The Diamonds Of Princess Diana
Royalty is so often associated with the high fashion, opulent property, and sparkling gemstones that represent their place in society. In this article, we’ll be diving into the pieces of jewelry that were beloved by “The People’s Princess”, Lady Diana.
Sterling Silver ‘D’ Necklace
Coming from an upper-class family, Diana was no stranger to expensive taste before the royal family. One necklace she often wore in her teenage years was a sterling silver necklace with a ‘D’ pendant. While dating Prince Charles, she was photographed wearing this pendant while she was a nursery assistant. The necklace later sold for $8,000 in 2017.
Bridesmaid’s Attire
When Diana was 16, she was a bridesmaid at her sister Jane’s wedding in 1978. She wore a pair of pearl studs and a matching pearl necklace. This set can be spotted in photos of Diana dating back to 1975 when she was only 13! The earrings and necklace were last spotted being worn by Diana in 1990 at the opening of a police station in Edmonton, London.
Three-Layered Pearl Necklace
Arguably the most iconic of Diana’s collection pre-Charles was a three-layered pearl necklace, with a turquoise and pearl cluster clasp that she was given for her 18th birthday from the Spencer family. This was a sort of tradition for the Spencer family, as her two older sisters received similar chokers for their 18th birthdays. Diana later changed the clasp to pearls.
Spencer Wedding Tiara
On her wedding, Diana wore a tiara that was a Spencer family heirloom said to date back to the 18th century that was actually an amalgam of a variety of jewels. Reportedly, the oldest end parts once belonged to Frances Manby, the last Viscountess of Montagu.
Princess Diana Archive, Getty Images
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara was originally crafted in 1913 by Garrard & Co. Queen Mary commissioned the tiara to be made of her own pearls and diamonds, and it was to be a replica of a piece that was owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel. Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara was later passed on to Queen Elizabeth II who would lend it to Princess Diana.
Queen Mary’s Diamond And Emerald Choker
Remaining loyal to Garrards, Queen Mary commissioned a second headpiece in 1921. This piece was an Art Deco choker made from emeralds and diamonds from the Ladies of India, given to Queen Mary in 1911. Much like Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara, the diamond and emerald choker was also inherited by Queen Elizabeth II and was given to Diana as a wedding gift.
11-Strand Pearl Choker
Diana was known for many impressive jewels, some of which included an 11-strand pearl choker which featured 900 pearls and several gorgeous columns of diamonds and rubies. This piece was touted as one of Diana’s favorites. She was often seen wearing it to theaters and film premieres.
Princess Diana Archive, Getty Images
Children’s Caring Cross
Diana, known commonly as The People’s Princess, was no stranger to philanthropy. Lady Diana attended a FEBEM Foundation for Child Welfare event wearing a gold cross and chain, a necklace that was pictured being played with by the children at the fundraiser. Later in 1997, this same necklace was donated to a charity auction by the princess herself.
Spencer Family Diamond And Pearl Drop Necklace
This gorgeous piece is a one-of-a-kind statement necklace passed through generations dating back to the first earl of Spencer in 1744. Long before that, its original owner was the only daughter of King James I, Elizabeth Stuart. Talk about royal ties!
Seven-strand Pearl And Sapphire Choker
Calling this necklace ‘timeless’, ‘elegant’, or ‘opulent’ would be an understatement—this piece is nothing short of a masterpiece. Diana received this uniquely beautiful choker as a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth. It is a stunning collection of seven strands of pearls, finished with a stunning sapphire brooch clasp, leaving anyone within a 50-meter radius speechless and likely blinded.
White House/ Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Wikimedia Commons
Swan Lake Necklace
Worn by Diana to a performance of Swan Lake by the English National Ballet at Royal Albert Hall, this piece was made up of 187 diamonds and five South Sea pearls. The necklace was part of a set made by Garrard and came with a pair of matching earrings. Two months after her outing to the ballet, Princess Diana passed away. After her death, the family allowed for the sale of the set in 2010, estimated to have been worth around $12 million at the time.
Emerald And Diamond Ring
Occasionally, Diana was spotted wearing an emerald cabochon and diamond ring in place of her engagement ring. This emerald stone was a gift from Prince Charles on the first Christmas of their marriage. She was spotted wearing it at a ball in Melbourne in 1985, a banquet in London in 1993, and on her 36th birthday at the Tate Gallery centenary gala dinner in 1997.
Ann Porteus, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Aquamarine Ring
One of Diana’s most well-known accessory staples consists of her many sets of aquamarine pieces. One of the most breathtaking of her aquamarine pieces included an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that she often paired with her Spencer family eternity ring, a piece from her teenage years.
Ceylon Sapphire Engagement Ring
Lady Diana’s most iconic ring was her engagement ring. In 1981, when the Prince finally decided to put a ring on it, he did not take it lightly. The engagement ring that Prince Charles proposed to Diana with was an 18-karat white gold band with a 12-karat oval blue Ceylon Sapphire, encrusted with 14 diamonds. The design of this ever-glorious engagement ring was inspired by a wedding gift given from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria, a sapphire and diamond-encrusted brooch that she wore on her wedding day as her “something blue”.
