Sophie Wessex's Gorgeous $148k Engagement Ring Has Sweet Link To Princess Diana

May 27, 2021

The royal family is known for their high level of class and sophistication, as well as their impeccable sense of style and grace. While Kate Middleton’s engagement ring from Prince William originally belonged to his mother, Princess Diana, another member of the royal family also had a ring in remembrance of the late Princess of Wales. 

Although Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, has been married to Prince Edward since 1999, the significance of her engagement ring has recently been all the buzz. The lovely couple met at a tennis event in 1993. After a few years of dating, the two announced their engagement in January 1999. Edward and Sophie were then married at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle a few months later on June 19, 1999. Edward was named as the Earl of Wessex just a few hours before the gorgeous ceremony.

The members of the royal family are no strangers to the spotlight as they have been making headlines all their lives. From their beautiful proposals to their extravagant and elegant weddings, this family sure knows how to showcase heartwarming romantic moments.

Each married woman in the royal family has been given her own unique engagement ring, although many of them have ties to one another. While the family typically opts for the same jeweler, it makes sense that some of them resemble each other in appearance. The Countess of Wessex’s ring has a sweet link to Diana, as the two rings came from a similar source and are slightly alike in appearance.

The marriage of William and Kate was a beautiful spectacle that the world witnessed in 2011, and their relationship has been gracing headlines in the news ever since. Before that, William proposed to the Duchess of Cambridge with the same diamond and sapphire cluster ring that his father had given to his mother. The Court Jeweller reported that this was William’s way of making sure his late mother was included in the engagement and the wedding.

According to the Court Jeweller, Diana was offered a selection of engagement rings to choose from when the Prince of Wales was planning on proposing to her. The two selected Garrand, a classic jeweler for the royal family, and Diana was enamored with a diamond and sapphire cluster ring set in white gold.

Charles was not the only man in the family to opt for Garrand when it came time to find the perfect ring to ask for his partner’s hand in marriage. Princess Anne also received a ring from Garrand when her first husband, Mark Phillips, proposed to her in 1973. The Court Jeweller reported that her “ring featured a central sapphire flanked by a pair of diamonds.” While her second ring from Sir Timothy Laurence also had a sapphire, it was not from the royal family’s go-to jeweler.

Although Prince Harry did not use Garrand to design the ring he proposed to Meghan Markle, the ring also has a sweet tie to Diana. He proposed to the Duchess of Sussex at Kensington Palace in 2017 with a gold ring crafted by Cleave and Co. While the central diamond was sourced from Botswana, the two smaller diamonds along the sides came from Diana’s personal collection, according to the Court Jeweller.

The House of Garrand has been in business since 1735, with origins being traced back to London’s west end. This year was monumental for the jewelry company as it was the first royal commission Garrand received from Frederick, Prince of Wales. According to Garrand’s official website, this was the start of a beautiful relationship with the royal family as plenty of other family members have chosen the jeweler when it came time to find a ring for their special day.

Garrand is responsible for many other pieces of jewelry worn by the royal family, such as handcrafted tiaras, brooches and necklaces. It was also the home for the creation of Queen Mary’s consort crown in 1911. Garrand has described their process on how to create such perfect pieces for the sophisticated family. The biography reads as follows: 

“Every piece is developed to achieve a balance between tradition and design so as to bring out the natural beauty of the stones. The result is a quintessentially British hallmark of heritage, detail and craft.”

While Sophie’s ring is not identical to Diana’s, the two share a remarkable resemblance as they are both from Garrand and are both set in white gold. Edward had chosen the same company to work with as Prince Charles, tying the members of the royal family even closer together. According to the Court Jeweller, Sophie’s ring is a central two-carat oval diamond with smaller heart-shaped stones surrounding the centerpiece. Along with being absolutely stunning to look at, the ring cost an astounding $148,000.

What do you think about Sophie’s engagement ring? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your family and friends to find out what they think, too.