Give us a cocktail ring: Celebrities flash the new darling of accessories

With super-sized handbags deemed passé by fashionistas, women have turned to showy jewellery to make bold statements about their wealth and status. Cocktail rings are being flaunted everywhere, from film premieres to private parties.

Top fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Christian Dior lead the way, with new designs costing up to £50,000. But High Street chains such as Top Shop are also capitalising on the trend, with versions as affordable as £5.

Often large, but always eye-catching, many cocktail rings feature coloured gemstones and elaborate floral motifs. Outsized ‘costume’ versions are also hits with the Desperate Housewives generation. Top-end rings are not, however, the sole preserve of the red carpet. Commentators say well-paid professionals are increasingly buying them as gifts for themselves, taking their cue from the celebrity set.

Here we present just some of the stars flashing their fashionable bling for the photographers...