Welsh Gold Wedding Band
In addition to Diana’s elegant engagement ring, the gold wedding band to finish the suite was in accordance with royal tradition. It was made from one of the last nuggets of soft Welsh gold, from the Clogau St David’s gold mine. The same nugget was used to make the wedding bands of other royals such as the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne. What made Diana’s wedding band stand out was that Prince Charles had the inside engraved with the words “I love you, Diana”.
“Dis-Moi Oui” (“Tell Me Yes”) Ring
The story of the “Dis-moi Oui” ring is absolutely heartbreaking. At a Repossi boutique in Monte Carlo, Dodi Fayed purchased this £11,000 engagement ring that Diana had previously picked out only a day before the tragic death of the couple. It is speculated that Dodi never had the opportunity to propose before their passing as the ring was later found back at his flat.
Gold Kidney Bean-Shaped Earrings
Though these earrings might not sound like standouts from their description, they are at the top of the list for Princess Diana’s most famous earrings as they were the last she ever wore. These simplistic, gold earrings made up the 14th piece of evidence at the scene of the deadly crash. It is said that upon receiving news of Diana’s passing, Nurse Nubmbert asked if the Princess was “wearing her favorite gold earrings”.
Diamond And Emerald Drop Earrings
As vast as her collection was, Princess Diana only had two pieces of emerald jewelry. One was a bracelet she received as a wedding gift from Prince Charles and the other was a matching set of pear-shaped drop earrings he gave to her for her 22nd birthday.
Silver Bow Heart Drop Earrings
This gorgeous pair was custom-made by Butler and Wilson. Diana bought these beautiful studs from Butler and Wilson for herself in the 1980s. The drop heart earrings were made as two separate pairs, one with crystal and one with faux pearls. The variety that this iconic Princess brought to the table was nothing if not elegant.
Rick, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tiffany Earrings
What goes with Wimbledon stadium? Tennis. What goes with tennis? A Tiffany bracelet and set. In 1994 at a tennis tournament at Wimbledon, Diana was spotted wearing a Tiffany bracelet and matching set of Tiffany earrings.
Ross Kinnaird - EMPICS, Getty Images
Greville Pear-Drop Earrings
In 1983, Diana wore this pair on her first official trip to Australia. They were originally part of a collection of 60 jewelry pieces given by Margaret Greville to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The pair was bought from Cartier in 1938 and consisted of two 20-karat drop diamonds, each weighing 4 grams!
Pearl, Sapphire, And Ruby Earrings
It is commonly known that the royal family often does things by the book, however, this stunning piece of jewelry breaks away from tradition. A uniquely mix-and-match style pair of studs was worn by Diana during a visit to South Korea in 1992. The pair consisted of a large sapphire and a large ruby on each side of a beautiful pearl.
Princess Diana Archive, Getty Images
Pearl Studs
If it wasn’t clear from Princess Diana’s numerous pearl chokers, she adored pearls. If anything, her outfits were most often adorned with pearls somewhere from her head to her toes. Some of her all-time most worn pairs of earrings include a simple pair of pearl studs. It is said that while many of her peers in her teenage years wore diamond studs, Diana commonly opted out of the shine and chose to wear innocent and elegant pearl studs.
John Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Diamond And South Sea Pearl Earrings
A truly stunning and timeless set of earrings that was beloved by the Princess was her diamond and South Sea pearl earrings. The circular, diamond-crusted earpiece was paired with a drop pearl held by diamond-encrusted prongs. This set was later passed on to Prince William who gifted them to Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, who had the pearls changed for smaller ones.
Collingwood Pearl Earrings
Added to the collection of wedding gifts from Prince William includes a lovely pair of Collingwood pearl earrings. This was a pair worn by Diana to several social outings and engagements. Along with the diamond and South Sea pearl set, the Princess’s Collingwood pearl earrings are now in the possession of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Princess Diana Archive, Getty Images
The Queen's Pearl Drop Earrings
Unlike most of her notorious pieces, these earrings did not belong to Diana and in fact, belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. This pair was crafted with gems from The Queen’s collection, created by Garrard in a modern gold setting and would often be loaned from The Queen to Princess Diana for her first official visit to Australia.
Pearl And Diamond Button Earrings
Princess Diana was spotted wearing this set when going to see Mozart’s The Magic Flute in London. They closely resembled a pair of The Queen’s favorite earrings, but were likely made from faux materials as they were near, if not completely, identical in shape and size.
Diamond And Emerald Art-Deco Style Bracelet
Diana did not often wear emeralds which is why this bracelet was so unique! Her diamond and emerald art-deco bracelet was one of only two pieces in Diana’s personal collection that featured emeralds. This bracelet was a gift from Prince Charles, often worn in the early days of their relationship as it was yet another wedding gift. The piece was retired for several years until she was spotted wearing it again for her 36th birthday.
