Aryna Sabalenka Debuts 12-Carat Oval Diamond Ring at Indian Wells

When Aryna Sabalenka walked onto the courts at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, she brought something with her that had nothing to do with tennis: a platinum-set oval diamond of roughly 12 carats, its gallery concealing a hidden arrangement of vibrant green emeralds. The world No. 1 had announced her engagement to Brazilian entrepreneur Georgios Frangulis on March 3, captioning her Instagram post simply, "You & me, forever ♾️ 3.3.26 💍🤍," and drawing congratulations from David Beckham, Novak Djokovic, and Coco Gauff.

Frangulis, 37, founder of the global açaí brand Oakberry, proposed in front of an elaborate display of roses and candles. The ring he presented was a custom commission from Isabela Grutman, founder and CEO of Isa Grutman Jewelry and a friend of Sabalenka's. "I've always admired their love and relationship, so I was incredibly flattered when Georgios asked me to design this piece," Grutman said. The process was not a quick one. "We spent months working on the design, selecting the stones, and perfecting every detail of the craftsmanship to make it truly special for Aryna," she added.

The result is a ring that rewards close attention. The center stone is an elongated oval-cut diamond, reported by several jewelry outlets as weighing over 12 carats, set in platinum with a cathedral mounting whose shank curves inward toward the stone and is lined with micro-pavé diamonds. What sets the piece apart from the crowded celebrity oval canon is what you cannot immediately see: the gallery beneath the center diamond is covered in emeralds, Sabalenka's favorite gemstone and, as it happens, her birthstone. Grutman described them as "a personal touch that makes her ring uniquely hers." Jewelry experts have estimated the center stone alone could be worth well over $750,000, depending on its quality and characteristics.

For a stone of that magnitude to travel onto a professional tennis court, the engineering of the setting matters as much as its beauty. Grutman incorporated double prongs to secure the diamond against the kind of force generated by a 120-mile-per-hour serve. Sabalenka, 27, confirmed she had the ring checked before wearing it during competition. "We double-checked if there is a possibility to lose the diamond," she said. "There is none."

She wears the ring on her right hand, not her left, which is consistent with the engagement and wedding traditions of Belarus and much of Eastern and Northern Europe, where the right hand carries the historical association with vows. That same custom extends to Germany, Austria, Norway, Greece, and Spain, countries connected to Frangulis's own background.

Becky Stone, writing for INSTORE, captured the ring's achievement neatly: "I'm still a little tired of so many celebrities choosing oval diamonds for their engagement rings, but this ring — with its sleek but edgy design, bright accent emeralds, and extra long oval — make the trend feel brand new again." Her verdict was a 14 out of 10. The emerald gallery, hidden from most angles and revealed only when the ring catches light from below, is precisely the kind of detail that separates a commission from a purchase.