Diana's Jewels: The Sapphire, the Pearls & the Legacy

Few royal jewellery collections are as beloved, or as instantly recognisable, as that of Diana, Princess of Wales. Decades after her death, her most famous pieces still capture the public imagination, not simply for their beauty, but for the stories woven through them. Diana’s jewels have taken on a life of their own: worn again by a new generation, admired anew, and carrying her memory forward in the most tangible way possible.

Three pieces above all define her legacy in jewels: the sapphire engagement ring that now sits on the hand of the Princess of Wales, the pearl choker that became a signature look, and the Spencer family tiara she wore on her wedding day. Each tells its own part of her story.

Here is the story of Diana’s most famous jewels (the sapphire, the pearls and the tiara) and the legacy they carry today.

The sapphire engagement ring

The single most famous piece of jewellery in the modern royal story is Diana’s engagement ring: a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a halo of diamonds, set in white gold. Chosen in 1981 from a Garrard catalogue (notably, a piece anyone could have bought, rather than a bespoke royal commission), it was instantly, sensationally famous.

Its story took a beautiful turn a generation later. When Prince William proposed to Catherine Middleton in 2010, he gave her his late mother’s ring, saying he wanted Diana to be part of the day. Catherine has worn it ever since, and the sight of that unmistakable blue sapphire on her hand is one of the most moving threads connecting Diana’s legacy to the royal family today.

The Spencer tiara

For her 1981 wedding, Diana wore not a piece from the Royal Collection but a tiara from her own family: the Spencer Tiara, a delicate, floral diamond piece that had been worn by Spencer women, including her own sisters, at their weddings before her. Choosing a family heirloom over a royal one was a small, telling gesture of identity on the biggest day of her life.

The tiara’s soft, romantic design (diamond flowers and scrolls) became instantly iconic, immortalised in countless photographs of the world’s most-watched wedding. It remains a Spencer family piece, a lovely reminder that Diana’s jewellery story began not with the Crown but with her own family’s history.

The pearl choker

Away from the grandest jewels, Diana’s most personal signature was arguably her pearl choker, a multi-strand pearl necklace, often with a sapphire or diamond clasp, that she wore repeatedly through the 1980s. It became such a hallmark of her look that it is instantly associated with her to this day.

Pearls suited Diana’s evolving style beautifully: classic yet modern, elegant without being ostentatious, and versatile enough to dress up or down. The choker in particular captured a certain 1980s glamour that was entirely her own, and it remains one of the most referenced pieces when her style is discussed. Our piece on Diana’s enduring style explores the wider wardrobe that pearls so often completed.

Other treasured pieces

Diana’s jewellery box held many other memorable pieces: the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara, on loan from the Royal Collection, which she wore often and which Catherine has since revived; a beloved sapphire and diamond bracelet; and various brooches and earrings that appeared again and again in her most photographed looks.

Together they built a jewellery style that was recognisably hers: a mix of grand royal pieces worn with real personality, and simpler, more personal jewels chosen because she loved them. It set her apart from a more formal royal jewellery tradition and made her look feel human and wearable, however grand the occasion.

A legacy worn forward

What makes Diana’s jewels so resonant today is how directly they have been carried forward. The sapphire ring on Catherine’s hand and the Lover’s Knot Tiara at state occasions are not museum pieces but living jewels, worn in public life by the next generation, a beautiful, ongoing tribute that keeps Diana present in the family’s story.

It is jewellery as memory: each time one of her pieces appears, it is both an object of beauty and an act of remembrance. Few royal legacies are carried forward so visibly, or so movingly.

Get the look

You need not own royal jewels to borrow a little of Diana’s signature style. A halo-set sapphire ring, a multi-strand pearl choker, or delicate floral diamante pieces all echo her most iconic looks beautifully, and British jewellers such as Astley Clarke offer elegant, wearable interpretations of exactly this kind of classic jewellery.

Choose pieces with the same qualities that defined hers: classic shapes, a touch of romance, and jewellery worn with confidence rather than kept for best. That, more than any specific gem, was the real secret of Diana’s jewellery style.

Why Diana’s jewels endure

Diana’s jewels endure because they carry both beauty and story in equal measure: pieces that are instantly recognisable, deeply personal, and now woven into the next chapter of the royal family through the women who wear them today. They are jewellery as living history.

That is their lasting power: not locked away, but worn forward, keeping her memory bright. Browse more of our Royal Style & Fashion stories to explore more of the jewels and style behind the crown.

Frequently asked questions

Who wears Diana’s engagement ring now?

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, wears Diana’s sapphire engagement ring. Prince William proposed with it in 2010, explaining that he wanted his late mother to be part of the moment.

What tiara did Diana wear on her wedding day?

Diana wore the Spencer Tiara, a delicate floral diamond piece belonging to her own family rather than the Royal Collection, which had also been worn by her sisters at their weddings.

What was Diana’s signature jewellery piece?

Diana’s most recognisable signature was her multi-strand pearl choker, often finished with a sapphire or diamond clasp, which she wore frequently through the 1980s and which remains instantly associated with her style.

What happened to Diana’s jewellery collection?

Diana’s jewellery was largely divided between her sons, and several of her most famous pieces are now worn publicly by the next generation, including her engagement ring and the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara, both worn by Catherine.

Is the Spencer Tiara part of the Royal Collection?

No. The Spencer Tiara belongs to Diana’s own family, the Spencers, rather than the Royal Collection. It has been worn by several Spencer women at their weddings, including Diana in 1981.

How can I get Diana’s jewellery style?

Look for classic, romantic pieces: a halo-set sapphire ring, a multi-strand pearl choker, or delicate floral diamante jewellery. Wearing them with confidence, rather than saving them for best, is as much a part of the look as the pieces themselves.

Jewellery provenance is drawn from widely published royal-jewellery references; details are described as of 2026.