At a Glance
- Bobby Flay gave Brooke Williamson a diamond ring on a London park bench as a “sign of commitment”
- The couple clarified on Flay’s podcast that they are “a permanent couple” but not engaged
- Williamson initially reacted with surprise, saying “What the f- is this?”
- Why it matters: The gift sparked months of engagement rumors the couple is now publicly addressing
Bobby Flay has finally explained the diamond ring that set off engagement speculation last fall, revealing on his podcast that the jewelry was a commitment gift, not a marriage proposal.
The Ring That Started Rumors
The mystery began Oct. 14 when Flay, 61, posted an Instagram Story showing Williamson’s hand in her jean pocket with a large diamond ring visible. Over the image he wrote “it’s casual,” prompting immediate speculation about an engagement.
A source close to the couple quickly told News Of Los Angeles at the time that there was no engagement. “It was a gift from Bobby,” the source said. “I’ve never seen them happier, and they are fully committed to one another.”
Williamson addressed the buzz days later at the New York City Wine and Food Festival on Oct. 18. “There’s not a huge story” behind the ring, she told News Of Los Angeles. “He’s a very generous, wonderful, romantic man, and it was a really thoughtful gift, and that’s what it is.”
The London Moment Revealed
The full story emerged in the Monday, Jan. 19 episode of Flay’s podcast “Bobby on the Beat,” where the couple described the ring’s presentation in detail.
“I gave you a ring as a sign of commitment,” Flay told Williamson on the podcast. “We’re a permanent couple, let’s put it that way.”
The presentation happened on a park bench in London’s Japanese garden. Williamson, 47, recalled her initial reaction when she opened the little blue box containing the diamond ring.
“This was a little bit confusing in the moment,” she admitted. “I mean, imagine opening like a little blue box with a giant diamond ring inside, on a park bench on a beautiful day in London in the Japanese garden.”
When Flay said she asked “Is this real?” Williamson corrected him: “No, actually what I exactly said was, ‘What the f- is this?'” The couple burst into laughter at the memory.
Designing The Ring
Flay revealed he turned to family for the ring’s creation, enlisting his cousin Billy who took over their grandfather Willie’s diamond business. The process was extensive.
“It took weeks and weeks and weeks,” Flay said, calling it “a process.” A podcast clip shows Flay speaking with Billy about designing the ring, ending with Flay saying, “Hopefully, I won’t be back for another one.”
Billy replied jokingly, “No, I’m going to say you’re done at this point, stick the fork in there.”
The celebrity chef noted this wasn’t his first time being “kicked out” of the family jewelry store. “I’ve been married three times, so I’ve gotten a few rings from him. And for a while, I was banned from buying rings from him,” Flay joked. “I got cut off from the diamond rings.”
Relationship Timeline
Flay and Williamson went public with their relationship in March 2025. The couple, who both star in “Bobby’s Triple Threat,” have maintained both personal and professional partnerships.
“I love working with Brooke,” Flay told News Of Los Angeles in June. “We have a lot in common. We’re very lucky. We’re both chefs. We both have kids. We’re both parents.”
He described Williamson as being his friend “forever,” adding that their relationship dynamic has evolved. “So it’s always been fun to kind of have her around because we’ve been friends, but now going forward, it’s a little bit different. So we’ll see what that brings,” he said, referring to working together on “BBQ Brawl.”
Clearing Up Confusion
Williamson acknowledged the ring created confusion not just for the public, but for her personally when she received it. The Top Chef alum admitted it was “a little bit confusing” when presented with the jewelry.
The couple’s podcast discussion appears aimed at setting the record straight about their relationship status while maintaining their privacy about future plans. By confirming they are “a permanent couple” without announcing an engagement, Flay and Williamson have defined their commitment on their own terms.
The ring, while not marking an engagement, represents a significant step in their relationship that both partners felt deserved special recognition through the custom-designed jewelry.
