says Mazuela. “Cushion cuts are definitely longer than we imagine. Elongated stones look amazing on the hand, as they make your fingers look longer and can cover more of your finger, making the diamond appear even larger than its carat weight would suggest.”
This is also popular. Alison Chemula, creative director and designer at Alison Lu, says this is “one of the most requested cuts in recent years.”
Frank Darling co-founder Keegan Fisher agreed, adding that Beer’s diamonds are “very rare” given their nearly 2:1 ratio. For her clients, the elongated cushion cut is “currently our third most popular diamond shape, and this cut has an incredibly long ratio, which creates a really flattering, finger-lengthening look. Ratios like this are very difficult to source, which is what makes diamonds like this so special.”
Angie Kennedy, vice president of product merchandising at Zeals, agreed: “Madison’s cushion cut is a great example of how proportion can have a meaningful impact. It allows for maximum presence, making the diamond appear larger and longer while maintaining a sleek and sophisticated look. Couples are becoming increasingly conscious of these types of details and choosing stones with proportions that create maximum visual impact.” Pair it with a clean, minimalist setting that makes an impact and lets the diamond speak for itself. ”
The diamonds also appear to be antique cut.
Without clear close-up photos, it’s hard to say for sure what kind of cushion cut the beer ring is, but Mazuela believes it’s very likely an antique cut. “Cushion cuts can look very different from each other depending on proportions and facet style,” she explains. “Madison’s seems to have antique facets, giving it a softer, really romantic look.”
Le Van CEO and designer Eddie Le Van believes this is an old mine cut diamond (the same cut as Taylor Swift’s). “Elongated cushion diamonds, especially antique old mine (cut) cushions, are very resonant because they make a statement while maintaining a soft and graceful silhouette and can feel very personal and authentic,” he says.
Facets are evidence of whether a diamond has a modern or antique cut. “Antique cuts have larger, broader facets that create bold flashes of light rather than the glitz and shine often seen in modern cuts,” Mazuela details. “You’ll also often see an open culet. The culet is the bottom tip of a diamond, and in many antique cuts, it’s intentionally polished into small flat facets rather than a pointed section. This creates the subtle pinhole or window effect sometimes seen in the center of antique stones.”
In contrast, she says: “Modern cushion cuts are typically designed to maximize shine, with many small facets creating a more crushed shine, with a so-called crushed ice appearance.”
She shared photos of various antique cushion cut stones to show their versatility.
We explain the differences between them with shots of antique cushion cut (top) and modern cushion cut stones (bottom).
From the top: antique cushion cut diamonds, modern cushion cut diamonds.
Most jewelers estimate diamonds at 5 to 8 carats, with some in the 10 to 15 carat range.
Beer’s elongated cushion-cut diamonds are large and their shape makes it difficult to determine their exact carat weight. Mazuela and Kennedy believe the diamond is between 6 and 8 carats, with Kennedy saying, “It’s difficult to determine the exact size from images alone, but the high aspect ratio gives it maximum range and presence.”
Landau and Chemla are slightly smaller at 5 to 7 carats. Landau notes that the diamond’s long ratio is “probably over 1.6.” Mr. Chemla, on the other hand, agrees with Mr. Kennedy. “Hard to pinpoint without a frontal shot or scale reference!”
Expectations for Fisher, Le Bien, and Hollowell were pretty high. “It looks to me like it could be over 10 carats and well over $1 million,” Le Bien says. Fisher believes the diamond is “at least 15 carats.”
Hollowell said its size is in the range of 10 to 15 carats, adding, “It’s impossible to say for sure without looking at the ring in person, but it appears to be a really solid stone with a very elongated silhouette.”
The estimated value of this ring could easily exceed $1 million.
Given the wide range of size estimates, different jewelers had differing opinions on the ring’s estimated value, with some pegging it at more than $1 million.
Mazuela, who had a more conservative guess on size, said: “I would expect a natural diamond of that size and quality to be worth six figures. Of course, the exact value will depend on the diamond’s origin, color, clarity and cut.”
Mr. Kennedy estimates its value in the $500,000 range, and Mr. Landau believes it is worth between $200,000 and more than $1 million.
Fisher noted the elongated diamond’s rarity, saying it could be worth anywhere from $500,000 to more than $1 million.
Hollowell, like Mazuela, says the details of a diamond have a huge impact on its value. “Assuming it’s a high-quality natural diamond with excellent color and clarity, we estimate the ring’s value to be in the range of $700,000 to $1.2 million,” she says. “Ultimately, value is determined by the diamond’s exact grading, provenance, and whether it is natural or lab-grown.”
Beer’s ring features a minimalistic setting designed to highlight the diamond.
The setting of the beer was intentionally done so as not to interfere with the diamond. Kennedy explains, “Rather than relying on elaborate settings, this ring features a cushion-cut diamond. The stone’s proportions and slim band combine to create a clean, balanced silhouette that feels both timeless and very contemporary.”
However, it’s not completely basic. Landau says, “Compass prongs add a vintage feel and unique twist to the classic solitaire style.”
The entire ring is “classic solitaire,” says Chemla. “It’s probably a four-prong or six-prong setting, but that’s a deliberate choice. It puts all the focus on the stone and lets the diamond speak, rather than competing with the setting.”
“The beauty of this ring is its simplicity,” adds Le Bien. “Elongated cushion-cut diamonds appear to be paired with delicate bands and classic solitaire-style settings, creating a look that feels both timeless and incredibly contemporary. When a setting is this clean, every detail counts, allowing an extraordinary diamond to become the whole story. True luxury often comes from restraint, not embellishment.”
Settings are trend settings.
While far from flashy, Beale’s minimalist setting furthers current bridal jewelry trends, Hallowell and Kennedy say.
“I think her rings are more of a return to sophisticated minimalism, with clean solitaire settings and outstanding center stones, rather than flashy designs,” Hollowell explains. “We expect to see more elongated cushions, elongated radials, and elegant yellow gold and platinum solitaires inspired by this aesthetic.”
Kennedy agrees, saying, “We continue to see a shift toward designs that feel intentional and sophisticated, focusing on the beauty and brilliance of the stone. This is a look that proves you don’t need elaborate settings or flashy designs to make a statement.”
Beard rings reflect a broader shift from chunky rings to timeless, minimalist rings made with elongated, antique-cut stones.
Beers Ring is a quiet trendsetter in many ways. “What I like most is that this ring refines trends rather than following them,” says Hollowell. “It feels luxurious without being overly designed. The emphasis is on exceptional craftsmanship, beautiful proportions, and stunning diamonds. These are qualities that will make an engagement ring not only beautiful today, but iconic in decades to come.”
Fisher points to a departure from the vintage, chunky engagement ring trend. Dua Lipa and Zendaya helped popularize these bold rings, but many people “gravitate toward something more timeless when it comes to rings that you can wear every day,” she says. “I think Madison’s ring reflects that change. After all, it’s all about the stone, so the setting is intentionally conservative. We expect elongated cushion cuts to continue to grow in popularity, especially longer ratios like this, which make the diamond look larger on the finger without making it feel wider.”
Elongated shapes like cushion cuts and oval diamonds have been trending for “the last few years,” Chemra said, adding that the classic solitaire setting stands out because “it’s kind of regained shape a little bit after hidden halos, east-west settings and colored stone accents.”
Meanwhile, Mazuela emphasizes the diamond’s elongated shape and antique facets, saying, “It’s a beautiful balance between classic and modern, and I think there will continue to be a strong demand for vintage-inspired pieces that balance old and new.”
