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Princess Diana's wedding ring was crafted from a nugget of Welsh gold that has been in the royal family for centuries. While her wedding band followed royal tradition, her engagement ring was a different story. The 12-carat, oval Ceylon blue sapphire, framed by a halo of 14 diamonds and set in 18-carat white gold, was not a custom piece or a royal heirloom. Instead, it was chosen by Diana herself from Garrard's catalogue. The ring was inspired by a sapphire brooch that Queen Victoria wore on her wedding day as her something blue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ring type | Engagement ring |
| Design | A halo of 14 solitaire diamonds surrounding a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire |
| Setting | 18-karat white gold |
| Inspiration | A brooch with a similar design that Prince Albert gave to Queen Victoria in 1840 |
| Value in 1981 | $37,500 |
| Value in 1980s | $60,000 |
| Value in 2018 | £75,000 |
| Value in 2024 | $400,000 |
| Wedding band | Made from one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold |
| Aquamarine ring | Worn together with her eternity ring, possibly in replacement of her wedding band and engagement ring |
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What You'll Learn
The ring's design and inspiration
Princess Diana's engagement ring was crafted by Garrard, a London-based jewellery house that has maintained a close relationship with the British royal family since 1843 when Queen Victoria appointed Garrard as the Crown Jeweller. The ring features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 round solitaire diamonds and set in 18-karat white gold. The design was inspired by a sapphire brooch given by Prince Albert to Queen Victoria, which she wore as her "`something blue'" on her wedding day in 1840. The brooch featured a large sapphire surrounded by 12 diamonds and was set in gold.
Diana's choice of a sapphire ring paid homage to the royal family's use of sapphires for some of their engagement rings. For example, the Queen Mother, Prince Charles's grandmother, wore an oval sapphire to mark her engagement in 1923, and Princess Anne chose sapphire rings for both of her marriages in 1973 and 1986. Sapphires rank nine on the Mohs hardness scale, making them a durable choice for everyday wear.
Diana's ring was not custom-made or unique, and it was featured in the Garrard catalogue, meaning anyone could purchase it. This broke with royal tradition and caused some controversy, as the royal family did not want commoners to have access to jewels fit for royalty. However, Diana's decision to choose a catalogue ring symbolised her insistence on maintaining her individuality, even as she joined the royal family.
After Diana's death, her engagement ring was passed down to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. In 2010, Prince William used the ring to propose to his fiancée, Kate Middleton, as a way of including his mother in the engagement and wedding celebrations. The ring did not quite fit Kate's finger, but she had it resized in a way that did not disrupt the ring's structure. Now, Kate wears the ring even though she is already married, continuing the tradition of wearing an engagement ring after the wedding.
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The ring's value
Princess Diana's engagement ring is one of the most famous pieces of jewellery in the world, with its large oval blue sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, set in 18-karat white gold. The ring was designed by Garrard, the crown jeweller, and was inspired by a brooch that Prince Albert gave to Queen Victoria in 1840, which she wore on her wedding day as her "something blue".
When Charles purchased the ring in 1981, it cost £28,000 ($37,500). However, its value has increased significantly since then. In the 1980s, the ring was estimated to be worth around $60,000. Today, its value is estimated to be up to £300,000, or $400,000. Of course, the ring's historical and sentimental value is also significant, especially for those who admired Princess Diana.
After Princess Diana's death, the ring was passed down to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. In 2010, Prince William used the ring to propose to his fiancée, Kate Middleton, as a way of including his mother in the engagement and wedding celebrations. The ring holds immense sentimental value for Prince William, who wanted his mother to be a part of these special moments.
Another famous ring of Princess Diana's was the emerald-cut aquamarine ring, which was given to her by her best friend, Lucia Flecha de Lima. This ring is estimated to be worth £75,000 as of 2018. The ring was passed down to Prince Harry after Diana's death, and he later gave it to his wife, Meghan Markle, who wore it at their wedding reception in 2018.
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The ring's history
Princess Diana's engagement ring is one of the most recognisable pieces of jewellery in history. The ring features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, all set in 18-karat white gold. The ring was crafted by Garrard, a London-based jewellery house that has maintained a close relationship with the British royal family since 1843, when it was appointed as the Crown Jeweller by Queen Victoria.
