Lauren Speed has a vivid memory of the Love Is Blind ring she received during the show’s first season—and it is not a flattering one. Speed, who married Cameron Hamilton on the Netflix experiment, recently said she suspects the engagement ring provided by production was not genuine.
Speaking on Cam Newton’s podcast, Speed recalled a telling incident: the stone came loose and the band changed color after she wore it in a swimming pool. She described the discovery as devastating at the time, though she now believes the show has since secured a jewelry partner and offers real rings to current contestants.
What Speed Says Happened to the Ring
According to Speed, the diamond fell out of her ring, and the metal turned green when it was exposed to pool water. She did not hold back about how much the moment hurt, saying she felt heartbroken. Her account suggests the early-season jewelry was not built to last.
The ring was part of the package Netflix provided to couples who got engaged in the pods. The streamer also covers wedding dresses for the brides and the wedding ceremonies themselves, and it pays contestants a stipend while they film. Speed said she and Hamilton received roughly $700 per week during their time on the series.
How Much Does Love Is Blind Spend on Rings?
Series creator Chris Coelen has previously addressed the show’s ring budget. He told Entertainment Weekly in 2025 that the selected rings vary in price but generally fall in the $3,500 to $5,000 range, with some exceptions. Couples who want something more expensive are free to upgrade at their own cost, he added, and production is not involved in that choice.
Coelen has also said the rings belong to the contestants once they are handed over. Even if a relationship does not last, the jewelry does not need to be returned.
A Marriage That Outlasted the Experiment
Speed, 38, and Hamilton, 36, met and married while filming Love Is Blind in 2018. Their relationship has continued well beyond the show. Last October, the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Ezra William Hamilton, after years of fertility challenges.
Speed shared the news on Instagram at the time, writing that the baby arrived a little earlier than expected but perfectly on God’s time. She has since described a season of healing, rest, and soaking up love. Despite the rocky start with her ring, Speed has said she would go through the experience again for the life she has now.
