There’s no denying the intriguing appeal of celebrity engagement
rings. Just this summer, the likes of Scarlett
Johansson, Sarah
Hyland, and Kristen
Wiig all revealed their newly acquired rings, each one of them
unique and beautiful. But if you ask me, Hollywood’s engagement
rings can’t quite compete with those of royals around the
world—especially considering the life-altering, weighty
importance of marrying into a royal family and taking on a new set
of global duties. 

To offer expert insight into the most expensive royal engagement
rings, I tapped Kathryn Money, VP of strategy and merchandising for

Brilliant Earth, a company that specializes in ethically
sourced fine jewelry (going well
beyond just conflict-free diamonds). I supplied Money with a
list of my eight favorite royal engagement rings and she shared
her estimated price for each ring, along with fun facts you might
not have known. Scroll down to see how the Brilliant Earth
executive ranks the most expensive royal engagement rings. 

“Queen
Letizia’s non-traditional ring does not include a center diamond or
gemstone,” Money says. “Instead, her sophisticated band features 16
vertically set baguette-cut diamonds in a white gold channel
setting. Depending on the quality and specific characteristics of
the diamonds, we estimate the cost of the ring at approximately
$20,000 to $25,000.” 

“Crown
Princess of Denmark Mary’s original engagement ring featured an
estimated one and a half–carat emerald-cut diamond flanked by two
emerald-cut rubies, and since her wedding, she has added two
additional diamond baguettes on either side of the rubies,” Money
told Who What Wear. “Crown Prince Frederik chose the ring to
represent the colors of the Danish flag. Depending on the quality
and specific characteristics of the diamond and gemstones, we
estimate the cost of the original ring at approximately $25,000 to
$30,000.”

“Similar
to her mother’s famous ring, which featured a Burmese ruby
surrounded by diamonds, Princess Eugenie’s engagement ring features
a unique pinkish orange-hued Padparadscha sapphire with a
distinctive floral halo of pear and round brilliant diamond accents
on a Welsh gold band,” Money says. “We estimate that the center
stone is a 3-carat oval brilliant Padparadscha sapphire, surrounded
by pear and round diamonds totaling about two and a half to three
carats. We estimate that Princess Eugenie’s feminine and
vintage-inspired ring costs approximately $30,000 tp $50,000,
depending on the quality and specific characteristics of the
gemstones.”

“Prince
Albert proposed to Princess Charlene with an impressive ring
featuring a three- to four-carat pear-shaped diamond as the center
stone,” Money told Who What Wear. “The elegant ring is accented
with round diamonds cascading down the shoulders of the band,
creating a uniquely royal look. We estimate that Princess
Charlene’s ring costs approximately $55,000 to $65,000, depending
on the quality and specific characteristics of the diamonds.”

“The
gorgeous art deco style ring Prince Charles used to propose to
Camilla in 2005 features a lovely five-carat emerald-cut diamond in
the center, flanked by three diamond baguettes on each side,” Money
says. “We estimate replicating this royal family heirloom would
cost approximately $70,000 to $100,000, but since the ring once
belonged to the Queen Mother, Prince Charles’s grandmother, it is
priceless due to its cultural significance.”

“Prince
Harry custom-designed Meghan’s engagement ring, featuring a
five-carat center cushion cut diamond framed by two 0.75 carat
round diamonds from Princess Diana’s personal collection,” Money
says. “Updated from its original plain band style, the gorgeous
trio of diamonds are now set in a thin micro-pavé band. The center
stone’s Botswana origin is reflective of Prince Harry and
Meghan’s personal connection to the country and their shared
commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Our
estimated cost to replicate the look of this ring would be upward
of $120,000, assuming a five-carat cushion-cut center diamond with
rare, high-quality characteristics. However, given the use of
Princess Diana’s heirloom diamonds as the side stones, this ring
is truly priceless.”

“The
engagement ring chosen by Prince Rainier III of Monaco for Grace
Kelly featured a showstopping emerald-cut center diamond weighing
in at an estimated 10.5 carats,” Money told us. “Set in platinum
with two baguette accent diamonds, this exquisite ring reflects
Grace Kelly’s luxe and sophisticated style perfectly. We estimate
that Princess Grace of Monaco’s ring would cost $550,000 or more
to re-create, but the iconic original is priceless.”

“Kate
Middleton’s exquisite engagement ring, featuring a deep blue
12-carat sapphire surrounded by a halo of 14 round diamond accents
set on an 18K white gold band, was originally selected by Princess
Diana in 1981 shortly after accepting Prince Charles’s proposal.
The stunning design is reminiscent of a brooch Prince Albert had
custom made for Queen Victoria before their wedding in 1840. The
historical and cultural significance of Kate’s ring makes its value
very difficult to estimate, and we would contend that the ring is
priceless.”

Next, I spent four
hours on Etsy finding the best vintage jewelry picks. 

from Purple Style | Top Fashion News https://ift.tt/3060ub6