Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s Gold Wedding Band Has a Surprising Backstory

Alyssa BaileyThu, March 5, 2026 at 9:55 PM UTC

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Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr. had their wedding bands designed by their friend Gogo Ferguson.

Ferguson designed rings cast from the rib of a rattlesnake.

Jewelers discuss Bessette Kennedy’s unconventional ring with ELLE and its impact on wedding jewelry trends over the decades.

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy preceded the quiet luxury trend by decades with her minimalist engagement ring: a sapphire and diamond eternity band with two sentimental links to her husband’s late mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. For her wedding band, the fashion publicist chose a minimalist piece as well: a gold ring constructed in a very unconventional—yet meaningful—way.

She and John F. Kennedy Jr. asked their longtime friend, jewelry designer Gogo Ferguson, to make their wedding bands for their September 1996 nuptials.

In August 2025, Ferguson spoke to Garden & Gun about the creation of the pieces, recalling, “They both wanted something very, very simple. [Bessette Kennedy] loved simple designs, and she didn’t need much because she was so beautiful.”

But Ferguson wanted to put a twist on it: “I’m not interested in doing just a plain wedding band. That’s not adventurous at all,” she explained. “It has to be something from Gogo and something from nature.” So she had the rings cast from the rib of a rattlesnake and inscribed them with the couple’s initials and wedding date.

The band, like Bessette Kennedy’s engagement ring, has had a significant impact on wedding jewelry trends, Angie Kennedy, Zales’s vice president of product merchandising, tells ELLE now. “Her wedding band helped pave the way for nature-inspired and textured bridal designs,” she explains. “Today, we see growing demand for organic silhouettes, sculptural gold, and meaningful craftsmanship over purely traditional polished bands. Brides are increasingly drawn to pieces that feel personal, symbolic, and slightly unconventional.”

Jewelers spoke to ELLE about Bessette Kennedy’s wedding band design, how it complemented her engagement ring, and the ways it’s still influencing brides three decades later.

Ron Galella - Getty ImagesBessette Kennedy’s gold band was cast from the rib of a rattlesnake, which has multiple layers of symbolism.

While Bessette Kennedy’s engagement ring had a platinum setting, her wedding band was gold. The metal choice and decision to cast the rings from a rattlesnake rib have a deep meaning, Logan Hollowell, founder and CEO of Logan Hollowell Jewelry, points out.

“Gold has always symbolized vitality and permanence, often associated with the sun and with something life-giving,” Hollowell says. “The serpent motif adds even deeper symbolism, as snakes have represented eternity, transformation, and protection for centuries due to their ability to shed their skin and renew themselves.”

Bessette Kennedy’s choice to mix metals was also very progressive, Olivia Landau, founder and CEO of The Clear Cut, says: “Mixing metals is very much on-trend today, but she was ahead of her time and a trendsetter when she decided to mix her platinum eternity band with the gold wedding band.”

Patrick McMullan - Getty ImagesThe wedding band provides a contrast to Bessette Kennedy’s engagement ring—and gave her flexibility when choosing which to wear.

Once Bessette Kennedy got married, she was often photographed wearing just her wedding band. Jewelers all point out its contrast to her cool-toned—and more formal—engagement ring.

“The simple gold band beautifully complements the sparkle of her sapphire and diamond eternity ring,” Alexandra Samit, founder and CEO of Alexandra Beth Fine Jewelry, says. “It gives her the flexibility to wear either a bold, gemstone-forward look or a clean, minimalist gold band on its own. Many clients today appreciate having both options so they can switch their look depending on their mood or occasion.”

Alison Chemla, creative director and designer of Alison Lou, highlights Bessette Kennedy’s tendency to just wear her band: “The contrast makes the engagement ring feel refined and the wedding band feel intimate, given she seemed to wear it more frequently.”

In terms of design, Hollowell notes, “The gold wedding band introduces warmth to the cooler tones of sapphires and diamonds, creating a natural contrast that feels balanced and grounded. When paired with an eternity band, the symbolism becomes layered, continuity alongside rebirth, refinement alongside something elemental. The combination feels both sophisticated and primal, which is a beautiful tension.”

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Ron Galella - Getty ImagesBessette Kennedy’s wedding band was minimalist but still showcased her individuality.

