royal engagement

British Royal Engagement Rings

09.06.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

Vanity Fair

With yesterday’s news that Prince Harry’s girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has given a candid interview to Vanity Fair, royal reporters appear to be hunkering down for imminent engagement news. While we wait to hear when Harry’s popped the question, let’s have a look at some of the rings worn by British royal brides.

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The Duke of Edinburgh proposed to Britain’s current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1947 with a diamond ring made by Philip Antrobus. He commissioned the ring, which features a round three-carat brilliant stone flanked by smaller pavé-set diamonds set in platinum. The diamonds in the ring are from a tiara given to his mother, Princess Andrew, by Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra of Russia. (Read much more about the ring over here!)

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When the Prince of Wales proposed to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, he offered her a selection of engagement rings to choose from. She picked this diamond and sapphire cluster ring, set in white gold, from Garrard’s existing stock. (More on this very famous ring over here!)

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Sarah Ferguson’s vibrant red hair was on the Duke of York’s mind when he selected this diamond and ruby cluster engagement ring for her in 1986. The ring, which was made by Garrard and features a bright Burmese ruby, is still in Sarah’s collection post-divorce. Sarah wasn’t the only recent Windsor bride to wear a ruby engagement ring; Princess Margaret also received a ruby ring from the Earl of Snowdon. (More about Sarah’s rubies over here!)

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The Princess Royal has been married twice, and both of her engagement rings featured sapphires. Mark Phillips proposed with a Garrard ring featuring a central sapphire flanked by a pair of diamonds in 1973, while Sir Timothy Laurence presented her with a cabochon sapphire with a trio of small diamonds on either side (pictured above) in 1992.

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The Earl of Wessex went for a classic, all-diamond ring when he proposed to Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. The ring, made by Garrard, features a central two-carat oval diamond hugged by smaller heart-shaped stones. It’s set in 18-carat white gold.

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The Prince of Wales looked to the royal vault for a ring when he proposed to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. The Art Deco-style diamond and platinum ring, which features a large central diamond flanked on either side by three diamond baguettes, belonged to the Queen Mother. (Much more over here!)

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Autumn Kelly received another classic diamond ring from Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, in 2007. The white gold ring is set with a trio of diamonds, including an oval-shaped central stone.

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Royal watchers gave a collective gasp when Prince William proposed to Catherine Middleton in 2010 using the same diamond and sapphire cluster ring that his father, the Prince of Wales, had given to his mother, Lady Diana Spencer. William noted that using his late mother’s ring was his way of making sure she was included in his engagement and wedding. (Much more on the ring over here!)

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The most recent British royal engagement happened in December 2010, when Mike Tindall proposed to Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Phillips. He presented her with large diamond solitaire set on a double platinum band with pave-set diamonds.

What do you think — will we see Harry propose with a traditional ring, or will something a little different be sparkling on Meghan’s left hand? PS: we’ve got speculation about possible royal wedding tiaras over here!

Princess Mako’s Engagement Announcement Jewels

09.04.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

As anticipated, Princess Mako of Akishino, the eldest granddaughter of the Emperor and Empress of Japan, officially announced her engagement this weekend. Here’s a look at the jewelry that she wore for the official press conference.

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

Mako sat beside her fiance, Kei Komuro, to answer questions from the press. Komuro works for a law firm in Tokyo, while Mako is a museum researcher. The couple met and began dating while in university. During the press conference, Mako revealed that she was “first attracted to his bright smiles that seemed like the sun,” and Komuro added that he feels Mako “has been quietly watching over me like the moon” during their relationship. They have been unofficially engaged for almost four years.

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

For the press conference, Mako didn’t stray from the usual daytime jewelry uniform worn by ladies of the imperial household. She wore a single stranded pearl necklace with a small floral brooch made of mixed metals. Her earrings featured a silver-toned floral stud and a small round pearl drop.

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

Mako’s engagement has highlighted continuing issues with the dwindling succession of Japan’s monarchy. Only paternal-line men can inherit the throne, and there are currently only four living heirs: Crown Prince Naruhito (Mako’s uncle); his younger brother, Prince Fumihito (Mako’s father); Prince Hisahito of Akishino (Mako’s younger brother); and Prince Masahito (Mako’s great-uncle). Japanese princesses who marry commoners (the only available choice they have currently in Japan) lose their imperial status and their public role. Mako will also leave behind her tiara, as we discussed this weekend. But she is clearly looking forward to the future today, noting that she “would like to have a family that is always calm and peaceful.” The wedding is expected to take place some time after next spring.

Japan’s Princess Mako Reportedly Engaged

05.17.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Japanese media reports indicate that an engagement announcement is expected soon from the imperial palace. Princess Mako of Akishino, the eldest granddaughter of the Emperor and Empress, is reportedly engaged to Kei Komuro. But while royal engagements usually start conversations about jewel appearances to come, this announcement would mean that royal jewels will be left behind.

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According to various Japanese press sources, Princess Mako and her beau met while studying at the same university in Tokyo. Both are 25 years old, and they’ve apparently been dating for about five years. Princess Mako currently works as a researcher at a Tokyo museum. She also occasionally represents the imperial family both at home and abroad; above, she is pictured on an official trip to Paraguay in 2016, and below, during an official visit to Honduras in 2015.

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Reports suggest that the Imperial Household Agency, which oversees virtually all aspects of the Japanese imperial family’s lives and activities, will announce the engagement soon, with a wedding expected next year. When she marries, Princess Mako will become a commoner, losing her title, her place in the imperial family, and any funds granted to her by the state. Her jewels will also head back to the palace vaults, perhaps to appear later on another imperial princess. The most recent member of the imperial family to lose her royal status because of her marriage was Princess Mako’s cousin, Princess Noriko of Takamado, who married Kunimaro Senge in 2014.