Complete History of Meghan Markle’s Engagement Ring

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently made headlines when they decided to break away from the royal family. Not that this is the only event that has taken aback fans of the royal couple.

Be that as it may, the story of Harry and Meghan’s engagement and marriage is a contemporary fairytale indeed. Not to mention the hype that surrounded their relationship, the proposal, and the jewelry involved.

This article explores Harry and Meghan’s story, focusing on the jewelry that marks milestones in their relationship. In the final section, you’ll also find out which rings from Estate Diamond Jewelry match the one Meghan’s wearing.

How Harry Met Meghan

Back in mid-2016, Harry and Meghan met on a blind date and started going out immediately thereafter. The news soon got in the tabloids and royal family fans had a sensational scoop of the new couple.

However, the tabloid coverage got out of control and kept churning out outlandish news about Meghan’s past life. So much so, that some senior members of the royal family needed to step in to silence the demeaning headlines.

By November of 2016, Kensington Palace issued an official statement demanding an end to racist and sexist news. Prince William also voiced his support for the then-new couple. What followed were more headlines and exclusive images, but these weren’t necessarily malevolent.

About a year after they met, Harry and Meghan went public with their relationship and announced their engagement. This sparked a backlash in some media circles, but it didn’t waver the couple’s decision to tie the knot.

The Engagement Ring and the History of the Side Stones

Meghan Markle’s engagement ring is a genuine show-stopper. This is a piece of royal bling that’s elegant, classy, and timeless.

The ring itself features three stones – a center cushion-cut diamond and one smaller diamond on each shoulder. Plus, there’s a specific symbolism in this kind of setting. Namely, the three stones represent the past, present, and future.

Given all the press the couple received, it’s no wonder they went with this kind of metaphor. Anyway, these are not just any stones. The story surrounding the diamond selection is symbolic in its own right. So, where do the stones come from?

The center stone originates from Botswana and it’s there to showcase the couple’s emotional connection and future together. Being from a conflict-free area, this gem also points to Harry and Meghan’s dedication to environmental and social causes. But the side stones are truly special.

These are heirloom diamonds from the private collection of the late Princess Diana. For sure, the provenance makes the ring priceless. And at this point, you’re probably wondering about the price and the 4Cs involved.

Some estimates suggest that this is a $350,000 piece if you consider the stones and the ring, sans the royal history involved. The center diamond is cushion cut and the side stones are round brilliants. The combined diamond weight of the rings is about 3.8 carats.

Knowing this, helps you figure out other characteristics. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that the diamonds are nearly flawless and colorless.

The Proposal and More Media Attention

You already know that the relationship announcement was made public. Kensington Palace first issued the news and then, there was a photocall in front of the couple’s house.

The first interview they made together appeared romantic as they addressed the changes which were about to take place in their lives. However, the way Harry proposed to Meghan got even more attention. And while some expected an extravagant proposal, the Prince did exactly the opposite.

As the couple recounted the event, Prince Harry decided to pop the question during a roast chicken dinner at home. While they were trying to get the chicken ready, Harry dropped on one knee and asked Meghan to marry him.

But she didn’t let him finish, she jumped in asking if she could say yes straight away. Cute as this might be, the really cool thing is that Prince Harry designed the ring himself. And he was the one who came up with all the symbolism.

The moment the proposal went public, the media started speculating about the marriage, the ring’s price, and the couple’s future plans. CNN got the exclusive interview, which attracted close to 600,000 views on YouTube alone.

If this public appearance wasn’t enough to silence the negativity regarding Meghan’s intentions. There were, and still are, people in the media that doubt her sincerity. But the couple has managed to prove everybody wrong to this day.

Harry’s and Meghan’s Wedding Bands

As Meghan and Harry were getting married, the eyes of the world were on the wedding bands. This is no surprise as Kensington Palace was quick to publicize the rings’ provenance.

Both bands come from Cleave and Company, renowned court jewelers that have worked for the royal administration for decades. Meghan’s band is of Welsh gold and Prince Harry opted for a platinum wedding ring.

The interesting thing is that Harry didn’t follow in his brother’s footsteps. Instead, he decided to wear the wedding band during the ceremony. Of course, Meghan and Harry exchanged the rings during the event.

Harry put the ring on Meghan’s finger first, then she followed suit. But this wasn’t the first time they exchanged jewelry. Well before the wedding, the couple was famous for their identical beaded bracelets.

You might not be aware of this, but the royal tradition doesn’t have any particular rules about wedding bands. For example, Prince William hasn’t worn a wedding band since his wedding day. And the princes’ father only wore a wedding band while married to Lady Diana.

Brief History of the Bands

Welsh gold has a strong standing in Windsor wedding ceremonies. The use of this precious metal dates back to the 1920s and the Queen Mother. From that time to this day, Welsh gold has adorned the hands of all royal brides.

This includes Camilla (Prince Charles’ second wife), Kate Middleton, Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II, and other princesses. But why Welsh gold?

Providing an answer to this question is tricky, but the Queen Mother had a nugget from a Clogau St. David’s Gold Mine in Whales. This particular mine doesn’t have any historical significance. But the nugget was the supply for most of the royal wedding bands.