The design of Princess Diana's engagement ring was inspired by a sapphire brooch given by Prince Albert to Queen Victoria. The brooch, which featured a large sapphire surrounded by 12 diamonds and was set in gold, was a wedding gift from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria in 1840. Queen Victoria wore the brooch on her wedding day as her "something blue", and it later became an heirloom of the crown after her death in 1901.
Princess Diana's ring was not custom-made or unique, and it was featured in the Garrard Royal Jewellers' Catalogue in 1981, meaning that anyone could purchase the same ring. This broke royal tradition and reportedly did not sit well with the royal family, who did not want commoners to have access to jewels fit for royals. However, Princess Diana's choice of a ring with a sapphire stone paid homage to the royal family's use of sapphires in their engagement rings.
After Princess Diana's death, her engagement ring was passed down to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. Prince William later used the ring to propose to his fiancée, Kate Middleton, in 2010. The ring did not quite fit Kate's finger, but she found a way to resize it by adding a line of small platinum beads along the inside of the ring. Now, Kate wears the engagement ring even though she is already married, and it is considered a symbol of her connection to Princess Diana.
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The ring's subsequent owners
Princess Diana's wedding band was made from one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold, mined at the Clogau St David's gold mine. This nugget had also provided gold for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, and many other royals.
After her untimely death in 1997, Princess Diana's wedding ring, along with her engagement ring, was inherited by her son, Prince Harry. Prince Harry eventually offered the engagement ring to his older brother, Prince William, before he proposed to Kate Middleton in 2010.
Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with Princess Diana's engagement ring in Kenya in the autumn of 2010. The ring was a way for William to ensure his mother "didn't miss out on today and the excitement." Kate Middleton's outfit during the joint interview with William after their engagement was also a subtle tribute to Princess Diana's engagement announcement outfit. She wore a blue Issa dress that perfectly matched the colour of the ring.
In 2018, Prince Harry gave Meghan Markle the emerald cut aquamarine ring that once belonged to Princess Diana. The ring, estimated to be worth £75,000 in 2018, was given to Princess Diana by her best friend, Lucia Flecha de Lima.
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Other rings owned by Princess Diana
Princess Diana's engagement ring was a 12-carat oval blue sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds and set in 18-carat white gold. The ring was crafted by Garrard, a London-based jewellery house that has maintained a close relationship with the British royal family since 1843. The design of the ring was inspired by a sapphire brooch given by Prince Albert to Queen Victoria, which she wore on her wedding day as her "something blue".
In addition to her famous engagement ring, Princess Diana owned several other notable rings. Here are some details about some of her other rings:
The Cartier Trinity Ring and Signet Ring: These rings were gifts from Prince Charles and were first worn by Princess Diana during a photo session with royal photographer Tim Graham at her Kensington Palace apartment on 1 February 1983. The signet ring featured the Prince of Wales feathers.
The Aquamarine Ring: Diana possessed a set of aquamarine jewels, including an "emerald-cut aquamarine stunner", which she first wore at a 1997 auction of her clothes at Christie's. She also wore this ring during a visit to Sydney, Australia, in the summer of 1997. The stone for this ring was taken from a mine in Brazil, the same source as the Queen's aquamarine pieces. After Diana's death, the ring was passed to her younger son, Prince Harry, who gave it to his wife, Meghan, to wear at their wedding reception in 2018.
The Emerald Cabochon and Diamond Ring: Princess Diana wore this ring on several occasions instead of her engagement ring. The ring featured two stones, an emerald and a diamond, set at an angle to each other in a style similar to a bypass ring. She was photographed wearing this ring in November 1985 and again in January 1988.
The Eternity Ring: Diana often wore an eternity ring as a teenager, which originally came from the Spencer family collection. Later in life, she sometimes wore this ring together with her aquamarine ring in place of her wedding band and engagement ring.
Princess Diana's choice of jewellery often carried sentimental value and reflected her unique style and personality. These rings, along with her iconic engagement ring, have become a lasting legacy of her fashion sense and influence.
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Frequently asked questions
Princess Diana's wedding ring was made from a nugget of Welsh gold that has been in the royal family for centuries.
Princess Diana's engagement ring featured a 12-carat oval Ceylon blue sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds and set in 18-karat white gold.
Princess Diana chose her engagement ring from a catalogue, breaking from royal tradition, which typically involved custom designs and heirloom pieces. This allowed the public access to the same catalogue, which reportedly upset the Queen.
Princess Diana's engagement ring was passed down to her son, Prince William, who gave it to his now-wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, when he proposed in 2010.
