How Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring Became a Global Icon

Every year on July 1st, we honor the life and legacy of Princess Diana, an icon of compassion, elegance, and enduring influence. Among the most recognizable symbols of her legacy is the Princess Diana engagement ring, a mesmerizing sapphire surrounded by diamonds that continues to captivate the world to this day. As we mark her birthday, we look back at the story behind this legendary ring and the controversy surrounding it.

Diana: The People’s Princess

Before the world knew her as Princess Diana, she was Lady Diana Spencer: young, shy, and unknowingly about to change the face of the British monarchy. Born into British nobility on July 1, 1961, Diana’s life transformed overnight when Prince Charles proposed in 1981. But it wasn’t just her fairytale wedding that captured the world’s attention; it was the ring. Diana herself later became a symbol of grace and rebellion, humanity, and heartbreak. She broke convention with her compassion, her candor, and even, unintentionally, with her choice of engagement ring.

Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring

It wasn’t love at first sight, but it was certainly a moment the world wouldn’t forget.

When Prince Charles proposed to Lady Diana Spencer in February 1981, it was in a way that was, by royal standards, relatively quiet. But even in that intimate moment, the choice of the ring would end up making headlines across the globe.

After Diana accepted his proposal, she was invited to choose her ring from a selection presented by a famous jeweler at the time. A tray was brought out, filled with stunning options: emeralds, rubies, diamonds, all sparkling under the light. Among them sat one striking piece: a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire, encircled by 14 round diamonds, all set in 18-karat white gold.

It wasn’t the most expensive ring. It wasn’t custom-made. In fact, anyone could have bought the exact same ring from Garrard’s catalogue at the time.

But that’s the one she picked.

Why Did Diana Pick a Non-Traditional Engagement Ring?

Some said she chose it because it reminded her of her mother’s engagement ring. Others believed she was simply drawn to the boldness of the sapphire, the way it stood out. Even the jeweler’s staff was surprised she gravitated toward a non-traditional engagement ring. Still, Diana was never one to blend in.

The royal family reportedly raised eyebrows. The fact that the ring wasn’t bespoke and was available to the public made it feel, in their eyes, too "common." But for Diana, perhaps that was exactly the point. She didn’t want a ring that screamed aristocracy; she rather wanted one that spoke to her. And just like that, it became one of the most iconic engagement rings in history.

And speak it did. With that single decision, Diana brought sapphires into the spotlight, ignited global demand for colored gemstone engagement rings, and unknowingly began rewriting the rules of royal fashion, just as she would do again and again in the years to come.

After Diana: Who Wears the Royal Sapphire Ring Now?

Following her tragic death in 1997, Princess Diana’s engagement ring disappeared from the public eye until 2010.

Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with that same sapphire ring, telling the world how much his mother means to him. With that gesture, the ring became a living memory of the people’s beloved Diana, passed down not just through family but through history.

Today, the ring sits on the hand of the Princess of Wales, worn by a woman who, much like Diana, has redefined what it means to be royal.

Diana’s Sapphire Signature

The engagement ring wasn’t a one-off. Diana had a known affinity for sapphires. She was often seen wearing a blue sapphire necklace (famously repurposed from a brooch gifted by the Queen Mother), as well as sapphire earrings and bracelets. Sapphire became her signature. And in many ways, her jewelry choices reflected the same qualities that made her unforgettable: bold, unconventional, and deeply human.