In comparison to Bessette Kennedy’s symmetrical engagement ring, Annie Chen, Brilliant Earth’s senior vice president of merchandising, says “the rattlesnake rib band brings an organic texture and warmth that feels almost wild…Together they read like two chapters of the same woman, the polished public figure and the person who privately chose something deeply unconventional and alive.”

Steph Mazuera, who founded her own namesake brand that creates made-to-order engagement rings, notes that Bessette Kennedy’s wedding rings “don’t appear to have been intended as a matched set, but they share a similar sense of restraint and individuality. Both rings reflect a preference for pieces that are subtle but thoughtfully made. They may appear simple at first glance, but designs like these usually involve a surprising amount of craftsmanship and careful detail. Together, they reflect a consistent point of view rather than a coordinated bridal set.”

Angie Kennedy agrees, saying, “What remains most striking is their distinctive personal style. At a time when statement solitaires dominated, Carolyn chose symbolism, sentiment, and design integrity over spectacle. Decades later, that quiet confidence still resonates. Her rings reflect a modern bridal philosophy that continues to shape trends today: timeless, personal, and thoughtfully curated.”

Estimates for the band’s value today vary from $1,000 to $20,000.

Jewelers had a wide range of estimates for what Bessette Kennedy’s band would cost today. Samit was on the lower side, saying, “A comparable gold band today would likely range between $1,000 and $3,000, depending on the weight of the gold and craftsmanship.”

Chen agrees. “In material terms, a custom yellow gold band like this would have been modest in cost, likely a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on the weight of the gold,” she says. (Chemla also estimates the ring’s material value would be around $2,000, based on today’s gold prices.”)

Mazuera notes that it’s the craftsmanship, more than the materials, that would determine the value of the ring. “A comparable hand-cast gold ring by an independent designer today might fall roughly in the range of $4,000 to $10,000, depending on the complexity of the casting and finishing,” she says.

Angie Kennedy adds, “While materially a handcrafted gold band may be valued in the several-thousand-dollar range depending on weight and gold purity, its bespoke artistry and cultural relevance significantly elevate its worth. Like the engagement ring, its historical and emotional value surpasses material cost.”

Hollowell has the highest estimate given the skill involved: “If recreated today as a solid gold band with sculptural detail, a similar piece would likely range between $10,000 and $20,000, depending on weight and craftsmanship,” the jeweler says. “As with her engagement ring, however, the symbolism woven into the design would ultimately define its true value more than its market price.”

Lawrence Schwartzwald - Getty ImagesBessette Kennedy influenced multiple jewelry trends with her wedding band.

Like she did with her engagement ring, Bessette Kennedy shaped wedding band trends with her nature-inspired gold ring—and encouraged more people to choose more personal bridal jewelry in the decades since her wedding.

As Mazuera explains, “Carolyn was known for wearing very little jewelry, but her influence on style has been lasting. Her approach emphasized well-made essentials over statement pieces, and that mindset has shaped how many people approach building their jewelry collections today. There’s a growing appreciation for rings that feel intentional and personal rather than overtly decorative.

“Her wedding band reflects that idea,” she adds. “It’s distinctive without being showy, which continues to resonate with modern clients. Sometimes the story and meaning don’t need to be shared, just known to the wearer.”

Hollowell echoes Mazuera, saying, “Over the years, there has been a noticeable movement toward bridal jewelry that feels intimate and symbolic rather than purely decorative. Textured gold, sculptural forms, and organic motifs have become increasingly sought after, reflecting a desire for pieces that carry meaning and individuality. Carolyn’s wedding band anticipated that evolution, embodying a sense of personal symbolism that feels timeless rather than trend-driven.”

Chen calls out Bessette Kennedy’s impact on couples choosing more nature-inspired pieces: “In choosing Gogo Ferguson’s nature-cast bands, she and John quietly anticipated the shift we’re seeing now toward pieces that feel personal, rooted in story rather than status,” the jeweler says. “Today, organic and nature-inspired wedding bands are a genuine trend, and one that is incredibly popular with our Brilliant Earth customers.”

Overall, Bessette Kennedy’s wedding rings speak volumes about her—and remain equally timeless and trend-setting. Nearly three decades later, “what resonates most is their quiet confidence, because neither ring feels designed to impress in a conventional way,” Hollowell says. “They feel layered with intention, chosen for their symbolism rather than their scale, and that restraint is what makes them enduring. In a culture that often equates size with significance, her rings remind us that the most powerful jewelry is the kind that carries story, lineage, and meaning within it.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”