The Princess Diana engagement ring is one of the most recognizable pieces of royal jewelry in modern history. Its deep blue sapphire, surrounded by sparkling diamonds, became closely associated with Diana’s style and later gained a second chapter when Prince William gave the ring to Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Unlike many royal engagement rings, Diana’s was not an entirely bespoke creation made exclusively for a princess. She selected it from a collection offered by Garrard in 1981, making the choice both personal and unusually modern for the British royal family at the time.
Today, the ring remains famous not simply because of its gemstone or royal history, but because it connects three generations of the British royal story: Queen Victoria, Princess Diana, and Catherine, Princess of Wales.
What Is the Princess Diana Engagement Ring?
The Princess Diana engagement ring features a large oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a cluster of diamonds and mounted in 18-carat white gold. The sapphire is generally described as weighing 12 carats, while the surrounding design contains 14 diamonds according to several detailed accounts.
The ring was created by Garrard, the historic British jewelry house that served as the royal family’s Crown Jeweller for many years. Its cluster design was inspired by an earlier royal sapphire-and-diamond brooch associated with Queen Victoria.
Princess Diana Ring at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
| Center gemstone | Blue Ceylon sapphire |
| Sapphire weight | 12 carats |
| Shape | Oval |
| Accent stones | 14 diamonds |
| Setting | 18-carat white gold |
| Designer/Jeweller | Garrard |
| Selected | 1981 |
| Original reported price | Around £28,500 |
| Current wearer | Catherine, Princess of Wales |
The exact historical price is reported differently by different sources, but £28,500 is one of the most consistently cited figures for the ring’s 1981 valuation or purchase price.
For additional historical background on Diana’s jewelry collection, readers can also explore Wikipedia’s overview of the jewels of Diana, Princess of Wales.
When Did Princess Diana Get Her Engagement Ring?
Lady Diana Spencer became engaged to Prince Charles in 1981, and the couple publicly announced their engagement on February 24 of that year. Diana selected the sapphire ring from jewelry presented by Garrard.
At the time, Diana was only 19 years old. Her choice quickly attracted attention because the ring looked different from the traditional diamond engagement rings many people associated with royal engagements.
The striking blue sapphire also complemented Diana’s famous fashion choices. For the official engagement announcement, she wore a blue outfit that emphasized the color of the gemstone, creating one of the most recognizable royal engagement images of the 20th century.
How Many Carats Is Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring?
The center sapphire in the Princess Diana engagement ring is 12 carats.
It is an oval Ceylon sapphire, with Ceylon being the historic name for Sri Lanka. The stone’s intense blue color is one of the defining characteristics of the ring.
Around the sapphire is a cluster of diamonds that creates the halo effect. The combination of the large blue center stone and surrounding diamonds gives the ring its distinctive appearance and helped make the design instantly recognizable.
The use of a colored gemstone was also significant. Instead of choosing a traditional diamond solitaire, Diana selected a sapphire, helping popularize sapphire engagement rings among brides who wanted an alternative to the classic diamond style.
Who Designed Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring?
The ring was made by Garrard, a prestigious British jewelry house with a long connection to the monarchy.
Garrard’s own historical account describes Diana’s sapphire-and-diamond cluster ring as one of its most famous creations. The company says the 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire was surrounded by diamonds and set in 18-carat white gold.
The design was inspired by a sapphire-and-diamond cluster brooch connected to Queen Victoria. Prince Albert gave Victoria the brooch as a wedding gift in 1840, and Victoria wore it as her “something blue” on her wedding day.
This historical connection gave Diana’s ring more than visual appeal. Its design linked her engagement to an earlier chapter of British royal jewelry.
Why Did Princess Diana Choose a Sapphire Ring?
The exact reason Diana chose the ring has been discussed for decades, and there is no single explanation that can be treated as definitive.
One popular explanation is that the blue stone complemented Diana’s eyes. Other accounts suggest that she liked the size of the ring or that its design reminded her of her mother’s engagement ring.
Another important detail is that Diana reportedly selected the ring herself from the options presented by Garrard. Rather than simply receiving a one-of-a-kind royal jewel chosen entirely by someone else, she had a personal role in the decision.
That choice became part of the ring’s identity.
How Much Did Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring Cost?
The historical price of the Princess Diana engagement ring is commonly reported at around £28,500 in 1981. British Vogue, for example, identifies £28,500 as the cost associated with the ring.
