More than three weeks after her diamond engagement ring was confiscated following an unauthorized climb of the Empire State Building, daredevil Angela Nikolau is wearing it once again — and she says the inscription on the band makes its return even more meaningful.
On Monday, the self-described neoartist, whose Instagram account boasts 4.8 million followers, announced that she and fiancé Ivan Beerkus had recovered not only the ring, but also their passports, bank cards and other personal belongings. In her post, Nikolau thanked the New York prosecutor who helped expedite the return of the property. She also revealed a detail she hadn't previously noticed: the ring is engraved with the words, "Your full potential is on the other side of fear."
For a couple who have built international fame by scaling some of the world's tallest skyscrapers without ropes or safety equipment, the message is right on point. Their breathtaking exploits — and the trust required to accomplish them — were chronicled in the July 2024 Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story."
The engagement itself was every bit as extraordinary as the couple's reputation.
On July 1, after allegedly bypassing security and spending the night hidden inside the Empire State Building, Nikolau and Beerkus climbed the iconic skyscraper's 1,454-foot spire. Before proposing, they unfurled a banner bearing the message, "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."
Then, perched high above Manhattan, Beerkus dropped to one knee and presented Nikolau with an elegant oval-cut diamond engagement ring. The classic design features an elongated oval diamond nestled in a hidden-halo setting on a simple white gold band.
The celebration was short-lived.
After descending the building, the couple was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including burglary, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. As part of the standard booking process, authorities confiscated their personal belongings, including the engagement ring, which remained in prosecutorial custody while the criminal case moved forward.
The pair spent their first night as an engaged couple in separate holding cells before being granted supervised release the following morning. Although the ring has now been returned, the legal proceedings are far from over. Nikolau and Beerkus are scheduled to appear again in Manhattan Criminal Court on August 24.
For now, however, the recovered ring — and its newly discovered inscription — has added still another memorable chapter to one of the most daring engagement stories ever told.
Credits: Photos and video screen capture via Instagram / angela_nikolau.