How much is Kate Middleton's ring worth?
A jewelry expert had fun ranking the price of celebrity rings and specifically British Crown engagement rings. Explanations.
Celebrities of all times are fond of jewelry and examples abound: the collection of the scandalous Duchess of Windsor or that of the British-American actress Elizabeth Taylor. More recently Vashi Dominguez, founder of the firm Diamond Manufacturers Ltd, drew up during the English program This Morning a classification of the rings of the stars. This London-based jeweler of Spanish origin is a national media personality famous for his expertise. Its jewelry sites are among the most visited in the world, especially for diamonds.
Following its track record of engagement rings whose value has increased significantly, the British Crown rings stand out. And more particularly the 18-carat sapphire enhanced with 14 small diamonds from the charming Kate Middleton, who is the big winner of the ranking. Gifted by Prince Charles to Diana during their engagement in 1981, the ring cost at the time only 35,000 euros. Today, it is valued at 370,000 euros (300,000 pounds). In second place, we find the 3 carat solitaire of Queen Elisabeth II estimated at 122,000 euros bought the equivalent of 35,000 euros in 1947. 3
Followed by the Art Deco model ring of the Duchess of Cornwall valued at 100,000 euros at the time of her marriage to Prince Charles, now listed at 305,000 euros. But planetary actresses and stars are not to be outdone: Victoria Beckham owns a 3-carat marquise which is now worth more than double her purchase price. From 122,000 euros in 1998, it would cost today more than 282,000 euros. For her part, Beyoncé sports an 18-carat diamond bought the equivalent of 3.25 million in 2007 and whose current value would be more than 7 million.
An extraordinary story
According to Vashi Dominguez, “these rings have above all a great sentimental value linked to the personality of the one who wore them; a story inhabits them and charms buyers ”. The best example is Kate's ring today. “It's Kate's iconic status that makes this ring so special,” he explains on ITV. Not to mention the family legacy between Diana and Kate. This ring evokes a bond between the two, the first having almost always worn it, even after her divorce, and the second being the new symbol of youth and beauty of the United Kingdom.
In addition to symbolism, the rise in the price of princess and star jewelry is also based on the evolution of the gem market. The prices of precious stones have shown significant increases in recent years, especially for colored gems. According to Vashi Dominguez, colored stones are particularly requested by women, who prefer them to diamonds. On the strength of this demand, the price of sapphire has increased by 37% in recent years, ruby by 47%, while diamonds have only seen an increase of 32%.
