Princess Diana wears the Spencer tiara. It is also one of the famous jewelry pieces associated with Diana's image. Photo: Getty Images
Have you watched the fourth season of The Crown on Netflix? After three successful seasons, the fourth season of The Crown introduces a very familiar character to the public who loves royal elegance: Princess Diana.
When talking about Princess Diana's fashion style, it is impossible not to mention her gorgeous jewelry. After Princess Diana passed away, what happened to them? Let's explore with Harper's Bazaar the most famous jewelry pieces of the late princess, and their fate.
Photo: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
This is the tiara Princess Diana wore on her wedding day with Prince Charles in 1981.
This tiara is not part of the British Royal Family's treasury. It was a piece of jewelry from the Spencer family, Diana's maternal family. So, it was actually owned by the head of the Spencer family – at that time, the princess's father. However, because she wore this tiara so much, it was always associated with the image of Princess Diana. After 1997, when Princess Diana died, the Spencer tiara disappeared for a long time. It was not until 2018 that it reappeared. The wearer was the princess's granddaughter, Celia McCorquodale. And perhaps, future members of the Spencer family will continue to wear it.
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Mary Lover's Knot tiara
Princess Diana's classic jewelry: Lover's Knot tiara
Photo: Getty ImagesThis pearl and diamond tiara is a piece of jewelry from the Queen's private treasury. It has quite an interesting history.
This tiara was commissioned by Queen Mary, the grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. And it was based on a design that had been part of the private collection of Queen Mary’s grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel. Quite a complicated connection!
Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel had a tiara called the Cambridge Lover’s Knot. It was not passed down to Queen Mary. But she loved it so much that she commissioned Garrard to make a similar tiara. So the design was called the Mary Lover’s Knot to differentiate it from the original.
The original Cambridge Lover’s Knot, in the end, was not as famous as its “copycat” version. Because the Lover’s Knot, which constantly appeared on the heads of members of the British royal family, has become a classic symbol of British elegance.
Photo: PA Images
The last time Princess Diana wore this tiara was in 1991. After that, she divorced Prince Charles, so this jewelry had to be returned to the British Royal Treasury. The person who was favored to wear this tiara after her was Princess Kate Middleton.
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Sapphire and Pearl Necklace
In fact, this necklace was originally a large, precious sapphire brooch. This was a gift from Queen Elizabeth II to Princess Diana on the occasion of her wedding.
At first, Princess Diana also used it to pin on her dress like her mother-in-law. But later, she showed her own aesthetic when she turned it into a necklace.
Because this brooch was a gift to Diana, she was allowed to keep it after divorcing Prince Charles (unlike the crowns belonging to the British Royal Treasury that she had to return). So, this necklace continued to appear with Diana in the last days of her life. It is also known as the jewelry Diana wore with the “revenge dress” – a short, off-the-shoulder dress, defiantly contrasting with the conservative dressing style of the British Royal Family.None. When Princess Diana passed away, all of her jewelry was passed down to her two sons, William and Harry. The two princes gave many of her items to their wives, as a symbol of good luck. This necklace, however, has remained missing.
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Ceylon Sapphire Engagement Ring
Princess Diana’s classic jewelry: Ceylon Sapphire Engagement Ring
BIOGRAPHY
Princess Diana’s most famous ring was probably her blue sapphire engagement ring. The 12-carat sapphire was surrounded by 14 small diamonds and set in 18K white gold.
Usually, royals always design their own engagement rings. But this ring is different. It is a design available in the catalogue of the royal jewelry brand Garrard.Princess Kate Middleton. Prince William used it to propose to his partner, as a way to remember his ill-fated mother. When this ring appeared on Princess Kate's finger, it once again sparked the trend of choosing sapphire for engagement rings among Western youth.
Princess Diana's classic jewelry: Swan Lake Ring Set
Photo: Getty Images
In 1997, one of the last times Princess Diana appeared in public
The first time she wore the necklace before the horrific car accident was at a performance of the Swan Lake ballet at the Royal Albert Hall, London. She was wearing this pearl and diamond necklace. Therefore, it was also affectionately named after the ballet.
This necklace was part of an incomplete jewelry set. Princess Diana was working with jeweler Garrard to design it. After taking a series of photos, the princess returned the necklace to Garrard, so that they could create matching earrings. The jewelry set was not completed before Princess Diana died suddenly.
Garrard completed the earrings and auctioned the entire item. Photo: Getty Images
Because Princess Diana died before she could buy the complete jewelry set, the Swan Lake set was not actually Diana's personal belongings. Jewellers Garrard sold the set after Diana's death. It was sold to an anonymous collector at a 2017 auction in New York. It is also perhaps the most famous set of jewellery not owned by the British royal family.
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Photo: Getty Images
This necklace, studded with a series of emeralds, was a gift from India to Queen Mary in 1911. Queen Elizabeth II lent it to Princess Diana.
The princess was very creative with this necklace. Sometimes she wore it around her neck as a choker. Sometimes she turned it into a headband.
After Diana's death, the necklace was returned to Queen Elizabeth II's private treasury. To this day, she has not lent it to anyone else.
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Princess Diana's Classic Jewelry: Saudi Sapphire Ring Set
Photo: Getty Images
Princess Diana used to own a lot of sapphire jewelry. They matched her deep blue eyes. And the people around her also favored giving her sapphire-encrusted items.
When Princess Diana married Prince Charles, the Saudi Crown Prince gave her this sapphire ring set. Including a watch, ring, bracelet, earrings and a diamond-sapphire necklace.
Diana, however, reused the stones to create other jewelry. From the watch and ring, she created a choker and matching earrings.
Princess Kate Middleton. Prince William gave his wife blue sapphire earrings. In addition, she will also have other jewelry crafted from the sapphires in this jewelry set. Because the British royal family has a long tradition of reusing old stones to create new jewelry.
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Photo: PA Images
Princess Diana often wore pearls. One of the most elegant pieces that the press has evaluated as the most elegant is this pearl necklace with a diamond pendant.
In fact, this is also a piece of jewelry from Queen Elizabeth II's collection. It was a favorite jewelry of the Queen throughout the 1980s and 1990s. When she lent it to Princess Diana, this showed how much she favored her daughter-in-law.This necklace was returned to Queen Elizabeth II after Princess Diana's death. It was not until 2017 that it appeared on Princess Kate Middleton's neck again.
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Photo: Getty Images
Princess Diana was famous for her love of blue. So she often wore blue gemstone jewelry. But blue gemstones are not limited to sapphire!
So when she appeared in Australia in 1996 wearing an all-blue outfit, with a large aquamarine cocktail ring on her hand, her outfit immediately caught the attention of connoisseurs. This is a creation from the jewelry brand Asprey. This cocktail ring is also a piece of jewelry she bought for herself after divorcing Prince Charles.
Photo: Getty Images
Meghan Markle. The Duchess of Sussex wore this ring at her wedding reception at Frogmore Palace. And again when she first went on tour with Prince Harry.