Dolores Catania is an engaged woman, but her engagement ring is not the original one planned by her fiancé, Paul Connell.
As “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” star announced her engagement to her longtime boyfriend, he shared details on the 15-carat sparkler he presented her during his proposal at an Apple store in New Jersey.
“I had bought a stone early on into dating Dolores, thinking, ‘If we get engaged, I’ll use this,’” Connell told People magazine of his original ring idea. “But then over the years of getting to know Dolores better, she started talking to me about what she liked and I realized, it was opposite of what I got. So I went back to the drawing board.”
Connell revealed that he purchased the new ring, which boasts an 11-carat center and four carats around it, from John Anthony Jewelers in Edgewater, New Jersey.
Paul Connell Was Sure Dolores Liked the Original Stone
Connell has long said he planned to propose to Catania once his divorce from his ex-wife, Joanne, was finalized. He previously revealed that he bought a special stone for Catania – and that she was with him when he bought it.
In a December 2024 interview with In Touch Weekly, Connell said, “I have the ring, I’ve always had the [ring]. I had the stone… I bought the stone a long time ago with her, I knew what she liked.”
Once his divorce was finalized, after a five-year process, Connell told The Daily Mail he had plans to pop the question to Catania. “I have the ring. I have it in my possession,” he told the outlet in February 2025. “I’ve always had the stone. I got the ring made. It is absolutely stunning. So I can go at any time. There’s nothing that’s going to push or prevent me from doing it now because I have free stage. But the emphasis of surprise is always the best thing.”
Connell pulled off the surprise by giving Catania a completely unexpected ring.
Paul Connell Told Dolores Catania’s Ex-Husband Frank That He Had the Ring
Connell also had to get approval from Catania’s ex-husband, Frank. The exes, who share children Gabrielle and Frankie Jr., remain very close, and Frank Sr. is also very protective of Dolores.
During a “Real Housewives of New Jersey” Season 13 episode that aired in May 2023, Frank grilled Connell about his relationship with Dolores and where it was going. According to E! News, after Frank asked him, “Does she tell you what kind of ring she wants?” Connell replied, “I already have it!”
Following Dolores Catania and Paul Connell’s engagement announcement, Frank posted a congratulatory message to them on Instagram. “Congratulations 🎉🎈 we are so happy for you guys and can’t wait to celebrate. Love you guys,” he wrote to the RHONJ couple.
