- Princess Diana’s jewelry collection helped define royal style and continues to influence fashion trends decades later.
- From her famous sapphire engagement ring to treasured pearl pieces and watches, each jewel carries a fascinating history.
- Many of Diana’s most beloved accessories live on through Princess Catherine and Meghan Markle, who continue to wear them today.
Princess Diana’s influence on regal fashion is undeniable, but her impact on fine jewelry is just as astounding. Decades after her most iconic public appearances, pieces from her collection still inspire modern jewelry trends, from standout takes on engagement rings to statement earrings and vintage watches. Some of that influence can be attributed to the jewels themselves—after all, few pieces are as instantly recognizable and striking as Diana’s sapphire engagement ring (which now belongs to Kate Middleton, by the way). But what truly set her crown jewels apart was the way she wore them.
Diana approached jewelry with the same playfulness and intrigue she brought to her wardrobe. Just like her statement outfits, she wasn’t afraid to reimagine heirlooms or style treasured gems in unexpected ways. Whether she was reinventing a sapphire brooch into a choker, stacking classic pearls, or turning a necklace into a headpiece, her choices often felt modern and refreshing. Today, many of her most beloved pieces continue to make appearances on members of the royal family, while others remain enduring symbols of her striking impact on fashion. Ahead, take a closer look at some of Princess Diana’s most iconic jewelry pieces and the stories behind them.
Emir of Qatar Diamond and Pearl Earrings
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Among Princess Diana’s most striking pearl pieces were these earrings, which were a wedding gift from the Emir of Qatar in 1981. The timeless design features diamond floral clusters topped with large drop pearls, creating a look that feels both regal and wearable for any occasion. Diana constantly wore this pair throughout her royal years, pairing them with everything from evening gowns to some of her most prized pearl necklaces and tiaras.
Nigel Milne Pearl Bracelet
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Princess Diana’s penchant for pearls was undeniable. One of her most beloved and frequently-worn pieces was a three-strand pearl bracelet by royal jeweler Nigel Milne, which featured diamond and sapphire spacers that complemented many of her favorite evening looks. She was spotted wearing the bracelet throughout the 1980s and 1990s, often pairing it with coordinating sapphire jewelry. Decades later, the elegant piece remains part of the royal jewelry rotation thanks to Catherine, Princess of Wales, who has worn it on several occasions, most recently at the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling in June 2026.
Aquamarine Cocktail Ring
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Diana’s aquamarine cocktail ring is, in no doubt, a stunning standout from her endless fine jewelry collection. Featuring a large emerald-cut aquamarine stone surrounded by diamonds and set in 24-carat gold, the statement piece was created by British jeweler Asprey in the 1990s following Diana’s divorce from Prince Charles. The ring quickly became one of her favorite post-royal life pieces and was referred to by the public as her “divorce ring.” She often worn to galas and formal events during the final years of her life. Today, it’s perhaps best known for its connection to Meghan Markle, who famously wore the ring to her wedding reception in 2018, introducing the striking blue gemstone to a new generation of royal style enthusiasts.
Engagement Ring
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Any conversation about Diana’s jewelry wouldn’t be complete without reference to her trend-setting sapphire rock. When the then-relatively unknown young Lady Diana Spencer was introduced via the press as Prince Charles’ fiancé in February 1981, the world had its first glimpse at her 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire and diamond ring. Instantly, it caused a surge in popularity of the blue gemstone. According to reports, members of the public could even purchase the very same ring from jeweler Garrard for a hefty £47,000 at the time—much to the palace’s chagrin. When Prince William popped the question to Kate Middleton in 2010, he sentimentally opted to propose with his late mother’s ring.
