{"id":962074,"date":"2024-10-22T18:03:10","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T17:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.antiquejewellerycompany.com\/?p=962074"},"modified":"2024-10-22T18:10:07","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T17:10:07","slug":"why-princess-dianas-engagement-ring-caused-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.antiquejewellerycompany.com\/why-princess-dianas-engagement-ring-caused-controversy\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring Caused Controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Princess Diana’s engagement ring is one of the most famous pieces of jewellery in history but people often don’t know it caused quite a scandal. While the stunning 12-carat<\/a> blue sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire<\/a> diamonds became iconic. The origin of Princess Diana’s engagement ring stirred some controversy -it sure didn\u2019t win the hearts of everyone in the royal family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Princess<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When Diana became engaged to Prince Charles, she was given the option to choose her ring from a selection of royal jewels as well as pieces from the crown jeweller Garrard. She ultimately selected a ring from Garrard\u2019s catalogue, which featured a white gold band and the now-famous sapphire surrounded by diamonds<\/strong>. However, this decision broke royal tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Charles
Prince Charles and Lady Diana announce their engagement outside Buckingham Palace, 24 February 1981<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Scandal of Princess Di’s Engagement Ring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What caused the scandal was that Diana’s engagement ring was not custom-made<\/strong> for her. Instead, it was available for purchase in Garrard’s catalogue, meaning that anyone<\/em> with the means could have bought the same ring. Priced at \u00a347,000 (around $60,000 at the time), it was a luxury piece but not exclusive to Royalty. This didn\u2019t sit well with some members of the royal family who felt that royal jewels should be unique and not accessible to “commoners.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Garrard<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the (very wide) publicity of the ring meant the catalogue was now in the public eye making it available to those outside being in the (royal) know<\/em>. Princess Di really was the “people’s princess”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Royal Inspiration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, the design of Diana\u2019s ring was inspired by a piece of Royal history. The jeweller drew inspiration from a sapphire and diamond brooch that Prince Albert had gifted to Queen Victoria in 1840. Which she famously wore as her \u201csomething blue\u201d on her wedding day. Queen Elizabeth II later wore the same brooch on multiple public occasions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Queen wearing The Prince Albert brooch (inset), Royal Ascot, 2015 (Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n