Call it the ring that got away. Up until the teary moment Kaitlyn Bristowe and Shawn Booth got engaged on Monday night’s Bachelorette finale, there was still hope for her runner-up suitor, software salesman Nick Viall.
Fairly confident in his chances and smitten with Bristowe, Viall took the task of picking out an engagement ring seriously.
Courtesy Neil Lane
“Nick spent time looking at each ring and thinking about what which one would be perfect for Kaitlyn,” says Neil Lane, the ABC franchise’s go-to celebrity jeweler. “Nick was nervous, but besotted and hopeful.”
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Whereas Booth chose a ring with a central round gem, Viall opted for an emerald-cut diamond surrounded by 200 smaller round, brilliant-cut diamonds, for a total of 3.5 carats.
“It’s a highly romantic ring and it really sparkles,” says Lane, who hand-crafted both rings. “Nick was the sweetest guy and seemed so sincere and in love. My heart goes out to the guy.”
Rick Rowell/abc
As fans saw on the finale, Bristowe had a hard time saying goodbye to Viall. But once the man who won he heart got down on one knee, she was able to move past all the ups and downs of her tumultuous season.
“I didn’t think I could be this happy,” Bristowe, 30, tells PEOPLE exclusively in the new issue. “We have such an honest relationship. Every day I think, ‘I picked the right guy.’ ”
According Lane, the season 11 winner was very confident when he picked his ring for Bristowe.
“Shawn was very self-assured and there was no doubt in his mind about what he was about to do,” says Lane, who has seen many bachelors through this situation. “He was not nervous at all and was like, ‘That’s the ring, that’s the girl and we are moving on together.’ He was certain he was the guy.”
Courtesy Neil Lane
Booth quickly honed in on a stunning 3.5-carat diamond and platinum ring. Set with a central round, brilliant-cut diamond and surrounded by 160 smaller diamonds in an entwined band, the hand-crafted piece was “her dream ring,” says Lane, who adds that Bristowe always wanted a round stone.
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For much more from Kaitlyn and Shawn, including exclusive photos, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on stands Friday
–Elizabeth Leonard
