DIAMOND SAPPHIRE ENGAGEMENT RING

This ring has a large oval sapphire surrounded by 14 round diamonds set in 18K white gold.  The oval sapphire is NOT 18 carats in size as reported after Kate Middleton received this ring.  It is set in 18K white gold which has been misinterpreted as an 18 carat oval sapphire.  A possible carat size (12 carats) and brief history on how Diana selected this ring can be read here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1330366/Prince-Williams-engagement-ring-Kate-Middleton-sapphire-diamonds.html

More likely, the oval sapphire is at most 9 carats.  Based on the size of the sapphire compared to Diana's iris (the blue part of her eye which is approximately 12mm), the oval sapphire is about 13mm x 9mm and the round diamonds close to 3mm in diameter.

When the official engagement photos were released, Diana's engagement ring only had 8 prongs: 2 in each corner.  By December 1981 (this is the earliest photo I could find from books that I own where the ring is clearly visible on Diana's finger), more prongs were added, making it look as it is now on Kate Middleton.

From 'The Divided Prince' p.230 by Christopher Andersen, Vanity Fair 20th Anniversary Issue pp.221-252, September 2003

"    ...Four months after the funeral, it was Burrell who opened the black front door to Kensington Palace and welcomed the boys for one last walk through the apartments they had shared with their mother.  William shook Burrell's hand, but "Harry ran across and hugged me," the butler recalled.  "He knew my heart was breaking as much as theirs."  Then, as a tearful Harry held on tight to Burrell, they walked from room to room, picking out mementos to take with them to their new rooms at St. James's Palace.  Among other things, William chose the Cartier Tank watch that the Princess always wore - a gift from her father, the eight Earl Spencer.  Harry picked out the sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring given by Charles to the blushing "Shy Di" when she was just 19."

Prince William presented his mother's sapphire and diamond engagement ring to Kate Middleton when he asked Kate to marry him.  The official engagement announcement was on Nov. 16, 2010.  Kate Middleton was first seen wearing the ring when the couple made their first public appearance to the press at St. James Palace that same day as seen in these photo galleries: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/ow9kKwBp5NT/Prince+William+Kate+Middleton+St+James+Palace/35rDoje23jo/Kate+Middleton

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/2Kx_DlgccBd/Clarence+House+Announce+Engagement+Prince/Ze5n8NQ2-qY/Kate+Middleton

Close-up of Kate Middleton's engagement ring:

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/YLpvWZ5OPhY/Kate+Middleton+Engagement+Ring/R8jYbQc07rf/Kate+Middleton

Both Prince William and Prince Harry inherited their mother's estate.  Indeed, Prince Harry selected his mother's sapphire and diamond engagement ring as a memento (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1330366/Prince-Williams-engagement-ring-Kate-Middleton-sapphire-diamonds.html)  when they visited Kensington Palace four months after Diana's death.  Even though it was with Prince Harry, this ring remained the property of both brothers.  According to this article (http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20395222_20443190,00.html), the brothers had an agreement that whoever got engaged first would present their mother's engagement ring when they proposed marriage.

CARTIER TRINITY RING AND SIGNET RING

DIAMOND ETERNITY BAND

Picture scanned from 'Princess Diana Lady of Fashion' p.26, Introduction by Martina Shaw, Designed and Produced by Ted Smart and David Gibbon.

Picture scanned from 'The Story of DIANA' p.101 by David Levenson and Trevor Hall, 1985.  This book doesn't have any page numbers so the numbering I used starts immediately after the family tree page.

EMERALD-CUT AQUAMARINE RING

Thanks to JoeK for pointing out to me via e-mail that the aquamarine ring is a separate piece from Diana's 5-strand pearl and aquamarine bracelet.

Photo re-hosted from this link: http://worldroots.com/brigitte/diana_gifs/diana141.jpg

Diana wore both aquamarine ring and bracelet in Australia 1996 for a Dinner Dance at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

Photo re-hosted from this link: http://fashion.about.com/od/celebritystyle/ig/Princess-Diana-Style/Princess-Diana--1996.-4lS.htm

SAPPHIRE CABOCHON RING

Photos taken during Christmas 1982 photo session at Kensington Palace.  This seems to be the one and only time Diana wore this sapphire cabochon ring.  Perhaps she was trying to protect Prince William from getting scratched by her engagement ring during this photo session.

Pictures provided by MClark via e-mail.

BLUE OVAL STONE RING

At first glance, this ring looks like the emerald cut aquamarine but close-ups reveal it is an oval blue stone.  Diana wears this blue oval stone ring with her diamond eternity band.  Not sure what year this picture was taken.  If anyone can provide more information, please let me know.  The newspaper mentions that Diana is covering this gem.

Pictures provided from MClark's scrapbook via e-mail.

EMERALD AND DIAMOND RING

This ring was pointed out to me via e-mail by Boris from The Royal Jewels of World Message Board.  Instead of her engagement ring, Diana wears what looks to be an emerald cabochon and diamond ring.  The two stones are not aligned but are at an angle to one another, very similar to a style of a bypass ring.

Picture scanned from my own personal scrapbook.  I cut this picture out from Royalty but have no clue what issue it was.

The pictures above and below are of the same event.

This black and white photo shows the diamond and emerald ring from a different perspective.  I am a bit confused by the dating on this.  Corbis dates the event as January 1988 but the photo below dates it as November 4, 1985.  Can anyone verify if there were two different events that Diana wore this dress?

These pictures were copied from an Ebay auction from Ebay seller pumpparkphotos.

Diana wore this ring again in 1993 at the event below.  In my Christie's auction catalogue, 'Dresses from the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales,' there is a huge picture of the photo below (in page 95) and the ring is quite visible with green and diamond stones.  In order to scan a better picture of her hand, I would have to break my catalogue which is something I am unwilling to do.  Sorry.  Perhaps someone out there has a better picture of Diana from both these events.

This picture was copied from an Ebay auction from Ebay seller montessorimommy1.