The Kate Middleton Engagement Ring that everyone is talking about is gorgeous, that is no secret. It is now worn by the future Queen of England; that is also no secret. Many people are wondering what is the Kate Middleton engagement ring worth since it does contain a huge sapphire and quite a few diamonds. Some are calling it the Prince William engagement ring, and that should be a small hint as to the ring’s origins. But, still, what is so special about that ring?
The engagement ring given to Kate Middleton by her charming fiancé, Prince William is the very same ring that was given to his mother, the late Princess Diana, when she was engaged to his father, Prince Charles. Just that fact in and of itself is enough to have many people wondering about the ring. For those who wonder, “What was the Kate Middleton engagement ring cost?”, there is not really an answer for that, since the cost of jewelry purchased by the royal family is a closely guarded secret. However, a ring looking exactly like Diana’s was featured in Garrard’s catalog around the time she chose the ring, and that one was priced at $65,000.
A Kate Middleton engagement ring picture, from the day Kate and William announced their engagement:
Kate Middleton Engagement Ring Credit: Official portrait photographs for the engagement of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton; Copyright 2010 Mario Testino
The Kate Middleton Engagement Ring History
The ring’s history begins in 1981, when then Lady Diana Spencer became engaged to Prince Charles. The curious thing about it was that Prince Charles did not have a ring for her at that time. After they formally became engaged at a royal affair, Diana was allowed to pick out her own ring from Garrard Jewellers, the official jeweler for the royal family. The ring she chose, an 18 carat sapphire and diamond ring, came from Garrard’s inventory, and was not specially created for her. This created a stir among the royals at the time, and may have been one of the first of many gaffes committed by Diana that were not liked by her in-laws.
Prince Charles and Lady Diana
Princess Diana was photographed hundreds of times wearing the beautiful sapphire ring she chose, and although it was not unique or specially made for her, it became synonymous with her beauty and grace. She loved the beautiful deep blue color of the ring, and often chose clothes that complemented the ring’s lovely hue. Of course, there was not a “happily ever after” ending to Princess Diana’s fairy tale romance with Prince Charles. They were divorced in 1996. Then tragically, she was killed in an automobile accident in 1997 at the age of 36.
After her funeral, the Princes William and Harry were allowed to choose a piece of her jewelry to keep for themselves as a reminder of her. Prince William chose a jeweled watch that he remembered seeing her wear on a daily basis. It was Prince Harry, her youngest son, who chose to have the infamous ring that is now known as the Kate Middleton engagement ring. Because he recognized the fact that Kate would someday be Queen of England, and that the ring should rightfully belong to the Queen, he gave the ring to William to give to Kate when they were engaged.
The Kate Middleton engagement ring value at the current time is estimated to be somewhere around $300,000. That figure accounts only for the monetary value of it, however. Just because of the tragic history behind the ring, and now the hopeful fairy tale future it will have, the Kate Middleton engagement ring value is now this: Priceless!
Is the Kate Middleton Engagement Ring Look for You?
If you love things that are out of the ordinary, then you would probably love wearing this type of ring. If you love colored gemstones, such as the gorgeous sapphire in this ring’s design, then you would probably love to own a ring similar to this one. You will also need to enjoy wearing large rings; this one is no shrinking violet! You will definitely feel it on your hand!
You will also need to take special care of it, like removing it before playing sports or swimming, and also before doing household chores. It will need to be stored carefully in a separate soft pouch; it should also be cleaned periodically with a warm soap and water solution.
Many good imitation sapphires are available, so do your homework before heading out to shop. You may want to look for one of these rings with a cubic zirconia stone like the one pictured above, since CZ’s are known to be durable and also very convincing – they look so good that usually only a jeweler can tell the difference. A CZ ring like the one above set in sterling silver will cost well under $100. That’s definitely a lot of bling for not a lot of money!
Happy Shopping!
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