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Lady Diana's engagement ring is a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire framed by 14 diamonds, made by crown jeweler Garrard in 1981^[1]. She picked it straight from the jeweler's catalog, a break from the royal custom that made headlines at once. Decades later, Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with the same piece while keeping it in the public eye.

Fans love how its deep blue stone pops against any outfit, while the simple cluster setting feels both classic and modern. The Lady Diana ring still feels fresh because of its rich color, family story, and everyday wearability.

In this article, we uncover what makes Lady Diana’s ring more than just a piece of jewelry—and why it still captivates hearts today.

The Design That Sets Lady Diana Ring Apart

As mentioned earlier, the Lady Diana ring features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire at its center. It is surrounded by fourteen round diamonds arranged in a halo and set in 18-karat white gold. Importantly, Garrard offered this design in its 1981 catalog rather than creating a one-of-a-kind piece specifically for the royal family. The symmetrical cluster setting allows the sapphire to sit low on the finger and catch the light with every movement, flashing a deep blue glow.

In the early 1980s, most engagement rings featured a single diamond—usually round or marquise—set on yellow gold bands. Colored center stones were rare, and royal engagement rings were almost always custom-made. By choosing an off-the-shelf sapphire cluster ring, Lady Diana broke with both traditions and helped spark a sapphire halo trend that lasted throughout the decade.

Lady Diana Ring as an Inspiration for Custom Rings

More than a symbol of royal romance, the Lady Diana ring continues to inspire modern love stories—offering both a classic foundation and endless room for personalization.

Draw From the Original

The Lady Diana ring’s standout design—featuring a bold center stone, a precise diamond halo, and an elegant setting—has firmly etched itself into public memory. Originally crafted as a design accessible enough to be copied and adapted, it has since inspired countless custom variations.

Today, the very same ring graces the hand of the current Princess of Wales, keeping its iconic cluster style fresh in the minds of new couples. This lasting visibility demonstrates how a striking colored center stone, a neat diamond halo, and a clean band together create a timeless blueprint for custom engagement rings.

Personalize With Care

Building on the timeless elegance of the Lady Diana ring, personalizing your engagement ring allows you to honor its iconic style while making it uniquely yours.

Keep the oval cut and halo, but swap the sapphire for a teal stone, a pink morganite, or a lab-grown diamond to match your story. Try yellow or two-tone gold if you like warmth while letting the diamonds keep their sparkle. Adjust the halo's size, add slender baguette side stones, or tuck a secret engraving under the basket for a private nod to your relationship.

These tweaks respect the famous outline yet turn the ring into something only the two of you could share.

Create Your Own Timeless Engagement Ring with Romalar

The world keeps coming back to Diana's ring for engagement—for its deep blue oval stone, the crisp diamond halo, and a design that still speaks of commitment decades after it first made headlines.

When it comes to timeless engagement rings, Romalar has earned its place as a trusted name. Whether you're drawn to the quiet elegance of sapphire or inspired by iconic designs like Princess Diana’s blue sapphire ring, we offer two ways to make that vision yours.

You can select our ready-to-ship 1.5 Carat Classic Halo Lab Grown Sapphire Ring Oval Shaped Engagement Ring—an elegant lab-grown sapphire halo ring featuring an oval blue center stone and 12 DEF-color moissanite accents. A timeless, ethical symbol of love.

Or you can work with our custom team to create something entirely your own. Choose your preferred style, gemstone, cut, setting, metal type and color, and ring size—even bring your own center stone if you like. We’ll provide a digital mock-up before casting so you stay in control every step of the way.

Both options honor the legacy of the Lady Diana sapphire engagement ring while allowing your personal story to shine through. Whichever path you choose, you’re not just getting a ring—you’re getting a piece of craftsmanship designed to carry your story forward.

Ready to find your forever ring? Explore our sapphire and custom engagement collections today at Romalar.

Reference

[1]. Jewels of Diana, Princess of Wales. Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewels_of_Diana,_Princess_of_Wales. Accessed on May 27, 2025