Princess Diana’s beautiful halo engagement ring is truly one of the most beautiful rings of all times. This striking ring is worn today by Kate Middleton as it was given to her by Prince William after he proposed to her back in 2010. But how could such a fascinating piece of jewellery be considered so controversial?

  • The halo ring: the timeless classic
  • What made this unique royal engagement ring so controversial?

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The Halo Ring: the Timeless Classic

A halo ring is essentially a solitaire diamond or gemstone  with a halo of smaller stones that surrounds complements it.

The centre stone can be different shapes, from cushion to oval, emerald or even marquise.

Generally, the halo is composed of considerably smaller stones that are prong set tightly along the centre stone, surrounding it completely.

The halo ring can be designed in the following ways: the centre stone can be a diamond, surrounded by diamonds or by coloured gemstones such as rubies or emeralds for a little more colour. Or the solitaire could be a coloured gemstone encircled with white diamonds, thereby leaving the centre stage for the gemstone itself.

This is the perfect design if you wish to add a lot of sparkle. The halo style is also a good option when you decide to buy a smaller centre stone, as the halo gives the ring a bigger feel, thereby adding effect to the final design.

What Made This Unique Royal Engagement Ring So Controversial?

Kate Middleton’s engagement ring consists of a magnificent 12ct. Ceylon sapphire set in white gold and surrounded by fourteen beautiful diamonds.

The ring is undoubtedly a timeless classic,  elegant and completely worthy of royalty, which is why we are all curious to know what actually made it controversial.

When Prince Charles proposed to Diana, he presented her with a few rings from the crown jeweller Garrard, and it was Diana who personally chose the sapphire halo ring for her engagement.

The controversy stems from the fact that apparently, the ring was featured in Garrard’s catalogue and, in a way, available for anyone who wanted to buy it.

The ring was not bespoke for Diana. Since the ring was not custom-made for Diana, it became controversial for the Royal family, where no one had worn a non-bespoke ring before.

But this remarkable sapphire ring was Diana’s lifetime favourite, as she continued wearing it even after she and Prince Charles had divorced. The ring is as unique and elegant as she was, and looks perfect on Kate Middleton today.

Are you curious to see what a halo ring looks like and discover the various ways it can be designed? BAUNAT offers a wonderful collection of halo rings available directly online and delivered at your doorstep within days. And should you instead prefer designing your own halo engagement ring, we have a talented team of experts and goldsmiths that would be delighted to assist you with the process.
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