Honestly, if you have followed the chaotic trajectory of Teen Mom over the last decade, you know that a jewelry box appearing on screen is usually a harbinger of doom. Amber Portwood has had several "forever" moments. But her latest—the Amber Portwood engagement ring from 2024—might actually be the weirdest story in the franchise's history.
It wasn’t just about the diamond. It was about the guy who gave it to her, the family secrets behind the stone, and the fact that he literally vanished shortly after sliding it onto her finger.
The Ring That Started a Missing Persons Case
In early 2024, Amber went public with a new guy named Gary Wayt. Fans immediately dubbed him "Gary 2.0" to distinguish him from her original ex, Gary Shirley. It seemed like things were moving at warp speed. Within months, Gary Wayt was down on one knee.
The proposal happened on Amber’s couch. Yeah, her couch. It’s kinda poetic when you think about it, considering how much time the MTV cameras have spent filming her in that exact spot over the years. But the ring itself? That’s where the details get interesting and a little murky.
Reports initially claimed the Amber Portwood engagement ring featured a "family stone" from Gary’s side that had been reset into a modern band. This gave the whole thing a veneer of tradition and deep commitment. If you’re giving a woman a family heirloom, you’re serious, right?
Well, maybe not.
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What Does the Ring Actually Look Like?
If you caught the episodes of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, the ring is hard to miss. It isn't a simple solitaire. It’s a multi-row diamond band that looks quite substantial.
- The Stone: A round-cut center diamond.
- The Setting: A bypass or "swirl" style that encases the center stone with smaller pavé diamonds.
- The Metal: Likely 14k white gold or platinum, giving it that icy, high-shine finish.
On Reddit, fans were ruthless. Some users pointed out that it looked remarkably similar to rings Amber had worn in the past, specifically from her time with Matt Baier. There was even a conspiracy theory floating around that Amber might have "recycled" a ring or bought it herself and told Gary to use it.
Gary Wayt actually addressed this later in a pretty cold way. After the relationship blew up, he claimed he didn’t even pay for the ring. That’s a gut punch. It basically confirmed what many viewers suspected: the "family stone" narrative might have been more of a "production-friendly" storyline than a reality.
The Disappearance and the Breakup
The ring stayed on for about two weeks.
In June 2024, the couple went to North Carolina for a wedding. After a "discussion" about Gary’s family—who reportedly weren’t thrilled about Amber’s controversial past—Gary walked out of their hotel. He didn’t just walk to the bar. He drove 900 miles.
Amber was devastated. She went on YouTube Live, crying, showing off her hand, and begging for him to come home. It was raw. It was uncomfortable. It was peak Portwood.
When Gary was finally found safe in Oklahoma, the engagement didn't survive the reunion. A source close to the production told Us Weekly that Amber finally took the ring off for good in late June. By the time the season finale aired, she was describing herself as "broken."
A History of "I Do" Jewelry
To understand why everyone was so obsessed with the Amber Portwood engagement ring, you have to look at her track record. Amber doesn't just date; she gets engaged.
- The Gary Shirley Era: The original $20 Walmart ring. It’s iconic in the Teen Mom fandom for all the wrong reasons. Gary famously proposed on a beach while the tide was coming in, and Amber yelled at him for "not doing it right."
- The Matt Baier Era: This ring was huge. It was a cluster of diamonds that looked like a giant sparkling snowflake. Matt was a controversial figure (to put it mildly), and that ring eventually ended up in a drawer after their 2017 split.
- The Andrew Glennon "Gift": While Andrew gave Amber a ring that sparked major engagement rumors in 2019, they never officially made it to the "fiancé" stage before their relationship ended in a legal nightmare.
Why This Matters for 2026
Fast forward to today. Amber has moved on again. In mid-2025, she started dating a new guy from North Carolina (ironically) who reportedly has a "stable job" and a thick mountain accent.
The Amber Portwood engagement ring from Gary Wayt has become a cautionary tale in the reality TV world. It represents the "Instagram vs. Reality" struggle of these stars. On screen, it was a symbol of a fresh start and family legacy. In real life, it was a prop in a relationship that lasted about as long as a New Year's resolution.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking at the style of Amber's 2024 ring for your own inspiration, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding that specific look:
- Bypass Settings are Trendy: That "swirled" look is great for making a smaller center stone look much larger. It adds surface area to the jewelry.
- The "Family Stone" Risk: If you’re resetting a family diamond, get a certified appraisal first. Gary’s claim that he didn't pay for the ring suggests that "family stones" can sometimes be a cover for "production-bought" or "synthetic" stones in the world of influencer culture.
- The Resale Reality: Engagement rings from celebrities lose almost all their "fame value" the moment the couple breaks up. If you're buying jewelry as an investment, stick to the quality of the 4 Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat) rather than the name attached to it.
Amber is currently focusing on her mental health and a new relationship that, so far, doesn't involve any televised proposals. For the first time in a long time, her ring finger is bare—and that might be the healthiest thing for her.
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What to do next:
If you're curious about the specific jewelry brands favored by the Teen Mom cast, you can check out the local Indiana jewelers Amber has tagged in the past. Or, if you're interested in the legal side of things, look into the "return of engagement ring" laws in Indiana, which dictate who gets to keep the rock when a wedding is called off.