Diamond Expert Ranks The Jewelry At The ACM Awards

The average person watching celebs walk the red carpet probably can't tell the real value of the jewels stars are decked out in — well, at least not beyond, "Ooh, that's sparkly." So, Nicki Swift enlisted the help of Apeksha Kothari, fifth generation diamond and jewelry expert, and COO of Rare Carat, to help us rank the quality (and price tags) of the bling at the 2021 ACM awards.

But before we get to the country superstars with the best bling, let's talk about some statement jewelry.

"CeCe Winans enhanced her lovely floral gown with a classy fancy-cut solitaire ring. Looks like this one is about 3-4 carats, which we'd see cost anywhere from $50-200K depending on quality," Kothari says.

As the old saying goes, sometimes less is more, and a subtler touch may be just as gorgeous as a really large standout piece. "Carly Pearce may have gone subtle on the red carpet, but onstage she's dazzling with a whole hand full of rings!"

But Kothari also says sometimes understated doesn't make enough of a, well, a statement. "Martina McBride comes in lower on the list with her statement earrings. Don't get me wrong, she looks fab, but she may have gone a little but too subtle with the jewelry," she explains. "I do see some rings on her fingers, but they're too chunky and don't compliment her look. That said, she always looks amazing!" 

But who were the ACM stars with the best bling? Find out below.