Isha Ambani Is Bringing Back the Thumb Ring—With a 70-Carat Diamond
Wearing a ring on the thumb has symbolized wealth and influence since ancient Egypt—and today, its diamond-clad resurgence is being led by style icons Isha Ambani and Zoë Kravitz.
Isha M. Ambani attends the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 15, 2026. (Getty Images)
Indian heiress Isha Ambani attended the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party wearing a bespoke Swadesh x Dilara Findikoglu ensemble crafted from handwoven Banarasi brocade and glistening Lorraine Schwartz diamond drop earrings and a massive 70-carat champagne diamond thumb ring.
Ambani’s diamond thumb ring was so huge that it began at her carpometacarpal joint and ended just before her nail. “I don’t have any confirmation on this, but it appears to be that she could not bend her thumb the entire night,” says social media influencer and jewelry expert, Julia Chafé. “Everything about her look was spectacular,” she tells Only Natural Diamonds. “Her jewels were all done by the queen of natural diamonds herself, Lorraine Schwartz.”
Meet the Expert
Julia Chafé is a New York City-based content creator, blending her expertise in high-end jewelry with a luxury lifestyle. As a third-generation gemstone dealer at IntercolorUSA, Julia brings a unique insider’s perspective to her content, offering a sophisticated take on everything from fine jewelry to luxury travel, beauty, fashion, and her day-to-day life in the jewelry industry. Her engaging and authentic posts offer followers a glimpse into the world of opulence, from attending prestigious events like the Ambani wedding to interviewing celebrities like Kim Kardashian.
The only daughter of India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, Isha is the heiress to India’s largest private sector conglomerate, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), where she is the director of its retail unit, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited. As such, she’s caught the eye of jewelry lovers everywhere, pushing boundaries, setting trends, and wearing the most astounding diamonds to her wedding and the Met Gala.
“Isha Ambani’s jewelry is gigantic, loud, and beautiful. You can truly see that she styles her outfits around her jewels,” explains Chafé. “A lot of her pieces are also borrowed from her mom, which is my favorite fun fact about her. Isha has found a niche in making gigantic jewels modern and cool. She doesn’t wear many traditional pieces, but she always wears a statement.”
Before Isha Ambani, Zoë Kravitz Helped Spark the Diamond Thumb Ring Trend
Not the first notable style star to champion the diamond thumb ring, Zoë Kravitz celebrated the New York premiere of her film Caught Stealing wearing a black custom Saint Laurent two-piece ensemble, styled by Danielle Goldberg.
While she maintained a mostly minimalistic look, Kravitz kept her jewelry light, except for a whopping 14-carat Jessica McCormack east-west cushion-cut diamond button-back ring on her thumb. Chafé explains that, before the hefty stone on Ambani’s thumb, she was “floored” by Kravitz’s diamond thumb ring. “It’s safe to say Zoë started the trend,” she says.
“I think thumb rings are a really cool way of wearing jewelry for the world to see,” says Chafé. “Specifically on red carpets, rings always get lost behind dresses and garments. As someone who relentlessly stalks red carpet jewelry, I notice this.” She goes on, “I think they’re amazing and hope that they will become a major trend.”
The resurgence of the diamond thumb ring comes at a moment when bold, unconventional jewelry is dominating red carpets, with celebrities opting for pieces that feel both personal and impossible to ignore.
The History of the Thumb Ring: From Archer’s Tool to Status Symbol
Archaeological remains found in China, Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and India show the use of the thumb ring several millennia ago. In many cultures, thumb rings served as a practical tool—protecting the thumb for archers, helping them avoid injuries from their bowstrings, and providing a stronger grip.
According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, some of the oldest findings date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Because archery was considered a noble sporting exercise, the archer’s ring and thumb rings in general were seen as symbols of high social status.
In India, archers’ rings were typically used for ceremonial purposes and given as royal gifts. During the days of the Mughal Empire, they were decorated with gold filigree, set with natural diamonds and other precious gemstones.
What Does a Thumb Ring Symbolize Today?
Now a symbol of fierce independence, the diamond thumb ring has been reinvented countless times throughout history, but its latest revival feels especially modern. As red carpet style shifts toward bold, statement-making pieces, celebrities like Isha Ambani and Zoë Kravitz are embracing rings that are worn to be seen.
Today, the diamond thumb ring offers a fresh alternative to traditional placement, drawing attention to the hand in a way that feels both intentional and unconventional. Whether worn as a standalone statement or styled alongside more minimal bands, it signals confidence, individuality, and a willingness to break from tradition.
When set with natural diamonds—formed over billions of years—the meaning becomes even more powerful. These rare stones, prized for their enduring brilliance and permanence, reinforce the thumb ring’s long-standing associations with strength, status, and self-expression.
