Alexa Chung Confirmed Her Engagement With a "Haunted" Tudor Table-Cut Diamond — Here's What It Really Means
No giant modern solitaire. A 500-year-old cut, a portrait-gallery love story, and a ring her stylist swears might be haunted — the antique-diamond revival just got its biggest celebrity moment yet.
After Years of Rumors, It's Official
British style icon Alexa Chung has finally confirmed what the internet suspected for years: she is engaged to actor Tom Sturridge. Chung, 42, made it official in a new interview with More or Less magazine, closing the book on engagement rumors that first surfaced back in 2023 after she was spotted with a ring on her left hand.
The couple have been together roughly four years, and both move in the fashion-and-film circles where a quiet, deeply personal ring says far more than a headline-grabbing carat count. True to form, Chung didn't reach for a blinding modern rock. Instead, the piece Sturridge chose is a historic Tudor ring — and it has sent jewelry lovers straight down a 500-year-old rabbit hole.
A Tudor Ring, Not a Modern Solitaire
Chung described the ring in her own words as being "like a table-cut diamond," set in a style that reflects her lifelong love of vintage and antiques. The reference isn't accidental. She explained that after visiting the National Portrait Gallery and studying portraits of figures from Henry VIII's court — including Anne Boleyn — she realized many of them wore rings strikingly similar to hers.
That's the romance of a table cut: it's one of the oldest diamond cuts in existence, the kind you actually see glinting on the fingers of sitters in Renaissance and Tudor portraiture. It trades the fiery, disco-ball sparkle of a modern brilliant for something quieter — a flat, glassy, mirror-like top with depth you fall into rather than light that bounces off.
"He got me a beautiful Tudor ring… it's like a table-cut diamond. I went to the National Portrait Gallery and saw all these people who'd been executed by Henry VIII — and they were all wearing rings like mine."
— Alexa Chung, to More or Less magazine
What Exactly Is a Table-Cut Diamond?
If "table cut" isn't in your vocabulary yet, it's about to be. Before the dazzling round brilliant was engineered in the 20th century, diamonds were cut by hand to follow the natural shape of the rough — prioritizing a large, flat top surface (the "table") over maximum sparkle. The result is understated, architectural, and unmistakably old-world. Here's how the table cut sits among its antique cousins:
| Diamond Cut | Era & Character |
|---|---|
| Table Cut | 15th–17th century. One of the earliest cuts — a flat polished top over a squared-off stone. Glassy, mirror-like, quietly luminous. The cut seen on Tudor-era rings. |
| Rose Cut | 16th century onward. A flat base rising to a faceted dome, like an opening rosebud. Soft, candle-lit glow rather than fire. |
| Old Mine Cut | 18th–19th century. A cushiony, chunky-faceted forerunner of the modern cushion. Warm, romantic, full of character. |
| Old European Cut | Late 1800s–1930s. The hand-cut ancestor of the round brilliant, with a small table and tall crown. The Art Deco favorite. |
| Modern Round Brilliant | 1919 onward. Mathematically optimized for maximum fire and brilliance. The default engagement stone of the last century. |
Choosing a table cut in 2026 is a statement. It says you value history and individuality over raw sparkle — a diamond with a past, not just a grading report. For a style figure like Chung, it's exactly on brand.
The "Haunted Ring" That Broke the Internet
Of course, a 500-year-old-style ring tied to beheaded Tudor courtiers comes with baggage. Chung recounted that her hairstylist took one look at it and declared he thought the ring might be haunted — before dramatically removing it, making wishes over it, and blowing on it to clear the energy.
Chung leaned all the way in, joking that she hoped it wasn't actually haunted, but that if it were, it would be "iconic." It's the kind of offhand, perfectly Alexa-Chung line that turned a simple engagement confirmation into a full-blown social moment — and sent "table-cut diamond" and "Tudor ring" searches climbing overnight.
The Antique-Cut Revival Just Got Its Biggest Moment
Chung's ring isn't a one-off — it's the headline on a trend that's been quietly building for a few years and is now impossible to ignore. Across the fashion world and increasingly in mainstream bridal, couples are turning away from cookie-cutter modern solitaires and toward antique and antique-style cuts: table cuts, old mines, rose cuts, and old Europeans.
