Kristen Doute’s Fiancé Reveals Backstory Behind Engagement Ring

“The Valley” star Luke Broderick revealed the surprising backstory behind the engagement ring he gave to fiancée Kristen Doute in tonight’s episode of “The Valley After Show.”

Broderick joined castmate Danny Booko and discussed proposals, relationship milestones, and the daunting task of picking out the perfect engagement ring.

During their candid conversation, Broderick shared that Kristen had a clear vision for her dream ring—one that she had previously shown to her ex-boyfriend, Brian Carter.

“She knew what she wanted,” Broderick told Booko. “She did show me a picture at one point that she showed Carter years before.”

He was quick to clarify, however, that he didn’t simply copy the ring. “It’s not the exact same one,” he said, laughing. “She told me, ‘I used to have a big board,’ or whatever, so ‘Let me see if I can find a picture of something I sent at some point.’”

Kristen eventually found a few photos of rings she liked and shared them with Broderick, who took her preferences seriously when shopping for the final design.

Working With Kyle Chan to Design the Perfect Ring

Per Page 6, Broderick ultimately enlisted celebrity jeweler Kyle Chan to help bring the ring to life. Chan, a familiar name to Bravo viewers, was featured in tonight’s episode of “The Valley” assisting Broderick and Booko at his store.

“You know what Kristen likes,” Broderick told Chan during their visit. “We’ve talked about it!” With that, Chan began pulling rings that matched her taste, reminding Broderick that Kristen favored emerald cuts.

After reviewing several options, Broderick and Booko agreed the final pick was “gorgeous” and “a statement.” Broderick joked that the look of the ring might even send the wrong message: “I want to look like I have more money than I do.”

Chan later shared technical details about the ring in a September Instagram post. The custom piece features a 4.27-carat elongated emerald-cut diamond, set in a 14K white gold band with a halo setting and additional diamonds on the band.

A Budget, a Bold Ring, and a Baby on the Way

Despite the sparkle, Broderick said there was a strict budget in place. During a confessional interview on “The Valley,” he admitted his fiancé would not be pleased if “he went over a budget of $10,000.” In the end, he spent $14,000 on the custom ring.

Although Broderick and Doute are officially engaged, the couple has no immediate plans to walk down the aisle. As reported by Reality Tea, they intend to wait until after the birth of their daughter—due in summer 2025—before starting to plan their wedding.

For now, they’re enjoying engaged life and the excitement of the new chapter ahead.