There is hardly a soul on this planet that doesn’t know who Princess Diana is. The late former wife of Prince Charles and the mother of Princes William and Harry left quite a mark on this world. Known for her exceptional beauty, her philanthropy, her compassion and of course her bold fashion choices that were lauded by many, Lady Diana was arguably the most photographed woman on the planet throughout the 80s and 90s. Her playful and enigmatic looks have inspired many women over the years, particularly in the jewellery department.
Arguably the most iconic piece in Lady Di’s infamous collection is her diamond and sapphire engagement ring that was given to her by Prince Charles.
With all this buzz around the former Princess thanks to the final season of the uber-popular Netflix series, The Crown, read on as we look into Lady Diana’s engagement ring along with her lauded jewellery collection that still lives on to this day.
Lady Diana's Engagement Ring:
The Proposal
After a very brief courtship, which is not entirely unusual for a royal, Prince Charles proposed to Diana Spencer as she was known back then in February 1981 at a private dinner in Buckingham Palace. According to Diana’s official biographer Andrew Morton, the Princess-to-be initially thought the proposal was a joke but said yes after learning that the Prince was quite serious about their future together.
As eagle-eyed viewers of the Netflix series The Crown will recall, Prince Charles did not propose to Diana with an engagement ring, believing that she would prefer to choose her own, which she did! Created by Garrad and Co. who were the crown jewellers at the time, Lady Diana was presented with a handful of rings to choose from, all with their own unique characteristics. Lady Di would quickly settle on a rich blue sapphire ring surrounded by tiny diamonds.
It is believed that Diana chose this ring because it resembled her mother’s engagement ring or perhaps because of its size. And although it may be beloved by the public today, this wasn’t always the way. Diana’s ring was incredibly polarising at first, not because she chose a sapphire over a traditional diamond engagement ring, but because, unlike most royals who dip into the crown jewels for their rings or organise custom creations, Lady Diana’s engagement ring was from Garrad’s general line, meaning that anyone could buy it.
The Details
One of the many royal sapphires, Princess Diana’s engagement ring contains a deep-blue Ceylon sapphire in the centre. Weighing a whopping 12 carats, the stone has been cut into multiple facets-giving off a glorious shine. The sapphire’s tremendous beauty is emphasised by fourteen round-cut diamonds that surround the stone, causing the ring to almost resemble a flower.
The ring’s setting was crafted from an elegant yet subtle 18-carat white gold that allows the stone to stand out. Costing Prince Charles around £28,000 or just over $51,000 in Australian dollars, the ring was quite the steal where royals are concerned. Today, some jewellery experts place the ring’s value at around £400,000, or just over $730,000 in Australian dollars, while others consider the ring to be priceless given its history.
While the union between Charles and Diana may have not lasted very long, the ring's tremendous beauty lives on just like the legacy of the People’s Princess. For a long time, the ring was even regarded as a symbol of independence, given that while women traditionally stopped wearing their wedding and engagement rings after a divorce, Diana shunned this expectation and continued to wear hers-believing it was simply too beautiful to stop wearing.
Where Is Lady Diana’s Engagement Ring Now?
Following Lady Di’s untimely death, the sapphire ring was handed down to Charles and Diana’s youngest son, Prince Harry so that he could use it to propose to the woman he wanted to marry. Harry ultimately gave the ring to his brother Prince William, believing that the ring should be used for a future queen.
The future King of England held good on that promise when in late 2010 he proposed to his long-time girlfriend Catherine ‘Kate’ Middleton and then went on to marry at Westminster Abbey on April, 29th 2011. More than ten years on and three kids later, Kate Middleton still wears this family heirloom with pride, along with many other pieces in her Mother-in-law’s famed collection.
Lady Diana's Jewellery Collection
Known as one the most fashionable women on the planet, Diana's impact on style is still being felt to this day, particularly through her daughters-in-law Catherine, the Princess of Wales and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Having amassed quite a collection of jewellery throughout her life, a lot of that collection now lives on through Kate and Meghan who are frequently spotted wearing these precious family heirlooms.
