It's women's history month! We're diving into the jewelry collections of women who completely changed the jewelry scene forever. First up is everyone's favorite princess: the iconic, sophisticated and well loved Princess Diana.
Princess Diana, also known as "the people's princess" was a fashion icon of her time and beyond. Diana pushed the limits of what was considered normal and appropriate for a royal, unapologetically dressing for herself and dressing for the fun of life! She knew that no outfit was complete without the right jewelry, and Diana was known for choosing pieces that would awe the world.
First up, we need to talk about Diana's famous engagement ring: A 12 carat blue ceylon sapphire with a halo of 14 solitaire diamonds set in 18K white gold.
Against royal protocol at the time, Diana's engagement ring was not a bespoke ring, but a stock piece from the jeweler Garrard in 1981. At the time, the piece cost around $65,000. Today, the ring is worth more than $400,000. Although the ring was not made specifically for the princess, it was based on a royal jewel commissioned for Queen Victoria in 1840: a blue sapphire brooch surrounded by 12 large diamonds. It was said that Prince Charles liked this ring because it reminded him of the piece he had often seen his mother and grandmother wear, and Diana liked it because it reminded her of her mother's engagement ring and also complimented her striking blue eyes. Today, the ring belongs to Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales.
Next up: Diana's sapphire, diamond and pearl choker necklace.
Diana inherited a large blue sapphire brooch surrounded by a double halo of diamonds as a wedding present from her soon to be grandmother-in-law. She wore it as a brooch on a few occasions before having the piece converted to a stunning choker necklace necklace laced with 7 pearl strands. She often wore the necklace to both low and high profile events, including her famous visit to the White House in Washington D.C. in 1985. The last time the world saw the famous necklace was when Diana attended the Met Gala in New York in 1996.
And we can't forget to mention her classic family heirloom, the Spencer Tiara.
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The infamous Spencer family tiara gained it's fame when Princess Diana wore it on her wedding day accompanying her wedding dress designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, and pear diamond earrings borrowed from her mother. The crown is a mixture of different jewels and eras, with the oldest part of the tiara being it's ends. The ends are said to hail from Frances Manby, the last Viscountess Montagu and was then passed to Lady Sarah Spencer in 1875. While Diana was loaned the Lover's Knot Tiara by the queen for her wedding day, she chose to wear the family heirloom and was seen wearing it many times after her wedding as it was light and easy to wear.
Following Diana's divorce in 1996, she was seen twice wearing an emerald cut aquamarine estimated to be around 30 carats. The stunning rock was set in 24 karat gold and was paired with an eternity band Diana wore as a teenager. The pairing was said to be a "divorce" ring that replaced her engagement ring and wedding band, but the truth is that she wore both rings after her divorce to Prince Charles. The ring was a gift from Lucia Flecha de Lima, Diana's known best friend, and was made by Asprey.
In 2018, the gorgeous aquamarine made its comeback on Meghan Marckle's finger at her and Prince Harry's wedding reception in 2018.
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These are just a few of Diana's iconic pieces in her collection, but they are each some of my favorites! Diana's fashion legacy lives on not only with her sons and daughter's in law, but in the hearts of thousands of adoring fans worldwide.
Want to create a ring or other luxury jewelry like Diana's? Schedule a free consultation with SHANNON and let us help you design your dream bespoke piece!