Royal legacy behind Kate Middleton's dazzling sapphire engagement ring revealed
LONDON, ENGLAND: Kate Middleton's blue sapphire engagement ring is sure to catch the eye of any royal admirer.
The stunning jewelry features a 12-carat oval-shaped Ceylon sapphire, surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds. The large blue gem is elegantly set in 18-karat white gold.
The Princess of Wales first displayed the ring during her engagement announcement with Prince William on November 16, 2010, at St James's Palace, according to People.
She complemented her engagement outfit with the stunning ring, wearing an iconic blue Issa dress by designer Daniella Helayel.
Who did the ring originally belong to?
The blue sapphire ring has been in the royal circle since 1981. Princess Diana, the mother of Prince William, was the first person to adorn the jewel.
The future King Charles proposed to Diana with the diamond-covered ring in 1981.
Then-Prince Charles selected the ring, which was inspired by a sapphire brooch belonging to his mother, Queen Elizabeth, according to Garrard, the company that made the ring. However, it was reportedly Diana who chose the ring from the company catalog featuring a variety of designs
According to the jewelry company's creative director, Sara Prentice, "It was said to be a strong influence on Prince Charles when he came to Garrard to purchase a ring for Lady Diana."
"He actually ended up setting a sapphire cluster ring for her ... I would imagine growing up being surrounded by your mother and your grandmother [with] such beautiful, incredible jewelry ... it would stick with you," the creative director said, as per Vogue.
The ring, valued at $37,500 when Charles proposed to Diana in 1981, has seen its worth soar significantly since then.
In his engagement interview with Middleton, the heir to the British throne shared the heartfelt reason for choosing his late mother's ring for the proposal.
"It's my mother's engagement ring, so I thought it was quite nice because obviously, she's not going to be around to share in any of the fun and excitement of all this," Prince Willian said at the time. "This is my way of keeping her sort of close to it all."
Who inspired the sapphire engagement ring that Kate Middleton now wears?
The family heirloom's creator, Gerrard, crafted the piece inspired by another piece of jewelry possessed by the British royals.
The design resembled a sapphire-and-diamond brooch Prince Albert commissioned in 1840 for his future wife and then-fiancee, Queen Victoria.
In 2017, Garrard's creative director, Prentice, told Vogue that Queen Victoria loved the design so much that she chose to wear it on her wedding day as "something blue" on the front of her dress.
The sapphire brooch eventually came into Queen Elizabeth's possession as it was passed down to the next generation of the monarchy. It was reportedly one of her favorite pieces from the royal collection, notably worn during her meeting with President John F Kennedy in 1961.
