Laced with legacy, dripping in diamonds, and wrapped in stories that will go down in history, royal engagement rings are remarkable. Whether they were designed by the court jeweller, or a luxury royal designer, or they were inherited from another royal family member, the world is inspired by these timeless designs, which are usually worth a staggering sum of money.
However, while some engagement rings capture the limelight, others take a more subtle approach. Unlike many of the royal family rings which feature precious gemstones and diamonds up to 12ct, both Princess Anne and daughter, Zara Tindall opted for low-key engagement rings, that shimmer in their own unique way.
Engagement ring specialists at Steven Stone have revealed everything you need to know about the rings, including their secret similarity.
Princess Anne
Timothy Laurence, a commander in the Royal Navy, met Princess Anne while he was serving on the Royal Yacht Britannia. The pair were married in late 1992, however rather than a lavish royal ceremony, the event had to take place in in Scotland since the Church of England did not allow remarriages after divorce.
The Princess Royal wore a simple, elegant white suit and added a small spray of flowers to her hair instead of a veil. The two lovers kept their relationship private and low-key and were rarely photographed or seen together.
Princess Anne’s engagement ring from Tim contains a 3ct oval-cut cabochon sapphire, framed by a cluster of three small diamonds on either side – it’s very similar to her first engagement ring from her first husband, Mark Phillips which also features an oval sapphire stone and clusters of diamonds.
It’s interesting that Princess Anne received sapphire engagement rings rather than traditional diamond rings, as it suggests she feels a connection to this precious gemstone.
According to our experts, on today’s market, a ring like this would be worth around £25,000.
Zara Tindall
When Mike Tindall proposed to Zara, he chose a four-claw split shoulder design with several pavé set diamonds, complete with a single solitaire diamond in the centre.
A lot of thought went into Zara’s engagement ring design, with Mike taking into consideration his future wife’s sporting career – it’s thought that the ring deliberately has a low profile setting, allowing Zara to still be able to wear it while competing in equestrian events.
The ring combines a traditional style with a twist of modern design. The classic round diamond looks to be around 1.5ct, giving the ring an estimated value of around £15,000. However, considering it’s worn by the granddaughter of the Queen, it comes with a legacy which makes it priceless.
“While the two rings both have different designs and include different stones – Princess Anne’s features a 3 carat sapphire and Zara’s features a 1.5 carat diamond – they do have one thing in common. Both of the rings are notably understated in comparison to many other famous engagement rings, which ensures that the royals can wear them on a day to day basis.
Both rings feature modest stones, especially in comparison to Kate Middleton’s 12ct Ceylon sapphire, which is worth around a staggering £300,000.”
maxwell stone, creative director, steven stone
Are you looking for a solitaire engagement ring like Zara Tindall’s? Perhaps you’d prefer a sapphire engagement ring like Princess Anne’s? Take a look at our full collection of ready to wear and bespoke designs.
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