At her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan was spotted making an entrance at her reception wearing an eye-catching aquamarine ring that once belonged to the late Diana. Part of a set with an aquamarine bracelet that Diana first wore in 1996 at a gala in Sydney, the emerald-cut cocktail ring is flanked by small brilliant round cut diamonds on either side of the ring's 24ct yellow gold setting. The ring was allegedly a gift from the former Princess's best friend, Lucia Flecha de Lima.
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Most recently, the new Princess of Wales made waves when she was spotted rocking Diana's favourite earrings while delivering a keynote at The Design Museum in London for the Shaping Us National Symposium. The drop-style sapphire and diamond earrings are an exact match for her famous engagement ring featuring two oval-cut Ceylon sapphires which are surrounded by a row of brilliant-cut diamonds. Diana famously wore these earrings to the MET Gala in 1996 along with a gorgeous navy blue Christian Dior slip dress that she accessorised with a matching pearl choker with a large oval-cut sapphire in the middle that was a gift from her former Grandmother-in-law, the Queen Mother.
According to People, this is not the first time Kate, The Princess of Wales has worn these sapphire earrings as she previously wore them to a Commonwealth Day Service in March and then to the Trooping the Colour ceremony in June. The Princess is known to borrow from her late mother-in-law's collection, aside from these earrings, the future Queen is often sported wearing a smaller pair of drop earrings adorned with sapphires that are also believed to be part of Diana's collection. Catherine also interchanges between an assortment of drop-style pearl earrings once worn by the fashion icon.
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Lady Diana Engagement Ring Replicas
Much like many of Princess Diana’s fashion choices over the years, her beloved engagement ring has spawned many replicas. Similar sapphire rings, if not carbon copies, are a common sight in the glass cabinets of many jewellers—including Shiels, which has a handful of pieces inspired by the Jewels of Diana.
Referred to as the Princess Kate Collection, this exquisite jewellery line boasts four rings and two matching pendants. One of the rings features a decadent natural blue sapphire enclosed with several round zirconia stones with a 9-carat yellow gold setting, two are decorated with multiple sparkling diamonds and the same yellow gold setting, while the other is a much more budget-friendly and feature a beautiful simulated sapphire, zirconia stones as well as a sterling silver setting.
Have a closer look at Shiels’ Princess Kate Collection below!
9ct Yellow Gold Natural Sapphire 2.50 Carat 9X7mm Oval with 0.50 Carat Diamonds Ring
$834.00
$2,334.00
Celebrate the moment of a lifetime with the extraordinary 9ct Yellow Gold Natural Sapphire 2.50 Carat 9x7mm Oval Engagement Ring, adorned with 0.50 Carat Diamonds. This ring is a perfect embodiment of love and commitment, designed to symbolise the depth… read more
18ct Ring with 2.70 Carat Natural Sapphire and 0.70ct Diamonds "Princess Catherine"
$5,999.00
Please contact us regarding special order enquiries for this ring. All ring sizes can be specially ordered, with delivery approximately 6-8 weeks.… read more
Princess Kate' 9ct 2.30 Carat Natural Sapphire & 1/2 Carat Diamond Pendant
$699.00
$1,899.00
Embrace your inner royal with this glamorous Princess Kate inspired Black Sapphire and Diamond Pendant. Crafted from luxurious 9ct gold and embellished with ½ carat diamond, this pendant is sure to have onlookers in awe. All that’s needed now is… read more
Sterling Silver Cubic Zirconia Border White Princess Ring
$114.00
$234.00
From the Princess Kate collection, this sparkling blue and white cubic zirconia ring in sterling silver will make a stunning statement.… read more
Princess Kate' 9ct 2.30 Carat Natural Sapphire & 1/2 Carat Diamond Pendant
$699.00
$1,899.00
Embrace your inner royal with this glamorous Princess Kate inspired Black Sapphire and Diamond Pendant. Crafted from luxurious 9ct gold and embellished with ½ carat diamond, this pendant is sure to have onlookers in awe. All that’s needed now is… read more
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