A former couple are battling it out over ownership of an engagement ring, and unless they come to settle their dispute, they will find themselves in the County Court of Victoria.

According to The Age, builder Constantinos Hatzis is demanding his former fiancée Anastasia Soulios return a two-carat diamond ring and other jewellery worth more than $100,000.

Soulios has made a counter-claim against Hatzis to return a $9500 TAG Heuer watch she claims was an engagement gift.

The defence claims that Hatzis was unfaithful during their two-year relationship and repeatedly subjected her to abuse, which means she doesn’t have to hand back the ring.

Hatzis filed a writ in the County Court on February 14, alleging he began a relationship with Soulios in early 2020, before proposing in March 2022.

According to the writ, he claims he presented her with “diamond pear halo ring”, along with diamond earrings and a bracelet, which were valued at $101,035.

“Hatzis gave Soulios the goods on the implied condition that Soulios would keep them safely and return them to Hatzis on demand in the event they did not marry,” the writ states.

He also alleges their relationship ended in April 2022.

Soulios, according to her statement, argues differently.

She alleges that the couple resumed their relationship in May 2022, but she ended the engagement three months later because of Hatzis’ repeated infidelity during their relationship.

“The plaintiff is not entitled to demand the return of the engagement ring as the non-fulfillment of the agreement to marry was caused by the plaintiff … and that he cannot rely upon his own conduct to complain of the non-fulfilment of the condition of marriage,” according to a defence statement filed by Soulios’ lawyer.

She claims the bracelet and earrings were Christmas gifts not engagement gifts.

Hatzis denied he had ever been in affair, or abused Soulios, while they were engaged and said his former wife would vouch for him.

“I’ve been married for 20 years and my (former) wife will testify that I was never unfaithful,” Hatzis told The Age.

“It will all come out in court.”

Neos Kosmos reached out to Soulios who said she has since offered the ring back but is awaiting a response from her former fiancée.

She did not wish to provide any further comment at this stage.

Mediation has been scheduled for the end of May.