The Stark Contrast Between Kim Kardashian's Two Marriages: One Husband Gave Two Rings, The Other Took His Back After Divorce

Kim Kardashian’s love life has been under the microscope for years, with her marriages making headlines long before her eventual rise to business mogul status. While her relationships have had their fair share of ups and downs, the contrasts between her two high-profile marriages are striking—especially when it comes to the engagement rings that symbolize these unions.

In a recent episode of The Kardashians, Kim revisited her swift and controversial divorce from Kris Humphries, which lasted only 72 days. This brief but tumultuous marriage remains a notable part of her journey, not only because of its brevity but also due to the engagement ring at the heart of their split.

The 18-carat emerald-cut ring from Lorraine Schwartz, which Humphries had proposed to her with, is a reminder of a time when love and marriage seemed like the next chapter for the reality star. However, it turned into a point of contention when Kim revealed that, in fact, she had purchased the ring herself, and Humphries had contributed a mere fifth of the cost.

In a candid moment on The Kardashians, Kim shared that in order for her to finalize her divorce from Kris, he demanded the ring back, despite his minimal financial contribution. “I didn’t keep that,” Kim explained, recalling the strain of the divorce proceedings while pregnant with her daughter, North West.

Her willingness to part with the ring was not driven by sentimentality but by the need to sever ties completely. Although the ring was a symbol of their engagement, it ultimately became a symbol of a relationship that was forced to an end.

In stark contrast, Kim’s second marriage to rapper Kanye West was markedly different—not just in the length and nature of the relationship but also in the jewelry involved. Kanye initially proposed to Kim in 2013 with a 15-carat diamond ring, an extravagant gesture that already showed his affection.

However, as their relationship progressed, so did the size and significance of the ring. In 2016, Kanye surprised Kim with an upgraded 20-carat diamond ring, marking another milestone in their relationship. This upgrade symbolized not just their love but also the growth of their bond as a couple, with Kim later proudly displaying both rings in public.

Kim’s decision to wear both rings to a public event at Madison Square Garden, as seen in a video she shared on Instagram, made it clear that the rings represented a different kind of attachment—one that was more celebratory than transactional. She wore both the 15-carat and the 20-carat rings with pride, showing off the beautiful pieces gifted by Kanye and sharing a moment of joy in a video alongside Lorraine Schwartz, the famed jeweler behind both rings.

This gesture was not just about the diamonds; it was about the emotional significance of the relationship that came with them.

While both marriages to Kris Humphries and Kanye West were high-profile, their differing dynamics regarding engagement rings reveal much about the nature of those relationships. With Kris, the demand for the ring’s return after the divorce highlights a transactional element in their marriage—a stark contrast to Kim’s relationship with Kanye, where the gifts and gestures were seen as signs of love and growth, not something to be taken back once the relationship ended.

The emotional impact of the engagement rings in Kim’s life cannot be underestimated. The rings she received from both of her ex-husbands became symbols of more than just the commitment they represented at the time. For Kris, the ring turned into a painful reminder of a short marriage and an ongoing struggle over ownership even after the divorce.

For Kanye, the rings symbolized their journey together as a couple, from the initial proposal to the new milestones they reached, with no desire to reclaim anything once their relationship shifted. The two men’s contrasting attitudes towards the rings reflect deeper differences in how they viewed their relationship with Kim.

Despite the differences in the two relationships, Kim’s reflection on these experiences offers a valuable insight into the complexities of celebrity marriages. For one, engagement rings serve as more than just a piece of jewelry—they can hold significant emotional weight, serving as both a token of affection and a symbol of a relationship’s success or failure.

In Kim’s case, the rings from her marriages to Kris and Kanye tell vastly different stories, marking not just the highs and lows of her romantic life but also her personal growth.

The stark contrast between the two engagement rings and the attitudes of Kim’s ex-husbands reveals much about her journey. With Kris, the return of the ring symbolized the painful end of a marriage that was never meant to last, while with Kanye, the rings represent love, growth, and the milestones of a relationship that has left an indelible mark on Kim's life.

Even though the marriage with Kanye West ultimately ended, the rings still carry positive associations—ones that reflect the love and experiences they shared.

Kim Kardashian’s engagement rings, then, are much more than symbols of past relationships. They are reminders of how she has navigated the complexities of love, public scrutiny, and personal growth, each diamond carrying its own unique significance in her journey.