The jewelry collection of Diana, Princess of Wales included numerous important sapphires, from her engagement ring and her pearl choker necklace to her Saudi suite. The group also included this strikingly modern set of sapphire and diamond jewels, a gift from the Sultan of Oman.
The Prince and Princess of Wales made a visit to the Middle East in 1986, including a stop in Oman. There, Sultan Qaboos hosted the couple. Qaboos, who was educated in England and served in the British Army, had significant ties to the Windsors. In a gesture of continuing friendship, he presented Diana with a suite of jewels set with diamonds and sapphires. The earrings, necklace, and bracelet featured design elements typical of the ’80s, as well as an overall crescent motif carried through each piece.
Diana wore the suite for the first time in public a year later during a trip to Germany. For a dinner in Bonn in November 1987, Diana wore the sapphires with the Spencer Tiara and an off-the-shoulder velvet gown by Victor Edelstein. (It’s the famous “Travolta Dress.”)
Here’s a closer look at the sapphire and diamond earrings and necklace from the dinner in Germany. Diana also wore the bracelet on her left wrist.
Back in London, Diana wore pieces from the suite for another event a few weeks later. She arrived at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in December 1987 wearing the earrings, bracelet, and necklace from the suite.
For the gala performance of Cinderella, the jewels were paired with a strapless blue star-spangled gown, made by Murray Arbeid.
Diana packed the jewels in her luggage for another trip abroad a few weeks later. She wore the earrings and necklace from the sapphire suite for a fashion show at the Sydney Opera House in January 1988. This time, she paired the jewels with an electric blue dress by Bruce Oldfield, with blue and hot pink accessories.
Here’s a closer look at the jewels from the appearance in Australia. Di matched her sapphires and her dress with her blue eyeliner—so ’80s!
One of Diana’s final appearances in the sapphires came in October 1995. She wore the complete suite (earrings, necklace, and bracelet) with one of her signature ’90s tank dresses for the gala premiere of the film Haunted.
We’re still waiting for these sapphires to make another appearance, likely on either the Duchess of Cambridge or the Duchess of Sussex. They jewels are definitely a product of their era, but I could see the earrings especially working on either Kate or Meghan with a simple, sleek gown.
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