Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr., the only son of President JFK Jr., said “I do” on September 21, 1996, in a private ceremony on Cumberland Island off the Georgia coast. Although their small-scale wedding was conducted far from the prying eyes of the paparazzi, the event was captured by photographer Denis Reggie. Their whirlwind romance, which ended tragically when the young couple died in a plane crash in 1999, will serve as the basis for Ryan Murphy’s inaugural season of American Love Story, starring Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Kelly as the couple.
Besette, who worked as Calvin Klein’s public relations manager before marrying “John-John,” became a fashion icon in the 90s for her chic and simple style. Her minimalist style stretched from her outfits, like her Narciso Rodriguez wedding dress, to her fingertips, specifically her engagement ring. Carolyn reportedly hesitated for several weeks before accepting Kennedy’s marriage proposal in 1995, and, in one epic fight in Washington Square Park caught by the paparazzi, Kennedy could be seen ripping the ring off her finger. While there may have been drama on the way to the altar, the engagement ring eventually found its rightful place on Bessette’s left ring finger, where it would remain until their untimely deaths.
Bessette’s engagement ring was a platinum wedding band adorned with diamonds and sapphires. The discreet jewel perfectly complemented the young woman’s minimalist look. The wedding band also had a special sentimental worth: it was inspired by a gold and emerald ring worn by her mother-in-law, Jackie Kennedy. According to journalist and former Real Housewives of New York star Carole Radziwill ‘s memoir, What Remains, the late first lady’s ring was nicknamed the ” swimming ring.” Carolyn also reportedly told Radziwill that her wedding ring was “a copy of a ring [John’s] mother wore.”
It’s unknown which of Jackie Kennedy’s jewels was the inspiration for the “swimming ring”. However, according to People, Maurice Tempelsman, the diamond dealer and companion of the former First Lady before her death in 1994, was involved in the design of Carolyn’s engagement ring. John is said to have asked his mother’s friend to make a replica of the “Swimming” diamond as a gift for his sweetheart. According to Vogue, some believe that the inspiration for Bessette’s engagement ring was a Schlumberger Sixteen Stone ring that also belonged to her mother-in-law.
Whatever the inspiration, the subtly styled jewel is part of a timeless fashion that Bessette helped to usher in and is sure to inspire the future brides looking to infuse their wedding day with a touch quiet luxury.
This story originally appeared in VF France.
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