On 16th November, 2010, Clarence House announced that Prince William and his girlfriend, Catherine Middleton, were engaged. Royal fans rushed home to switch on BBC News to find out every detail.
For jewellery lovers, the story had additional intrigue: Kate Middleton had received a very special engagement ring from Prince William. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the world’s most famous blue sapphire ring.
1. Poignant meaning
The sapphire ring that William gave his now wife; Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; has deep personal meaning for him.
It previously belonged to William’s mother, Princess Diana, who died an untimely death in a car crash in August 1997.
Prince William said at the time of his engagement that giving the ring to Catherine was his way of making sure his mother didn’t miss out on his wedding day.
2. Carats, carats, carats
Kate Middleton’s engagement ring consists of a 12-carat oval blue sapphire, cut into facets, and surrounded by fourteen solitaire diamonds. The setting is made from 18K white gold.
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3. Resized for Catherine
When Catherine Middleton received the ring, it was slightly too big for her.
It kept sliding and turning around on her finger, so the Crown Jeweller, G. Collins and Sons, were asked to resize it from size I to H.
They did this by placing small platinum beads inside the ring’s band.
4. Royal blue engagement outfit
When Kate and William were interviewed on television a few hours after the engagement had been announced, Kate wore a sapphire-blue silk jersey dress, cleverly matched with her engagement ring’s colour. The dress was by Issa, a London designer who the Duchess of Cambridge loves.
5. From Diana to Charles, Harry to William
After Prince William’s and Prince Harry’s parents, Prince Charles and Lady Diana, divorced; Diana returned her engagement ring to her ex-husband. It was stored in Kensington palace.
After Diana’s tragic passing away, Prince Charles allowed his two sons, William and Harry, to select mementos from her possessions.
Harry, the younger brother, picked the engagement ring, while William chose a gold Cartier watch.
But when William took the decision to propose to Kate, the brothers exchanged their mementos.
It’s said that Harry thinks of Kate fondly as a sister and that both princes wanted her to have their mother’s ring.
6. “Commoner’s Sapphire”
William’s mother, Lady Diana Spencer, originally chose the ring herself. Prince Charles did not propose with it in hand, but instead had a selection of rings shown to her.
At the time, Diana’s choice caused a scandal. Some people criticised her for picking a pret-a-porter ring, instead of having one custom made.
Some newspapers went as far as calling it a “commoner’s ring”.
7. Now the most coveted sapphire ring style in the world
Despite the initial criticism for her choice of ring, Princess Diana quickly became known as a style icon. Her hairstyle, outfits and of course, her ring, were copied by millions all over the world.
Consequently, the “commoner’s sapphire” became the world’s most sough after engagement ring style for more than a decade.
When William and Catherine announced their engagement in 2010, sales of sapphire engagement rings went through the roof once more, with jewellers all over the world frantically buying hoards of the blue gems to satisfy the public’s demand for “Duchess of Cambridge rings”.
8. Ten-fold increase in price
The ring was originally created by Garrard & Co., the former Crown Jeweller. At the time, in 1981, it cost £28,000. It’s now valued at approximately £300,000
9. In a rucksack to Africa
Although Kate and William did not announce their engagement until November 2010, William revealed that he actually proposed to Kate on a trip to Kenya in October.
They stayed at Rutundu Cabin beneath Mount Kenya, a stunning location. During their post-engagement interview, William explained that he had carried his mother’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring around Africa in his rucksack for almost three weeks before he proposed to Kate – and had been terrified of losing it!
10. Matching earrings and pendant
The Duchess of Cambridge was later seen wearing jewellery that matches her engagement ring.
It was at the time when she was expecting the couple’s second child, while attending a ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral to commemorate the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan.
The set includes a sapphire and diamond cluster necklace, and matching earrings.
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*Image credits from the featured image top of article: Picture of Kate Middleton (The Duchess of Cambridge) by Nick Warner, Wikimedia Commons; Picture of Diana, Princess of Wales by John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com at Wikimedia Commons
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