Jeweller estimates Samantha Armytage’s diamond ring could be as much as $80,000

Samantha Armytage announced her engagement to boyfriend Richard Lavender on Sunday.

The 43-year-old Sunrise host shared the exciting news to Instagram, while showing off her diamond ring sparkling on her engagement finger.

A jeweller from House of K’dor has now estimated the cushion-cut sparkler may have cost as much as $80,000.

‘The stone size looks to be about 2 carat [and] based on other factors such as clarity and colour, this could set you back anywhere between $20-80K,’ the jeweller told Daily Mail Australia.

The expert continued: ‘It’s slightly elongated shape and soft round edges create the illusion of a larger stone that a round-brilliant cut stone of the same carat weight may due to larger surface area reflect light.’

The jeweller also said that the cushion-cut is ‘brilliant as it showcases a diamond’s fire and sparkle with its 58 facets.’

Aris Arzumanian from Arman’s Fine Jewellery also told Confidential on Monday, the pillow-shaped ring is about 1.5 to 2 carats and could be worth at least $35,000.

On Tuesday, Samantha returned to hosting Sunrise after getting engaged to Richard over the weekend.

The 43-year-old proudly showed off her diamond ring and revealed details about the engagement and her ‘romantic weekend’ with Richard, 60, in the NSW Southern Highlands. 

Sam confirmed that Richard had actually proposed ‘a few weeks ago’, but she waited until Sunday to announce it. 

The horse breeder had popped the question while they were picking firewood and pulling weeds in their paddock, she added.

Rather than ask ‘Will you marry me?’, Richard had apparently said: ‘How about it?’  

Sam announced her engagement to Richard in an Instagram post on Sunday. She uploaded two photos of herself posing in the arms of her fiancé, with a diamond ring on her wedding finger. 

 ‘What a year…’ she wrote in the caption, adding several emojis including a ring, heart and a dog.

The sweet photos appear to have been taken at a rural property. Both Samantha and Richard own estates in the New South Wales Southern Highlands. 

The couple, who have been reportedly dating since April 2019, officially confirmed their romance in November last year.

They are said to have met at socialite Skye Leckie’s 60th birthday party in April last year.

They sparked engagement rumours in September, after they were spotted shopping for expensive jewellery in Sydney’s Double Bay.