This year, 29 April marks the sixth wedding anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: Prince William and Kate Middleton. The iconic date reminds us of the Princess’ stunning sapphire and diamond engagement ring with which Prince William proposed to her in October 2010 while the couple was on a 10-day trip to Kenya. The ring, apart from being precious, also holds emotional significance for the couple since it belonged to the Prince’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
Let’s take a look at this and a few other spectacular royal engagement rings that remain timeless:
Kate Middleton’s engagement ring consists of 14 round brilliant diamonds surrounding a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire set in 18-karat white gold. The royal engagement set off a trend of using sapphires in engagement rings.
Kate Middleton, the striking Duchess of Cambridge, is always seen wearing her iconic engagement ring on her left hand. Image: Instagram: @hrhkateduchessofcambridge
The 12ct blue sapphire is set off by a sizable halo of diamonds. Image: @pinterest
Queen Letizia of Spain was presented with a 16-baguette channel set diamond ring in white gold trim when King Felipe VI, who was then Prince of Asturias, proposed to her in September 2003. The gorgeous Queen is often pictured wearing it on her right hand.
Queen Letizia’s 16-baguette diamond engagement ring makes a simple, but powerful style statement. Image: @pinterest
Queen Letizia is seen here wearing her yellow gold wedding band on her right hand. Image: @pinterest
Prince Joachim of Denmark proposed to Marie Cavallier in September 2007, with a ring that has a central diamond flanked by a ruby and a blue sapphire set in a wide yellow gold band. The red, white and blue stones are a nod to the French flag, in recognition of Marie’s French heritage.
Princess Marie of Denmark looked ravishing on her wedding day in 2008. Image: Instagram: @scandinavianroyalfamily
Unique and meaningful, Princess Marie’s engagement ring features 3 oval shaped stones – a ruby, a diamond and a blue sapphire set in a wide yellow gold band. Image: @pinterest
The engagement ring of Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, boasts a rare orange diamond that is oval-shaped set in the middle of two white diamonds and flanked by two rows or white diamonds. The orange diamond symbolises the royal house to which the royal family of Netherlands belongs, the House of Orange. Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander married in February 2002.
The beautiful Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. Image: @pinterest
Queen Maxima’s engagement ring is a unique orange diamond flanked by two white diamonds set in rows of platinum also studded with diamonds. Image: @pinterest
Princess Grace of Monaco was one of the most beautiful princesses of all time. A famous actress before she got married, Grace Kelly was presented with a ring that had a 10.47-carat emerald-cut diamond on a platinum mound with baguette-cut diamonds on each side by Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The two got married in April, 1956.
Princess Grace of Monaco as a beautiful bride. Seen here is her 10.47-carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring. Image: @pinterest
Talking of engagement rings, the diamond’s journey from being an expensive status symbol of the royals to being synonymous with the contract of marriage took more than just the turn of a century. Let’s delve into the history of engagement rings for an interesting insight.
Engagement rings special: How diamonds became the stones of love
If finding a soulmate is a wish that almost everyone harbours, the desire to have the big question popped with a solitaire engagement ring in tow is perhaps deeper, and, if turned true, more soul-satisfying. For most of us, a diamond ring seals the commitment, love, and strength that a relationship represents. For that reason, coupled with its high monetary value, the purchase of a diamond is fraught with emotions.
But, the diamond’s link with love is not as old as the millennials would like to believe. While the brilliant stone is being churned out from the earth’s core since a long time, it wasn’t always an engagement ring staple.
A first in the world of opulent engagement rings
Rings of metal sealed betrothals in early times when diamonds were still rare and not heard of as adornments on engagement rings. The year 1867 brought the great discovery of diamonds in Cape Colony (now a province in South Africa), leading to the beginning of a huge increase in the diamond supply. Yet, many years earlier, in 1477 A.D., a young couple had already set the precedence of using a diamond ring to announce their engagement (as an ode to this iconic year, ‘77 Diamonds’ borrowed its numerical figure). When Archduke Maximilian (and later Holy Roman Emperor) proposed as an 18-year-old to Princess Mary of Burgundy with a ring that had tiny and flat diamonds set into the shape of ‘M’, he might have been the first to start the tradition of cementing betrothals with a diamond engagement ring.
The marriage between the archduke and the princess was perhaps a merger, as were most aristocratic liaisons of the time, but the ring was well thought-out and a very public gesture.
The first diamond engagement ring is said to have been given by Archduke Maximilian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. The ring was set with thin, flat pieces of diamonds in the shape of an ‘M’. Image: Instagram: @bousamragemsandjewelsart
The spark that never fades
Ever since, be it the romantic designs of the Victorian era jewellery, the elegance of the Edwardian period, the artistry of the Art-Nouveau age, the geometric designs of the Art Deco time, the glam of the Retro years or the dramatic display in modern-day jewels, diamonds have been the go-to baubles to illustrate commitment and purpose in engagement rings. Their association with a sense of timelessness and pricelessness makes them the ultimate choice of stone for those proposing to their significant other.
Now that the stones are more easily available and eagerly sought, owning a diamond has become the norm, especially with the help of celebrity endorsement.
Hollywood beauty Marilyn Monroe made diamonds, among other things, famous. She, too, was one of the biggest celebrities to make diamond rings a fashion statement in the ’50s. Image: Instagram
Diamonds are forever
The strongest stone in the world with its unmatched lustre continues to embellish jewellery meant to last a lifetime. Though spiritual healers don’t commonly mention diamonds as healing crystals, not many are aware of the attributes that these stones possess, making them the appropriate choice for use in engagement and wedding rings. Believed to improve the users’ stamina, clear their thoughts as well as make them feel more grounded, focused, and committed, diamonds are representative of purpose, dedication, and devotion.
In a time of quick-changing attitudes towards relationships, people might have changed their ideas of what a married couple looks like and aspires for, but the diamonds’ long-standing connection with marriage remains steadfast. After all, a diamond, with its unique flaws, perfectly symbolises the sanctity of every imperfectly perfect marriage.