Craig Conover Shares Photo of Engagement Ring He Chose for Paige DeSorbo

Craig Conover is clearing up speculation about whether he ever purchased an engagement ring for ex-girlfriend Paige DeSorbo—and he brought receipts.

During a June 25 appearance on “The Toast,” hosted by Jackie Oshry, the “Southern Charm” star revealed a photo of the ring he once intended to use for a proposal. The conversation came after months of fan speculation about whether the engagement rumors were real following his breakup with the “Summer House” personality in November 2024.

A Secret Trip to the Diamond District

“There was a lot of doubt cast,” Oshry said during the episode, referring to public disbelief about the ring’s existence. In response, Conover replied, “That was a bummer!”

“I just heard about that,” he told Oshry. “I mean, I heard a lot of nasty things about myself in the last six months. I don’t think you ever get used to it but you learn how to, like, process them. The ring one was a bummer because it was such a fun memory.”

Conover, 36, recalled traveling to New York’s Diamond District in March 2024 with his brother and sister-in-law to select the ring. He kept the outing hidden from DeSorbo by telling her he was meeting with “Southern Charm” producers.

“It was such a good experience [shopping] for the ring,” he said. “[Paige] had told me, she was like, ‘It’s time.’ I was happy and we were having a great couple of months. Really, the whole relationship was great until it wasn’t.”

At Oshry’s request, Conover handed over his phone to display a photo of the ring. After inspecting the image, the podcast host confirmed the photo’s timestamp and location. “I can confirm that photo was taken in Charleston,” Oshry said. “[The ring] is really so pretty!”

Moving On After the Split

Although the breakup ended their three-year relationship, Conover said the split hasn’t dulled his desire to propose in the future. Still, returning the ring wasn’t easy.

“Returning an engagement ring isn’t something you plan on doing,” he said. “It’s funny because when I bought it, the jeweler said, ‘Hey, in case anything happens, I’ll work with you [to return it].’ … When I brought it back, I felt weird but it wasn’t weird.”

Conover also mentioned he had been casually dating Natalie Buffett following the breakup. “I was seeing a really, really nice girl,” he said. “She will be someone’s ‘perfect person.’ I just wasn’t ready to date but I didn’t know that [at the time]! There’s no guidebook for this.”

Reflecting on the split, Conover shared: “It’s a fun new chapter. Everything happens for a reason.”

“Over the last three years, I was able to evolve into a person I only dreamt of being. My ex [Paige] helped me unlock potential in myself that I would have never reached before … It’s hard for me to understand why things have to end sometimes but now I’ve accepted that,” he added. “For three years, it was great and it was a fun chapter. You just have to believe that each new chapter is going to be just as fun … No one is ever not better off after a breakup. No one!”