Princess Diana’s engagement ring is one of the most significant pieces of historical jewelry and a royal heirloom jewel. It has become a storied ring that carries history and lovely’ albeit romance. It’s an enduring symbol of true love.
We’ll take a look at one of the most celebrated pieces of jewelry in the world and know more about its backstory, world-class specs, and other details.
How much is its price and value today? To know that and its other details, we spoke to NYC’s top jeweler, Estate Diamond Jewelry, in an EXCLUSIVE phone call. This is what they said.
Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring
The Princess Diana engagement ring features a beautiful 12-carat, oval-cut blue sapphire center stone. The stone originated from Sri Lanka, with deep blue hues from its deep sources in local mines.
One of the ring’s distinct features is its 14-diamond halo, which resembles an oval flower, combining silver, deep blue, and clear color diamonds in its color palette. It has a north-to-south configuration, plus a stunning white gold band with side split shanks. It’s a sterling creation by the UK’s top jeweler, House of Garrard.
Princess Di, just like her ring, was unique and one of a kind, despite coming from non-royalty. It broke royal traditions and defied norms held strictly during the 1980s.
The ring became a timeless royal crown jewel and heirloom piece, and is now in the possession of Princess Kate Middleton.
How Much is Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring?
We spoke to Benjamin Khordipour, a jewelry specialist from New York City’s trusted Estate Diamond Jewelry, regarding the value of the ring and its closest estimated price today. He places it at $500,000. However, it’s close to being priceless due to the extensive royal history behind it.
This pricing includes undeniable factors such as the increased value and history of the ring, and its place in Royal and national history. Second are its specifications, including the hefty blue sapphire and its 14 high-quality diamonds on its halo. The value appreciation also includes its House of Garrard handiwork, a global-class stamp in the luxury jewelry industry that continues to increase in value as years go by.
The Backstory of Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring
Lady Diana Spencer first met Prince Charles in 1977. He was a guest at the Spencer family house during a hunting party. Lady Di’s eldest sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, was dating the Prince during that time.
Prince Charles fell for Lady Diana early. Soon, his dating phase with her sister would fail after she spoke to the press about their relationship and her personality.
Three years later, Lady Diana and Charles met again when their mutual friend, Philip de Pass, invited both for a barbecue weekend at his house in Sussex.
Diana recalled talking to the Prince of Wales in Philip’s house in her book by Andrew Morton, ‘Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words’. The Prince told her, “You must come to London with me tomorrow. I’ve got to work at Buckingham Palace, you must come to work with me.” I thought this was too much, I said: “No, I can’t.” I thought, “How will I explain my presence at Buckingham Palace when I’m supposed to be staying with Philip?”
So it was this back and forth and trying to keep up with the Prince that developed the love story between the two royal sweethearts. However, the press was also beginning to monitor the couple, as paparazzi can get all over with celebrities and royalty in England.
The press soon caught up on the developing relationship and dating when the Lady was a guest at the Prince’s Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. On September 8, 1980, tabloids wrote about the Prince’s renewed love life with Lady Di.
A Royal Engagement and Wedding
Prince Charles didn’t wait any longer and soon proposed to Lady Diana on February 3, 1981, when they were in the nursery at Windsor Castle.
Buckingham Palace made an official statement on February 24, 1981, declaring, “It is with the greatest pleasure that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh announce the betrothal of their beloved son, the Prince of Wales, to the Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of the Earl Spencer and the Honourable Mrs Shand Kydd.”
The beloved royal engagement ring made its first public appearance after the declaration.
The historical ring has roots reaching Queen Victoria. Her husband, Prince Albert, commissioned a sapphire and diamond brooch that looks similar to the ring, only that it uses the east-to-west setting.
Later on, House of Garrard designed one of their rings based on the celebrated brooch. When Prince Charles was looking for a suitable ring for his princess-to-be fiancée, the jewel company presented it as one of the main choices he offered to Lady Di. She chose the Queen Victoria brooch-inspired ring as if by fate.
Breaking Traditions and Royal Customs
Princess Di lives on as a royal unconventional icon who broke traditions along with the ring.
Sapphire diamonds weren’t the first choice for engagement and wedding rings during that time. However, the ring has direct inspiration from Queen Victoria’s brooch. It belonged to the royal heirloom jewelry collection and was often worn by Queen Elizabeth.
Another factor was that the bride chose the ring, which is another rule Princess Diana and Prince Charles broke. It signified independence and free will over old royal traditions.
