Kate Middleton’s stunning sapphire engagement ring, which once belonged to Princess Diana, has a rather romantic backstory.
The iconic ring Prince William proposed to Kate in 2010 is known to be identical to the one Prince Charles gave Diana, but the design dates back to the mid-19th century.
Garrard, who designed this ring, was inspired by a piece of jewelry that Prince Albert commissioned for his future bride, Queen Victoria, in 1840. This large sapphire, surrounded by twelve round diamonds and set in gold, was so beloved by Queen Victoria that she wore it on her wedding day as the “blue thing” on her dress.
The brooch was often worn by Queen Victoria over the next two decades. When she died in 1901, she declared the tiara a family heirloom, so every queen (and queen) has worn it ever since. Among them is the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth, who also wore it several times throughout her life, including at important events such as Prince William’s christening.
According to Garrard, Prince Charles chose their rings to present to Diana at Windsor Castle in preparation for the proposal. The collection includes a vibrant sapphire and diamond ring that reminds Charles of the brooches he often wears with his grandmothers and mothers. Diana reportedly chose it because it suited her blue eyes, and the rest is history.
This iconic non-custom ring features a 12k oval Ceylon sapphire in 18k white gold surrounded by 14 single diamonds. When Charles proposed to Diana in 1981, it was valued at $37,500, but because of his history, it is now considered priceless.
In an official post-engagement interview, Kate wore a royal blue Issa gown that matched the ring perfectly, and Prince William explained why the dress was so special to him.
“It’s my mom’s engagement ring, so I think it’s a good thing because obviously she’s not there to share the fun and excitement of it all – that’s my way of keeping her in touch with it all,” he said.
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Sapphires have long been a gem of royalty, especially when it comes to marriage proposals. In addition to Kate and Diana, the Queen Mother and Princess Anne have a sapphire engagement ring. Meanwhile, Princess Eugenie Jack Brooksbank’s engagement ring features a rare pink padparadscha sapphire.
Post time: Sep-08-2022