Cartier Watch
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Diana was often photographed on Royal duty and in her downtime, wearing her beloved Cartier tank watches. The style icon owned two variations of the time-honored classic: a Tank Louis Cartier with a black alligator strap as well as an elegant gold Tank Française. According to Vogue, when Diana passed, her sons were allowed to pick a personal item from her Kensington Palace belongings, and William chose the Tank Française. Royal experts believe that William eventually passed it on to Prince Harry, whose wife Meghan Markle now often wears it
Patek Philippe Watch
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Throughout the 1980s, Diana was rarely seen without her gold Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 3618 watch, which Charles had gifted to her for her 20th birthday ahead of their wedding. In one memorable moment in July 1983, a polka dot-clad Diana was photographed in not one but two watches. While supporting Charles during a polo match, she opted to wear his watch as well in order to bring him luck.
Sapphire Brooch Choker
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In inimitably Diana fashion, she breathed new life into a substantial diamond and sapphire brooch that the Queen Mother gifted to her for her wedding. Diana had the gobstopper-sized piece reimagined into a necklace with seven strands of archival pearls—and it soon became one of her favorites. It was a statement necklace that Diana wore often, but most memorably of all, it was what she chose to accessorize her ‘revenge dress’ with in 1994. Its last known outing was when Diana wore it to the Met Gala in New York in December 1996.
D Initial Necklace
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While Diana’s access to jaw-dropping jewels reached new heights once she joined the Royal family, one of her most-worn pieces pre-dates her status as a Princess. A simple gold ‘D’ initial charm on a thin choker was omnipresent with many of her outfits, particularly in her years as a young mom. While the whereabouts of the necklace at present are unknown, Town & Country reports that a silver ‘D’ necklace that Diana wore as a teenager sold for $8,000 at an auction in 2017.
The Spencer Tiara
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While it wasn’t technically owned by Diana herself, the show-stopping garland-style Spencer family tiara is synonymous with her. The historic heirloom piece is believed to have been created in 1767 and most recently re-designed by Garrard in the 1930s. Worn by Diana on her wedding day, Sotheby’s calls it “one of the most famous diadems in modern history.” The tiara remains in the possession of the Spencer family, and was last seen in public in 2018 when it was worn by Celia McCorquodale (niece of the 9th Earl Spencer Charles) on her wedding day.
The Crown Prince Of Saudi Arabia’s Sapphire Suite
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Diana’s penchant for sapphires was well-documented. During her Royal tenure, the Prince of Saudi Arabia gifted Diana a spectacular suite including a sapphire and diamond necklace, bracelet, and earrings to complement her engagement ring. Diana wore the pieces prolifically during her life, and even notably had the necklace refashioned into a headdress.
Diamond and South Sea Pearl Earrings
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One of Diana’s most treasured pairs of earrings during the 1990s has become a favorite of her daughter-in-law, Catherine, too. Sadly, these elegant earrings with their large detachable pearls were what Diana was pictured wearing while attending a performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall in London; her last official engagement before she passed away. In recent years, the Princess of Wales has taken to wearing the elegant earrings everywhere from Ascot to the BAFTAs.
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
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Initially commissioned by Queen Mary in 1914, Queen Elizabeth II presented this spectacular pearl and diamond tiara to Diana before her wedding in 1981 (although she would ultimately choose to wear the Spencer family tiara on her big day.) The substantial diadem would become one of Diana’s most adored pieces, but after her divorce from Charles, it was returned to the Windsor vaults in Buckingham Palace. Alas, since 2015, the Princess of Wales has worn the tiara at least nine times—much to the public’s delight.
The Emerald Choker
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Always inventive, Diana once famously wore an emerald and diamond necklace as a headband while on a tour of Australia. Royal biographer Kitty Kelly told People that when Diana was trying on the necklace by pulling it over her head, she realized she liked the way it looked while resting around her forehead. Cue: a memorable 1980s fashion moment that inspired copycats around the world. Diana did indeed wear the divine choker (a gift by the Ladies of India to Queen Mary in 1911) as intended several times between 1981 and 1997. In 2022, Princess Catherine dusted it down to wear for its first public appearance in decades when she opted to style it for an awards ceremony honoring environmentally-conscious trailblazers.
