Mel Owens presents the diamond commitment ring to Peg Munson
Mel Owens gives Peg Munson a big smooch during "The Golden Bachelor" finale on Nov. 12.

LOS ANGELES — Just over 12 hours after revealing their relationship to the world, "Golden Bachelor" Mel Owens and Peg Munson are still running strong, taking goofy selfies with each other in between sips of coffee from Starbucks cups.

When it's interview go-time, Munson, 62, warmly grasps Owens, 66, with her right hand, which allows her to show off the gold ring with 30 diamonds (3.5 carats total) that the Golden Bachelor presented, along with the golden rose, in Antigua, at the end of the senior reality dating show.

After the drama-filled finale aired Nov. 12 (now streaming on Hulu), Munson can finally show the sparkler in public.

"I'm getting used to it," Munson says, looking at Owens. "You did a good job."

Just to be clear, since there is some online confusion: The diamond ring is not the engagement ring Bachelor franchise jeweler Neil Lane usually creates. It's a whopper of a commitment ring.

"The ring is symbolic of our commitment together. So let's have fun, let's grow together. It just takes time," says Owens. "It can be whatever you want it to be. It's whatever we want it to be."

It's the first time the senior edition of The Bachelor franchise has not ended in an engagement. Gerry Turner proposed to Theresa Nist during the November 2023 "Golden Bachelor" finale. The couple was married in January 2024 and announced their divorce by April. Joan Vassos said yes to Chock Chapple's proposal in November 2024's "Golden Bachelorette" finale. The couple remains engaged.

Owens says he and Munson have discussed marriage, but there are no wedding plans yet. "We just walked out for the first time 10 hours ago," he says. "We're working on it."

Mel Owens on partner Peg Munson: 'I had a crush on her from the start'

Owen's unwillingness to commit to the possibility of marriage became such an issue with runner-up Cindy Cullers that the biomedical engineer from Austin, Texas, dramatically walked away from the relationship during a romantic dinner shown during the finale.

"She wanted something that was unrealistic at the time. I was telling her it was going to take time," says Owens. "And I just had a stronger connection with Peg. I had a crush on Peg from the beginning of the show, and I loved her energy."

Munson, a retired firefighter and bomb technician, had an explosive entrance to the Bachelor Mansion in September, toting a glitter bomb. While the glitter bomb malfunctioned, Owens was smitten.

The duo, both divorced with grown children, discussed their lack of future wedding plans during their off-camera time in the Antigua Fantasy Suites. There was no surprise or questions about the ring when it was officially presented.

"We got to see each other with no cameras or microphones, and let our guard down during Fantasy Suites," says Munson. "And we were on the same page. We really were."

Since leaving Antigua, the couple has split their locations between Owens' home in Orange County, California and Munson's Las Vegas home. They have no plans to cohabitate officially.

"The nice thing about being in our Golden Years and retired is the heavy lifting is done," says Munson. "We get to have his house and my house and all the things we're scheduled to do. We're going to have some fun."

That includes a whirlwind of activities and Golden Couple plans, including a college football weekend at Owens' alma mater, the University of Michigan, Christmas in Rio with friends, and a Super Bowl trip in February.

"We're excited, we're hopeful and we have life to live," says Munson. "This is our last chapter and we're going to live it to the fullest."

Owens had faced backlash for preseason comments about cutting contestants over 60. Munson, as his final choice, proves that his apologies were sincere. The former NFL Rams linebacker calls "Golden Bachelor" a life highlight.

"After my kids, I played at the University of Michigan and in the NFL, so I've done a lot. And this is in the top three," says Owens. "And there's the thing that happened at the very end: I got my girl."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Golden Bachelor' Mel Owens explains his diamond commitment ring for Peg Munson

Reporting by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect