Engagement ring of Diana, Princess of Wales

Lady Diana Spencer and Charles, Prince of Wales, became engaged in February 1981. Her engagement ring consists of 14 solitaire diamonds surrounding a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire set in 18-karat white gold. It was created by jeweler Garrard and cost at the time, 28,000 pounds sterling.^[1][2][3] Diana's selection of this ring was unusual. It was neither custom-made nor unique and was, at the time of her engagement to Charles, featured in Garrard's jewellery collection and available to anyone for purchase.^[4] Some commentators say Diana selected it because it reminded her of her mother's engagement ring. Jewellery historian Leslie Field stated: "She [Diana] had obviously already said she would like a sapphire; she had half a dozen rings [to select from] and she chose this one purely because she liked it." Fields continued: "Somebody came up with the story that she immediately went for the biggest, but I asked her and she told me it definitely wasn't the biggest, she simply thought it was very beautiful."^[5]

After Diana's death, Princes William and Harry selected mementos from their mother's possessions. William chose the engagement ring, while Harry selected Diana's £19'000 yellow gold Cartier Tank Francaise watch. They eventually exchanged mementos.^[5] When Prince William proposed to Catherine Middleton in the fall of 2010, he gave her the ring. Middleton eventually had the ring resized. It was a size H, and prior to her wedding, she asked Crown Jewellers G Collins and Sons to attach two platinum studs to it to make it a size I.^[6]

After the engagement was announced, some called the ring the "Commoner's Sapphire," a reference to the bride's non-royal origins.^[7] Others considered the ring a tragic symbol associated with Diana's failed marriage to the Prince of Wales and untimely death in a car accident in Paris.^[8]

References

1. "O anel de noivado de Kate Middleton". Joias em Ouro. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
2. Sofia Benini. "Anel de noivado de Kate Middleton pertenceu à Princesa Diana". Casamento Click. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
3. Gilberto Júnior (23 November 2010). "Anel de noivado de Kate Middleton, avaliado em mais de R$ 74 mil, ganha versão a R$ 4 nas ruas do Rio". iG. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
4. "DIANA'S JEWELS". Princess Diana. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
5. David, Wilkes (17 November 2010). "A ring fit for his mother...and his love: Prince William's sapphire and diamond engagement ring for Kate". Mail Online (UK).
6. Showbiz, Bang (13 April 2011). "Kate Middleton gets Diana's ring resized". The Independent (UK).
7. ">Seren (15 December 2012). "The Legacy of the Royal Engagement Ring: From Diana to Catherine". Fancy Color Diamonds. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
8. Pearson, Allison (23 April 2011). "Royal wedding: Diana's ghost will be everywhere on Prince William's big day". The Telegraph (UK).