As a result, the nugget disappeared pretty soon but the royal family got another one in the 1980s. Since gold mining is no longer active in Wales, the precious metal from this region has become quite valuable. As if the royal family sprinkled some stardust on the defunct mining area.

The New Band After Archie’s Birth – Maybe a Push Present?

In June of 2019, media was buzzing again and this time the focus was on the new band. It might be a push present but the royal couple and most of the media prefer to call it an eternity ring. And the push present description comes for an American tradition.

To explain, this is a present an overjoyed husband and father gives to his spouse to honor the birth of a baby. No matter how you wish to name the piece, it’s surely worth your attention.

So, eternity rings generally feature more than a few diamonds which cover the entire shank. Traditionally, these precious accessories come after a momentous event. This time, it was the birth of Harry’s and Meghan’s first child, Archie.

More importantly, this ring has a greater significance than you might think. For starters, the band includes birthstones of Archie, Meghan, and Harry. There’s a peridot for Megan, an emerald for Archie, and a sapphire for Prince Harry.

These are on the band’s underside and away from prying eyes. Meghan wears this band next to the engagement ring and the wedding band. And again, Prince Harry worked closely with Lorraine Schwartz to make sure the piece is worthy of his spouse’s finger.

The band is also a memento of the couple’s first marriage anniversary, but this isn’t the end of the story. Lorraine Schwartz seems to have reset and resized the engagement ring, which made headlines as well.

Redesign of the Engagement Ring

Come Trooping the Colour, and Meghan (now the Duchess of Sussex) made her first public appearance since Archie’s birth. Of course, all eyes were on the new Duchess who seemed to have stolen the spotlight.

Most media focused on the eternity ring, but keen observers also spotted that the engagement ring had been given an overhaul. By the looks of it, the departures from the initial design are subtle. And some would agree that they make the ring more appealing and tie the three rings together.

The most obvious change is in the shank. It’s still a yellow gold band, but the shank is much thinner now and features tiny diamonds all the way around. Overall, the redesigned ring makes the piece flow better with the eternity ring and the wedding band.

Speculation differed regarding when the ring got a revamp. Although this likely happened during the final weeks of Meghan’s pregnancy. She probably needed the ring to fit her finger in pregnancy and took advantage of the occasion to better the design.

Like most of Meghan’s decisions, this one received a mixed response. Those in the know regarding royal protocols believe the original engagement ring shouldn’t have got any kind of overhaul.

This stems from the belief that royal jewelry isn’t a regular accessory. Therefore, it shouldn’t be updated to follow fashion trends, particularly when the original design came from the Prince himself. But Meghan isn’t the only one who decided to change royal jewelry.

Back in 2012, Kate Middleton went on to redesign Lady Diana’s diamond-encrusted sapphire earrings. A present from her husband, the decision to turn them into drop earrings received far less public scrutiny.

Engagement Rings – Meghan Markle Style

You won’t be wrong to assume that the three-diamond plus yellow gold design sparked a new trend. And as indicated, most of the appeal comes from the ring’s classy style that transcends fads.

Now, you have an opportunity to surprise your future spouse with a piece that reflects these qualities. Here are the top picks.

Bergon Ring

If money is no object and you want a Meghan-style ring, the Bergon Ring should tick all the right boxes. Bar the fact that this is platinum instead of a yellow gold ring.

Like Meghan’s piece, the Bergon features three diamonds and a micro-pave with additional small gemstones. The center stone is an amazing 3.11-carat rose cut diamond of D color and VS1 clarity.

The two side diamonds don’t come from a famous collection, but their total weight is about 1.50 carats. The gems have a prong setting and the ring comes with a GIA certificate.

Three Stone Bezel Set Diamond Ring

Another eye-catching three-stone piece, this bezel-set diamond ring is a good match for Meghan’s bling. The center diamond is of VS2 clarity, I color, and it weighs 1.55 carats.

The diamonds that flank the main stone add another 2.14 carats in total. And they’re of the same color and clarity as the center diamond. In addition, the ring sports three accenting gemstones on each side.

The three-stone ring is platinum and the diamonds’ cut dates back to 1920. Speaking of which, the main diamonds feature an antique cut.

Note: Estate Diamond Jewelry crafts this ring on demand.

Gateshead Ring

It might be surprising, but you don’t need to spend a small fortune to get a Meghan-like engagement ring. The Gateshead Ring features three natural aquamarines with a total weight of around 2.12 carats.

The ring’s shoulders have three smaller gemstones on each side. And the entire piece is platinum with a prong setting.

Yes, you’re making a compromise when it comes to stone selection. But you shouldn’t underestimate the appeal and value of aquamarines.

Add a Touch of Royalty to Your Engagement

Without a doubt, Meghan and Harry are one of the most controversial couples from the royal family. But if you consider their story from a different perspective, they did little to make people doubt their love.

Quite the opposite, the couple has amassed a huge following and is bound to set more trends in the future. So why not jump on the bandwagon and get your own bling that reflects Meghan and Harry’s style.