Engagement 2.0?
Ben Affleck immediately set off speculation that he is getting ready to propose to Jennifer Lopez — again — when he was photographed browsing engagement rings at Tiffany’s in Century City, Calif. on Monday, Page Six reports. The 49-year-old Argo actor/director brought along his mother Chris and his son Samuel, 9.
Affleck previously proposed to Lopez in November 2002 with a 6.1-carat pink diamond by Harry Winston estimated to cost $2.5 million at the time. Today, the ring is estimated at $11 million following the closure of the Argyle mine in Australia in 2020, where 90% of the world’s pink diamonds were produced.
Lopez called the engagement ring “the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen” in a 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer. “[Ben] was like, ‘I just wanted you to have something that nobody else would have.'”
But days before their September 2003 wedding was due to take place in Montecito, Calif., Affleck and Lopez postponed the event in a joint statement, citing “excessive media attention.”
“When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realized that something was awry,” the statement said. “We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised. We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends.”
The postponed wedding was never rescheduled, as Lopez called off the engagement in January 2004. Lopez went on to marry singer Marc Anthony in June that year. Affleck followed suit a year later, marrying actress Jennifer Garner in June 2005. Both marriages ended in divorce, in 2014 and 2018, respectively. In addition to son Samuel, Affleck shares daughters Violet, 15, and Seraphina, 12, with Garner. Meanwhile, Lopez shares 13-year-old twins Emme and Max with Anthony.
Affleck and Lopez reportedly remained friendly after their breakup, and rekindled their relationship in April this year, after Lopez ended a two-year engagement with former MLB star Alex Rodriguez.
In May, it was reported that Lopez’s mother Guadalupe hopes Ben and Jen make it down the aisle this time.
Now, it looks like her wish could be coming true. Could Affleck and Lopez’s postponed wedding be back on, 18 years later?
If Affleck is going to propose, it’s going to be hard to top the 6.1-carat pink diamond he gave Lopez the first time around. But Tiffany’s is a good place to start.