Royal rings also have to be custom-made according to royal specifications. This plain, regular stock ring was available to the public from the House of Garrard catalog, which became another point of contention for members of the royal family.
These actions endeared the Princess to the common people of England.
The Married Royal Life
The royal sweethearts and their married life had its ups and downs. The couple had two sons who went on to take their place in the world later, Prince William and Prince Harry.
However, issues developed over time. The most prominent of these was Prince Charles’ affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, whom he already known since 1971. She was in his life earlier, but their relationship didn’t really develop.
In the interim years of 1979 to 1980, future Queen Camilla and King Charles were seeing each other, but he would end up proposing to Princess Diana instead. The tabloids also broke news of alleged affairs that involved Princess Diana, including leaked phone conversations, paparazzi stories, and photos.
The “Camillagate” tape, leaked by the press to the public in 1993, was an intimate phone conversation between Queen Camilla and King Charles confirming their affair. This destroyed their marriage and then Prince Charles’ public image.
After years of a strained marriage, the Royal family advised the couple to divorce. Following a process and the agreement between the Prince and Princess, the Royal family granted it on July 15, 1996. The divorce became final on August 28, 1996.
Princess Diana passed away in 1997 after a fatal car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris, France, while the paparazzi were tailing them. She was with her partner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, who also died in the accident.
After Princess Diana’s passing, Charles gave her jewelry as inheritance to his sons. Prince William chose her gold Cartier watch and Prince Harry chose the ring.
Prince Harry later gave it up for Princess Kate Middleton and Prince William when they got married, saying that Kate will be the Queen one day and deserved to receive the historical heirloom ring. He later regretted giving away the ring, but stood by his decision.
Similar Rings
Princess Diana’s tragic, romantic story is behind her incredible sapphire and diamond ring. Many people around the world fell head over heels in love with both the ring and the Princess.
Many brides and grooms want the same type of royal elegance in a timeless ring. Yes, you too can have the same glorious type of ring without the $500,000 price tag. Here are some choice pieces curated by The Wedding Scoop.
Lyra Ring from Taylor & Hart
This lovely sapphire and diamond combination ring from Taylor & Hart pays tribute to the Princess Diana original. The blue sapphire is dead set in the middle with a flower halo of 14 diamonds, crowned on a 1.8mm platinum band. You get the royal treatment in a simple, elegant ring for a Princess of Wales.
This ring features the classic, olden styles of House of Garrard, the kind of British classic standard-old that makes it iconic. T&H adds some modern touches and creates a regal version of the ring in this modern classic piece/
Oval Sapphire and Diamond Halo Split Shank Ring from Blue Nile
This beautiful sapphire gemstone ring, from Blue Nile, is a dead ringer for the royal ring. It has a standing side oval cut sapphire gem, flanked by .32 carat
diamonds on the pave white gold left and right shoulders and double shanks. This one hits close to the hearts of many Princess Lady Diana fans and followers.
Close to getting the House of Garrard version (for more cash), this one is a modern classic and features the formidable design at a lower price, and is still good quality.
Lane Ring from Estate Diamond Jewelry
Combining modern designs and layered textures in classic rings creates very nice variations. This rare Kashmir sapphire ring from Red Bank Custom Jewelry combines double halos fitted with small, round-cut diamonds, and two outer halo round-cut diamonds per shoulder. This configuration sits atop a gorgeous 18k white gold band.
The double diamond halo band creates a forever-expanding visual illusion, adding beauty to its hypnotic gaze and bigger ring size.
Celina Ring from Estate Diamond Jewelry
Estate Diamond Jewelry offers a thicker and bigger variation of the Princess Diana engagement ring. It’s a beautiful vintage style as lovely as Princess Di’s.
The center sapphire stone weighs 1.66 carats, surrounded by ten old European cut diamonds with a total of 1 carat. Two more European-cut diamonds flank each side on a spearhead motif, adjoining the platinum band with horizontal knot-like ends. The crown-design undergallery looks magnificent, cradling the stones in style.
Greenish Blue Sapphire Ring from The Natural Sapphire Company
Last but not least is this pretty little ring crafted by The Natural Sapphire Company. At the center of it is a greenish blue 0.56 carat sapphire stone sourced from Madagascar, crowned on a 14k white gold band with beautiful engraved designs. This ring focuses only on the blue sapphire, but it’s pretty simple and elegant, and fit for a Princess as well.
