Kate Middleton's Engagement Ring: A Gemstone Guide

Kate Middleton's engagement ring is a 12-carat, oval-cut Ceylon blue sapphire from Sri Lanka, surrounded by 14 round-cut solitaire diamonds and set in 18-karat white gold. The ring was first worn by Princess Diana when she got engaged to Prince William's father, King Charles III, in 1981. The ring was designed by British jeweller Garrard and is estimated to be worth up to $520,000 today.

The ring's history

The history of Kate Middleton's engagement ring is as fascinating as it is romantic. The ring, a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 round-cut solitaire diamonds set in 18-karat white gold, was first worn by Princess Diana when she got engaged to Prince Charles in 1981. The design of the ring, however, dates back to the 19th century.

In 1840, Prince Albert commissioned a special sapphire and diamond brooch from Garrard, the royal jeweller, for his future wife, Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria loved the piece so much that she wore it on her wedding day and until her husband's death in 1861. After Queen Victoria's passing in 1901, the brooch became a Crown heirloom, worn by subsequent British monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth II.

When Prince Charles was preparing to propose to Lady Diana Spencer, he selected a few rings from Garrard, including a sapphire and diamond ring that reminded him of his mother's brooch. Diana chose this ring, allegedly because it reminded her of her mother's engagement ring and matched her blue eyes.

After Diana's tragic death in 1997, her engagement ring was inherited by her sons, William and Harry. When William was ready to propose to Kate Middleton in 2010, Harry gave him the ring. William explained that he chose this ring as a way to keep his mother's memory close. The proposal took place in Kenya, and the ring served as a symbol of love, legacy, and continuity within the British royal family.

The ring has since become an iconic piece of jewellery, renowned for its striking beauty and the rich history and sentimentality associated with it.

The stone's origin

The stones that make up Kate Middleton's engagement ring have a rich history that dates back to the 19th century. The ring is a stunning 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 round-cut solitaire diamonds, all set on an 18-karat white gold band. The deep royal blue hue of the sapphire and the sparkling diamonds create a gorgeous and unique design.

The origin of the stones can be traced back to 1840 when Prince Albert commissioned a special piece of jewellery for his future wife, Queen Victoria. He approached the renowned British jeweller Garrard to create a sapphire and diamond brooch for her. Queen Victoria adored the brooch so much that she wore it on her wedding day as her "something blue" and continued to don it frequently during her reign until her husband's death in 1861.

Upon Queen Victoria's passing in 1901, the brooch became a Crown heirloom, ensuring it would always be in the possession of the reigning British monarch. Queen Elizabeth II inherited the brooch and wore it on several occasions, including when she met President John F. Kennedy in 1961. The brooch's design and the sentiment attached to it inspired the creation of Princess Diana's engagement ring.

When Prince Charles proposed to Lady Diana Spencer, he selected a few rings from Garrard, including a sapphire and diamond ring that reminded him of his mother's brooch. Diana chose the sapphire ring, reportedly because it matched her blue eyes or reminded her of her mother's engagement ring. Thus, the stones in her engagement ring were directly influenced by the sapphires and diamonds of Queen Victoria's brooch.

After Diana's tragic death in 1997, her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, inherited her jewellery. When William planned to propose to Kate, he wanted to use his mother's ring to keep her memory close. The ring eventually passed to Kate Middleton, and the stones' significance continued to grow.

The Ceylon sapphire in Kate's engagement ring originates from Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon during the colonial period. The sapphires from this region are renowned for their exceptional quality and the deep, rich blue colour they produce. Thus, the stones in Kate Middleton's engagement ring have a long and fascinating history, connecting them to some of the most prominent figures in British royalty.

Its design

The ring showcases a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire in a deep royal blue hue as its centrepiece. The sapphire is surrounded by a halo of 14 round-cut solitaire diamonds. All the stones are set on a polished 18-karat white gold band. The ring is essentially a floral-inspired cluster ring.

The cluster ring design has long been celebrated in the jewellery world and is a favourite among royals, who tend to favour colourful gemstones in engagement rings. They come in two types: a prominent centre stone surrounded by other stones of various sizes and shapes, and multiple main stones placed closely together in a cluster. The particular flower-inspired design of Kate Middleton's engagement ring has graced many royal fingers showcasing rubies, emeralds, and sapphires surrounded by larger diamond halos.

