It’s the biggest news in bridal since the J. Lo pink—and it wasn’t
even a sale!—but the resurfacing of Lady Diana’s 18 ct. blue sapphire and
diamond ring this week in the engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton is
big, big news.
Big enough to crash the website of the Natural
Sapphire Co. in New York City within hours of the announcement, according to CEO
Michael Arnstein. Asked how many sapphire and diamond rings he’s sold this
week, he told JCK: “A lot.” Ditto for
the number of media outlets that have been burning up his phone for interviews
this week. In one such interview, he told the media outlet that he’s ringing up
sales for ring replicas ranging in price from $1,000 to $55,000.
New York City–based Jeffrey Bilgore, whose sapphire rings start
around $20,000 retail, has gotten about a dozen requests for replica rings this
week. Bilgore calls the news of the engagement “wonderful for Kate, and
wonderful for industry,” and refers to the ring “one hell of an estate piece.”
“Instead of November’s lead industry story being about
lead-filled rubies, it’s about a sapphire engagement ring,” he says. “I just
wish it was a new ring, and that it were one of mine.”
The Diana ring was purchased from UK jeweler Garrard in 1981
and cost £28,000.
Royal Replicas: Make Diana’s (now Kate’s) Ring Style Your
Own
A 0.83 ct. oval-cut blue sapphire has colorless accents in 18k yellow
gold; $1,470. Gem Platinum on Portero.com
A 3.50 ct. emerald-cut blue sapphire is set in 18k white gold with
1.60
cts. t.w. colorless diamonds; $11,000. Somerset
Jewelry
A 4.93 ct. round blue sapphire has 1.5 cts. t.w. colorless
diamonds in 18k white gold; $17,500. Yael Designs
A 4.04 ct. marquis-cut sapphire features 0.79 ct. t.w.
diamonds in 18 white gold; $18,000. Omi Gems
A 7.25 ct. rectangular cushion-cut Ceylon sapphire has 2.80
cts. t.w. colorless diamonds in a platinum ring; $70,000. Vanna K
An 11.49 ct. blue oval-cut sapphire has 1.12 cts. t.w.
colorless diamond accents in platinum; $112,500. Natural Sapphire Co.
A 10.78 ct. unheated cushion-cut blue sapphire and 1.29 cts.
t.w. colorless trapezoid-cut diamonds in platinum; $220,000. Jeffrey Bilgore
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