Seven-Row Pearl Bracelet
Princess Diana was spotted wearing this elegant wrist piece to the Splendors of the Gonzagas exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1981. After the event, Diana was photographed falling asleep in the vehicle—the photo was then named “The Sleeping Beauty”.
Diamond And Sapphire Cluster Link Bracelet
This bracelet remains a bit mysterious as its origin is still unknown. It was worn by the Princess to a Charity Gala in September of 1996. The bracelet resembles the Saudi Arabian suite given to Diana years previous, however, it has been proven that the bracelet cannot be derived from said suite as the suite’s watch was turned into a set of earrings.
Floral Five-Strand Pearl Bracelet
Now this piece is one associated with several inaccurate facts. It is often misunderstood that Princess Diana had two five-strand pearl bracelets, one with an aquamarine clasp and the other with a flower, when in fact she only had one five-strand pearl bracelet set in 24-karat gold with a double-sided clasp. It is also misconstrued that this piece was part of a set when she started wearing it with a similar aquamarine ring, however, Diana had the bracelet long before and wore it often during the 1980s and even after her divorce from Prince Charles.
Russ2009, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Double Crescent Bracelet
Consisting of a platinum and 18-karat gold setting and 137 round diamonds, this piece was worn by the Princess in 1997 at an auction of her outfits in New York. Still on the market today, the bracelet was originally made in 1944 by Verdura and it is now said that the two interlinked Cs “derive from the cipher of Diana, Roman goddess of the hunt”.
The Queen's Modern Baguette And Brilliants Bracelet
Along with The Queen’s Pearl Drop Earrings, Diana was loaned a stunning bracelet for her first official trip to Australia. The Queen had commissioned this diamond bracelet from Garrard. It featured baguette and brilliant cut diamonds and was often worn by The Queen.
Rick, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Bulgari Bracelet
A gift from Dodi Fayed, this bracelet was made up of a pearl band and was held together at each end by diamond-encrusted dragons. This bracelet was one of Diana’s 14 personal items found at the sight of the notorious car crash on August 31, 1997. It was one of the last pieces that the Princess ever wore and it was tragically broken by the impact.
George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Wikimedia Commons
The Badge Of The Royal Family Order Of Queen Elizabeth II
The most significant of all Princess Diana’s brooches, and one of her most important pieces of jewelry in general, was the Badge of the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II. This brooch was worn strictly to formal occasions and had to be pinned to the left shoulder of its recipient. This honor was presented by Queen Elizabeth II to female members of the British royal family and has most recently been worn by Princess Charlotte of Wales, Princess Diana’s granddaughter.
Queensland State Archives, Wikimedia Commons
Collingwood Diamond Girandole Suite
The Collingwood Diamond Girandole Suite was the suite worn by Diana in her engagement photos. Contrary to popular belief, this set was not owned by Diana but was loaned to her. The Collingwood jewelers were the Spencer family’s favorite, and due to their close relationship, it was only natural that Diana wear one of Collingwood’s sets for her engagement photoshoot. Originally, Collingwood had intended to give Diana the set as a wedding gift, however, the gesture was deemed “inappropriate” by palace officials, and thus, was not approved.
Patrick McKleinschuss, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Saudi Sapphire Suite
Princess Diana had several stunning suites of note, and though all left a crowd speechless, one stands out over the rest: The Saudi sapphire suite. This suite included a diamond tennis necklace with a Burmese sapphire and diamond pendant, a two-row bracelet with a similar design, matching earrings, and a matching ring. The suite was crafted by Asprey and came in a box made of malachite, decorated with a palm tree and crossing swords. Several of the gems from the suite, mainly from the watch, were used by Diana to make other pieces of jewelry, including a pair of stunning stud/drop earrings that have now been passed onto the Duchess of Cambridge.
Queensland State Archives, Wikimedia Commons
Gold Anniversary Charm Bracelet
Of all of Diana’s jewelry pieces, this might contend for most personal. Not often seen in public, this 18-karat gold charm bracelet was a wedding gift from Prince Charles. Each year he would gift her a new charm on their anniversary. These charms included an apple for Diana’s love of New York, a bear for her love of plush toys, a polo cap to represent the Prince’s favorite sport, ballet shoes for her love of ballet, a tiny St Paul’s Cathedral, where the two got married—and a pig. It's believed that the pig must have been an inside joke between Charles and Diana.
Princess Diana Archive, Getty Images
Style Like No Other
From her stunning sapphire engagement ring to her undying love for pearls to some of the most valuable jewelry suites in modern history, Diana, Princess of Wales truly had a style like no other. Though it is easy to get swept away by her stunning pearls and shining diamonds, it is more often acclaimed how easily it was to be swept away by her charisma and kind heart. Though I’m sure her legacy in fashion will live on, her far-too-short life’s imprint will surely never fade.
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