Princess Diana’s Heirlooms: Upgraded Engagement Ring & More

Meghan Markle may have left her royal duties behind in 2020, but she still managed to get her hands on some of the Windsor family’s precious heirlooms. Since marrying Prince Harry, the Duchess of Sussex has become a style icon akin to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Her fashion choices, especially her jewelry, have captivated royal fans and fashion enthusiasts around the world, leading many to seek out Markle’s favorite pieces online.

Over the years, Meghan Markle has sported an impressive array of gold, diamonds, and other rare gems, some of which she inherited from Princess Diana. Here are a few of the most notable pieces in Markle’s coveted collection and the brands she loves most.

Upon their engagement in 2017, Prince Harry surprised Markle with diamonds from his mother’s personal collection. Her engagement ring, crafted by Cleave & Company, features a 3-carat cushion-cut center stone from Botswana, flanked by two smaller diamonds from a brooch that belonged to Princess Diana. Originally set in gold, the ring received an upgrade in 2019 when Markle replaced it with a pave band, increasing its value to around $200,000.

Markle was first seen wearing Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring on her wedding day, May 19, 2018. She paired her “something blue” with a white Stella McCartney gown at her reception. She has since worn the substantial bauble (estimated to weigh anywhere from 13 to 30 carats) on multiple occasions, including during a royal tour of Tonga in 2018.

The emerald-cut aquamarine was initially a gift to Diana from her friend Lucia Flecha de Lima. Asprey mounted it onto a gold setting between three symmetrical rows of small solitaire diamonds in 1996. Today, the ring is valued at approximately $90,000.

In 2018, the Duchess showcased Diana’s gold cuff bracelet during her royal tour of Australia with Prince Harry. The ribbed bracelet features two cabochon sapphires and small diamonds. Markle later wore the heirloom at the London premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s Totem in 2019 and the 2022 NAACP Image Awards.

Diana initially wore the bracelet in 1990 during a visit to The Lord Gage Centre for the elderly in London. It later appeared at an Alfred Dunhill event in 1994, and it is now estimated to be worth $30,000.

Markle has also worn Diana’s tennis bracelet on several occasions since 2018. It notably appeared during her televised interview with Oprah in 2021. According to CBS News, Prince Harry had two diamonds removed from the Cartier piece to create Markle’s engagement ring. The single-strand bracelet features approximately 20 carats of diamonds and is valued at $150,000.

Diana was photographed wearing the tennis bracelet at a preview of her 1997 Christie’s dress auction in London and at a Red Cross gala earlier that year.

Ahead of her first official royal engagement alongside Queen Elizabeth II in 2018, the monarch gifted Markle a pair of pearl and diamond earrings. The two attended the opening of the Mersey Gateway bridge and visited the Storyhouse Theater that day. Markle later wore the earrings at Queen Elizabeth II’s memorial service and funeral in 2022.

Markle’s relationship with Birks began while living in Toronto, where “Suits” was filmed. Introduced to the company by her friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney, she now owns several Birks pieces, including earrings and bracelets. Notably, she wore Birks yellow gold and opal earrings ($930) on the day of her engagement announcement in 2017.

Founded by British immigrant Henry Birks in 1879, the luxury jeweler debuted its iconic blue box — akin to Tiffany’s trademark packaging — in 1920. Markle’s collection includes the hexagonal Bee Chic and Snowflake stackable bands ($2,800 and $4,700), which she wore at Trooping the Colour in 2018. For one of her final public engagements as a working royal in 2020, she selected Birks Snowflake earrings ($11,800), adorned with 136 diamonds set in 18-karat white gold.

Pippa Small is another favorite of Markle’s. Founded in London in 2007, the brand specializes in ethically made gold pieces crafted by local artisans from Asia and South America. Markle has been spotted wearing several Pippa Small pieces at royal events and on television. Notably, she donned a set of diamond jewelry ($775 to $5,000) by the brand at Princess Eugenie’s wedding in 2018 and a Pippa Small aquamarine pendant necklace ($2,150) for her 2021 Oprah interview.

The Duchess is also a longtime fan of Cartier. She has owned one of the brand’s signature gold Love bangles ($4,750 and up) since at least 2011, almost a decade before marrying into the royal family. She wore Cartier on her wedding day, selecting a diamond-encrusted bracelet ($150,000) for the ceremony and matching drop earrings ($66,000) for the reception. Founded in 1847 by jeweler and watchmaker Louis-François Cartier, the luxury house is considered one of the world’s most prestigious brands, known for catering to royal and celebrity clientele with quality gemstones and timepieces.

Other Cartier pieces in Markle’s collection include a Juste Un Clou collar ($16,200), worn during a television appearance, and diamond Galanterie studs worth $16,200. Markle owns two Cartier Tank Française watches: a yellow gold and steel timepiece she plans to pass down to her daughter and a yellow gold heirloom once owned by Princess Diana. The latter, gifted by Prince Harry, was first seen publicly in 2020. The same model currently retails for upwards of $22,000, though Diana’s watch is likely worth much more due to its historical value.

Source: article sources