The appeal is layered. Antique cuts are inherently one-of-a-kind, often sourced from genuinely old stones (a built-in sustainability story since no new mining is required), and they photograph with a soft, romantic character that a modern brilliant simply can't fake. As demand has climbed, well-cut antique and old-cut diamonds have become genuinely sought-after — the opposite of a mass-produced look.
History You Can Wear
A table or old-cut diamond carries the romance of centuries — the same silhouette worn in Tudor and Georgian portraits.
Quiet Luster, Not Flash
Glassy, mirror-like depth and soft glow instead of disco-ball fire — understated and endlessly chic.
A Built-In Sustainability Story
Genuine antique stones are already above ground, giving eco-minded couples a meaningful, low-impact choice.
Truly One of One
Hand-cut centuries ago, no two antique diamonds are identical — the ultimate antidote to the lookalike solitaire.
For brides inspired by Chung's choice, the good news is you don't need a Tudor heirloom to get the look. A vintage or antique-cut diamond — or a thoughtfully designed ring that captures that old-world character — delivers the same soul. Forever Rox works with antique and old-cut stones and can translate a portrait-gallery dream into a bridal piece built to last generations. Browse our diamond jewelry for inspiration, or start from a blank page with a one-of-a-kind custom design.
Old Souls, New Promises
What we love about Alexa Chung's ring is the reminder that the most meaningful engagement rings aren't about the biggest number — they're about the best story. A table-cut diamond echoing a 500-year-old portrait is personal, romantic, and completely hers. That's the heart of fine jewelry: a piece that means something.
Whether you're drawn to the glassy calm of a table cut, the candlelit glow of a rose cut, or the warm character of an old mine, our team in Incline Village can help you find — or design — a ring with genuine history and soul. (Haunting optional.)
Dreaming of an Antique-Inspired Ring?
From rare antique-cut diamonds to fully custom heirloom designs, Forever Rox Fine Jewelry helps you create a ring with a story. Visit us on the shores of Lake Tahoe or reach out today.
Design Your RingForever Rox Fine Jewelry · Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, NV · (775) 831-4544 · foreverrox.com · Serving Tahoe since 1984
Alexa Chung's Engagement Ring: FAQs
What kind of ring did Alexa Chung get engaged with?
Alexa Chung confirmed her engagement to actor Tom Sturridge with an antique Tudor-style ring that she described as "like a table-cut diamond." It reflects her love of vintage and antiques, and she noted it resembles rings worn in portraits of Henry VIII's court, including Anne Boleyn.
What is a table-cut diamond?
A table cut is one of the oldest diamond cuts, dating to roughly the 15th–17th centuries. It features a large, flat polished top (the "table") and a simple, squared-off shape. Rather than the fiery sparkle of a modern brilliant, it has a glassy, mirror-like, quietly luminous look — which is why it appears in Renaissance and Tudor-era jewelry.
Why are antique and old-cut diamonds so popular right now?
Couples are increasingly drawn to antique cuts — table, rose, old mine, and old European — because they're one-of-a-kind, carry real history, offer a built-in sustainability story (the stones already exist above ground), and have a soft, romantic character that modern cuts can't replicate. High-profile choices like Chung's accelerate the trend.
Is a table-cut diamond less valuable than a modern brilliant?
Not necessarily. Value depends on the stone's size, quality, and provenance, not just the cut style. Well-cut antique and genuine old-cut diamonds are increasingly sought-after and can command strong prices precisely because they're rare and can't be mass-produced. The look is prized for character rather than maximum light return.
Can I get a Tudor or antique-style ring without owning a real antique?
Absolutely. You can source a genuine antique or old-cut diamond, or commission a custom ring designed to capture that old-world table-cut character. A skilled jeweler can recreate the glassy, portrait-worthy look in a brand-new setting built to your specifications.
Where can I find antique-inspired engagement rings near Lake Tahoe?
Forever Rox Fine Jewelry in Incline Village, on the shores of Lake Tahoe, specializes in fine diamonds, antique and colored stones, bridal jewelry, and fully custom design. Visit the showroom or call (775) 831-4544 to explore antique-cut diamonds or design a one-of-a-kind ring.