The Ceylon sapphire in Kate Middleton's ring is a particularly beautiful and coveted type of sapphire. Ceylon is the name given to sapphires originating from the island nation of Sri Lanka. Blue sapphires that were mined from the region during the British colonial period still carry the Ceylon name in their description. Some of the most beautiful, gem-quality sapphires in the world come from Sri Lanka. To have the signifier of being a Ceylon sapphire means the stone is of the highest quality and the deep, rich blue hue that the island is known for producing.

The design of Kate Middleton's engagement ring goes back to 1840. A British jeweller named Garrard was commissioned by Prince Albert to create a sapphire and diamond brooch for his future wife, Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria loved the piece so much that she wore it on her wedding day and continued to wear it until her husband's death in 1861. When she passed away in 1901, she made it a Crown heirloom, meaning it would always be in the possession of the reigning British monarch. Queen Elizabeth II was often seen wearing it, and it was a favourite piece of hers.

When the time came for Prince Charles to propose to Lady Diana Spencer, he selected a number of rings from Garrard, including a sapphire and diamond ring that reminded him of the sapphire and diamond brooch he often saw his grandmother wear. Diana ultimately chose this ring, reportedly because it matched her blue eyes.

The ring's value

The value of Kate Middleton's engagement ring is not just monetary but also sentimental and symbolic. The ring is a halo setting crafted from 18k white gold with a 12-carat oval Ceylon blue sapphire as its centrepiece, surrounded by 14 round-cut solitaire diamonds. This combination of precious stones and metals is stunning, but it is the history and meaning of the ring that make it truly priceless.

When the ring first came into the possession of the royal family, it was created by Garrard & Co., the former Crown Jeweller, for Lady Diana's engagement to Prince Charles in 1981. At the time, it cost £28,000, or $37,500 to $50,000. It is now valued at around $500,000 to $520,000. However, its extensive history and the sentiment attached to it by the royal family render it absolutely priceless.

The ring was originally commissioned by Prince Albert in 1840, who asked British jeweller Garrard to create a sapphire and diamond brooch for his future wife, Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria loved the piece so much that she wore it on her wedding day and until her husband's death in 1861. Upon her death in 1901, she declared it a Crown heirloom, meaning it would always be in the possession of the reigning British monarch.

The brooch inspired Prince Charles' engagement ring choice for Diana. However, the choice of a stock piece, rather than a bespoke creation, was controversial and broke with tradition. Nevertheless, Diana continued to love the ring, even wearing it after her divorce from Charles.

After Diana's untimely death in 1997, her two sons, William and Harry, were allowed to choose mementos from her possessions. Harry chose the engagement ring, while William selected a gold Cartier watch. But when William decided to propose to Kate, the brothers exchanged their mementos, as Harry thought of Kate like a sister and wanted her to have the ring.

The ring's design and stones have symbolic meaning. Sapphires are commonly associated with royalty and are said to attract abundance and blessings. They also symbolise love, commitment, loyalty, truth, protection, good fortune, and strength. All these qualities are hallmarks of a successful partnership. The ring also represents tradition, given its royal history, and remembrance, as it allows the couple to feel connected to Diana.

The stone's symbolism

The stones on Kate Middleton's engagement ring carry a lot of symbolic weight. The ring features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire from Sri Lanka, surrounded by 14 round-cut solitaire diamonds, all set on an 18-karat white gold band. This combination of stones and metals is rich in meaning and history.

Sapphires are commonly associated with royalty, and they symbolise many positive qualities, including love, commitment, loyalty, truth, protection, abundance, and good fortune. The sapphire's deep blue colour is also said to represent tradition and remembrance, connecting the couple to William's mother, Princess Diana, who first wore the ring during her engagement to Prince Charles.

The choice of sapphires and diamonds also has a long history in British royal jewellery. The design was inspired by a sapphire and diamond brooch that Prince Albert commissioned for his future wife, Queen Victoria, in 1840. Queen Victoria loved the brooch so much that she wore it on her wedding day as her "something blue". The brooch became a staple in her wardrobe, and she continued to wear it until her husband's death in 1861. After Queen Victoria's passing in 1901, the brooch became a Crown heirloom, worn by subsequent British monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth II.

When the time came for Prince Charles to propose to Lady Diana Spencer, he selected a number of rings from Garrard, the royal jeweller, including a sapphire and diamond ring that reminded him of his mother's brooch. Diana ultimately chose this ring, not only because it matched her famous blue eyes but also because it reminded her of her mother's engagement ring.

When Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton, he chose to use his mother's engagement ring as a way to keep her memory "close to it all". The ring's stones and design thus carry a wealth of symbolism, connecting Kate and William's engagement to the long history of British royalty and paying tribute to the legacy of Princess Diana.

Frequently asked questions