The sophomore season of The Golden Bachelor has come to an end, but this year’s winning couple has a bright future ahead of them.
In the finale episode aired on Nov. 13, bachelor Mel Owens, 66, promised commitment to Peg Munson, 62, with a sparkling ring designed by famed celebrity jewelry designer Neil Lane.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Lane says that he reflected on the couple’s journeys together and individually when crafting the ring, which boasts more than 30 diamonds on an 18K gold band. The entire ring comes in at a “substantial” 3.5 carats.
Neil Lane Couture
“It’s very different working with the Golden Bachelor or the Golden Bachelorette, because in general I work with younger people who have never taken this journey before,” explains Lane of crafting jewelry for the older generation of the popular franchise. “I’m dealing with couples, people, that have had lives and rings before. So, I try to combine that magic with a lot of respect for the lives that they had before.”
With this in mind, Lane worked on a center three-diamond arrangement with the main cushion-cut stone embodying their “happiness, unity and shared love,” and the two flanking triangle stones representing Mel and Peg individually. “It’s symbolic for me, the way I create these rings to try to find a meaning for the relationship that I’m working with.”
Lane also incorporated his signature Art Deco-inspired flair in the ring’s structure. “The shout-out to the triangle diamonds is a bit Art Deco. We don’t see those kinds of shapes of diamonds [from the 1920s and 1930s anymore],” he explains.
It took Lane a “number of months” to execute the ring’s design, and in that time, he experimented with inscriptions and other symbolic embellishments. At the end of the day, he says, “the simplicity and the elegance, that’s what I’m looking for,” and he achieved exactly that.
Although Lane has been crafting gorgeous custom rings for Bachelor Nation for close to two decades, his introduction to the Golden world came when season 1 debuted to fans in 2023. And in his time working with clients finding love in their later years, Lane says he’s come to “admire” contestants “taking this leap of faith and for putting themselves out there.”
Neil Lane Couture
Of Mel and Peg’s relationship, Lane adds: “I think once they got through a lot of difficulties, they really connected on a familial, honest and human level as a couple. They’re really great and I wish them a lot of success.”
Mel came into the series when season 2 of The Golden Bachelor aired on Sept. 24. A press release shared by ABC described the Michigan resident and former NFL linebacker turned lawyer as someone looking to rediscover a love “rooted in the simple joys of companionship.”
Out of the 23 women who joined the season, Peg and Cindy, 60, remained the final two following the “difficult decision” to eliminate second-runner up, Debbie, 65. In the episode before the finale, Mel explored his connections with Peg and Cindy behind closed doors.
“It’s almost too good to be true, honest,” Mel told Peg, a retired Las Vegas firefighter, during their intimate dinner, which led to the pair’s overnight date in the Fantasy Suite. “Because I love being around you, and I love the way you talk to me and what you make me feel. Of course, you’re beautiful, and I like your energy and your spirit. I really do.”
In her own confessional, Peg said that she felt more assured: “I am so excited to spend the night with Mel, the feelings are definitely there. The emotions are definitely there.”
Tamar Braxton’s marriage to Vince Herbert has been a subject of public scrutiny for years. Many people have speculated that Tamar married Vince for his money, but as the couple’s story unfolds, it’s clear that their relationship was more complex than that. While their marriage did have its challenges, it’s important to separate fact from speculation.
One thing that stands out is the way Vince Herbert himself explained their relationship. He once stated that Tamar had her own money before meeting him. Contrary to what some believe,
This small but telling detail dispels the notion that their marriage was purely about financial gain. What makes their story even more significant is the fact that Vince never made Tamar sign a prenuptial agreement
. This speaks volumes about his trust in their relationship and his belief in their commitment to each other. Tamar, having the option to walk away from the marriage with everything in the divorce, chose instead to leave with nothing, a gesture that showed her love for Vince was genuine. Her choice to leave everything behind is a powerful reminder that sometimes love is about what you give, not what you take.
However, things didn’t remain perfect, and their marriage eventually began to suffer. As with many relationships, the challenges arose when they began mixing business with marriage. Vince, a well-known music executive, and Tamar, a rising star in her own right, were both heavily invested in their careers. Unfortunately, this blend of business and personal life put a strain on their relationship, and they found themselves struggling to maintain a balance.
It’s no secret that the pressures of the entertainment industry can create stress on even the strongest of relationships. Tamar and Vince’s story was no different, and their journey together is a testament to the complexities that come with fame, business, and personal lives intertwined. The constant media attention and the expectations placed on them added layers of difficulty to an already challenging relationship.
While their marriage ended in divorce, it’s important to recognize that their love for each other was real, even when things started to fall apart. The public’s view of Tamar and Vince’s relationship may have been clouded by rumors, but the truth remains that their bond began with love, and it ended because of the strains that come with mixing love and business.
Despite their differences and the ultimate breakdown of their marriage, Tamar and Vince’s story is a reminder that love is never as simple as it seems from the outside. There were real emotions, real challenges, and real sacrifices made. For Tamar, the lesson learned was that love and career need balance, and sometimes, walking away is the hardest, yet most necessary, decision.