Everything We Know About Meghan Markle's Stunning Engagement Ring
By now you probably know that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are most definitely a couple. After months of keeping their relationship quiet and avoiding the press, they have finally declared their love after a whirlwind romance. Naturally, the whole world is clamoring for details about the relationship between the royal and the humanitarian, but one of the most pressing questions is what Markle's engagement ring looks like. Here is everything we know about it so far!
She could have had Princess Diana's sapphire ring
The Daily Star reported that after Princess Diana tragically died in 1997, Harry chose to take her sapphire engagement ring. It's worth noting that the tabloid spoke with an anonymous source, reportedly close to the royal family, meaning this is unconfirmed. The source said: "After Diana died, the boys both chose a keepsake.... William picked his mum's Cartier watch, and Harry picked her sapphire and diamond engagement ring." The source continued, explaining that the brothers agreed that their mother's ring would go to the brother who got engaged first.
When William became engaged to Kate Middleton, Harry supposedly gave the heirloom to his brother to pass on to his future bride. The iconic ring was not custom made, as is traditional for royal brides, but was selected from a catalog by Diana herself. Had Harry held onto the ring, it would likely be gracing Markle's finger right now.
Harry designed it himself
While Markle's sparkler is custom made, Harry didn't leave it up to the jewelers to design the ring. Instead, it was revealed in an exclusive interview with the BBC that he had designed his future bride's ring on his own. "It's beautiful, and he designed it," said Markle. "It's incredible." This incredibly romantic gesture bodes well for the couple's life together.
It's yellow gold
Perhaps it's a good thing that Princess Diana's engagement ring was given to Kate Middleton. While Markle would no doubt have treasured it, the band of Diana's ring is made of 18 carat white gold. It's a lovely ring, but Harry decided to have Markle's engagement ring made with a yellow gold band, as yellow gold is Meghan's "favorite."
The center diamond is from Botswana
The center stone of Markle's ring comes from Botswana, a country that has special significance for the happy couple. The pair went on a camping trip there early in their courtship. Harry has made many visits to the country since he was 13 years old and is Patron of Rhino Conservation Botswana. It seems fitting that a stone from this country is the focal point of Markle's engagement ring.
The other stones belonged to Princess Diana
The ring features a trio of stones. The smaller diamonds which flank the primary stone were taken from Princess Diana's collection. Like his brother, William, Harry wanted to make sure that his mother would never be forgotten. While William gave his mother's engagement ring to his future bride, Harry chose to honor his mother by passing on gems that had once been hers.
Markle told the BBC "it's so important to me to know that she's a part of this with us... It's incredibly special. "
It was made by Cleave and Company
While Harry designed his fiancee's engagement ring himself, he left the actual jewelry-making to the professionals. Markle's ring was made by Cleave and Company, who operate as the royal family's official jewelers. Cleave and Company's director, Stephen Connelly, spoke to Professional Jeweller about the ring, saying "Cleave & Company are greatly honoured to have been of service and we wish Prince Henry and his fiancé the very best."
It has roughly 6.5 carats in total
Kathryn Money of the jewelry company Brilliant Earth told Money that Markle's engagement ring is roughly 6.5 total carats, with the center stone being around 5 carats. While stunning, this is comparatively simple, especially when contrasted with Princess Diana's ring, the center sapphire of which is an astonishing 12 carats, surrounded by 14 diamonds. While it may be understated, the ring comes with a lot of sentimental value built in. "This ring is truly priceless with unmatched cultural significance," said Money.
It's worth a lot of money
The ring might be simple, but it cost a pretty penny. "There is no way for anyone to put a value on the whole ring," said Michael Fried, CEO of Diamond Pro. "Having diamonds from the royal collection that Princess Diana wore makes the ring priceless."
The stones could be worth as much as $350,000, depending on their quality. "A three-carat diamond like that should cost around $200,000, through the diamond qualities us non-Royal folk usually go with would allow us to get a similar sized diamond for about $80,000," said Fried.
One thing that is certain is that Markle's custom-made ring cost quite a bit more than Princess Diana's. It's been reported that Diana's sapphire stone was worth $25,000 when it was mined, although it's estimated to be worth well over half a million dollars today.
You can get a similar ring for a fraction of the cost
If you are in love with Markle's ring but are (understandably) put off by its high price tag, there are plenty of options for you to get the ring of your dreams. Australian jeweler Prouds has a smaller trilogy ring for $1,800. Etsy also has many options, with some lookalikes costing less than $1,000. Walmart has an even more affordable ring; their cubic zirconia trilogy ring costs just $38.98. Don't think you can only wear this ring as an engagement ring, either. It never hurts to add a little sparkle to your finger. Go ahead and treat yourself!