However, historical reports do not all agree on the exact figure. Some publications have cited substantially different amounts, which means it is better to describe the original price as a reported figure rather than an unquestionable receipt value.
The controversy surrounding the price was not the only issue. Diana’s ring was unusual because it came from Garrard’s existing catalog rather than being an exclusive bespoke ring created specifically for her.
In other words, the design was available beyond the royal family. That was considered unconventional for a royal engagement ring at the time.
How Much Is Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring Worth Today?
There is no publicly confirmed current sale price for the ring because it is a royal-family heirloom rather than a regularly traded piece.
Jewelry experts and publications have produced different estimates. For example, recent specialist analysis has discussed values based on the sapphire, diamonds, craftsmanship, provenance, and comparable jewelry, while other publications have offered lower estimates.
This distinction is important: the ring’s market value and its historical or sentimental value are not necessarily the same.
Because it has been worn by Princess Diana and later became Catherine’s engagement ring, its royal provenance could make it considerably more significant than an otherwise similar sapphire ring.
For that reason, claims that the ring has one definitive modern price should be treated cautiously.
What Happened to Princess Diana’s Ring After Her Death?
After Diana’s death in 1997, her jewelry became part of the story of her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
The Princess Diana engagement ring was initially associated with Prince Harry, according to accounts about the brothers’ division of their mother’s jewelry. Later, Harry gave the ring to William when William was preparing to propose to Catherine Middleton.
William subsequently used Diana’s ring for his proposal to Catherine in 2010.
William explained the emotional significance of the decision: giving Diana’s ring to Catherine allowed his mother to be part of the engagement in a symbolic way.
That moment transformed the ring from an important piece of Diana memorabilia into a living part of the next generation of the royal family.
Is Kate Middleton Wearing Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring?
Yes. Catherine, Princess of Wales, wears the engagement ring that originally belonged to Princess Diana.
When Prince William and Catherine announced their engagement in 2010, the ring immediately attracted worldwide attention because of its connection to Diana. British Vogue has also documented Catherine discussing the ring’s sentimental importance and noting that it remained the same size during the period discussed.
Catherine’s use of the ring has helped preserve its connection with Diana while giving the famous sapphire a new chapter in the royal family’s history.
Why Is Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring So Famous?
The popularity of the Princess Diana engagement ring comes from several factors working together.
First, the ring has an instantly recognizable design: a vivid blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds.
Second, it was selected by Diana at the beginning of one of the most closely followed royal marriages of the modern era.
Third, its design has a direct connection to Queen Victoria and historic British royal jewelry.
Finally, the ring later became Catherine’s engagement ring, creating a direct link between Diana’s legacy and the current generation of the royal family.
Garrard itself continues to describe the jewel as one of its iconic creations, while modern jewelry collections have drawn inspiration from its sapphire-and-diamond cluster style.
FAQs About Princess Diana Engagement Ring
How many carats is Princess Diana’s engagement ring?
The center Ceylon sapphire weighs 12 carats.
What gemstone is in Princess Diana’s engagement ring?
The center stone is a blue Ceylon sapphire, originating from the region historically known as Ceylon, now Sri Lanka.
Who made Princess Diana’s engagement ring?
The ring was made by Garrard, the historic British royal jeweler.
How many diamonds are around the sapphire?
The ring is generally described as having 14 surrounding diamonds.
How much did Princess Diana’s ring cost?
The most commonly cited historical figure is approximately £28,500 in 1981, although different historical reports have given different amounts.
Who owns Princess Diana’s engagement ring now?
The ring is now worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales, after Prince William received it from Prince Harry and used it for his proposal to Catherine in 2010.
The Lasting Legacy of Princess Diana’s Ring
The Princess Diana engagement ring is much more than a valuable piece of jewelry. Its story combines royal tradition, personal choice, changing fashion, family history, and emotional symbolism.
Diana’s decision to choose a large blue sapphire instead of a conventional diamond helped make colored gemstone engagement rings more fashionable. Decades later, Catherine’s decision to wear the same ring has kept Diana’s influence visible in the modern royal family.
From Garrard’s workshop to Diana’s engagement in 1981, and eventually to Catherine’s engagement to Prince William, the ring has traveled through several defining moments in British royal history.
Its exact financial value may remain debated, but its cultural value is much easier to understand: the sapphire ring has become one of the enduring symbols of Princess Diana’s style, legacy, and place in royal history.
