When it comes to Princess Diana’s sapphires, her engagement ring is the first thing that comes to mind. Today, this iconic piece adorns the hand of Kate Middleton, but at the time, Diana’s choice was rather unconventional for the royal family. However, her jewelry box held other, no less impressive sapphire treasures that are far less known.
One of the most luxurious wedding gifts Princess Diana received in 1981 was a jewelry set from Crown Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Known as the ‘Saudi Suite’, this collection was crafted by London jewelers Asprey. It included a necklace with a massive Burmese sapphire, earrings, a bracelet, a ring, and a watch. Interestingly, the current Princess of Wales has never been seen wearing any of these pieces in public.
Diana, however, enjoyed wearing parts of this set, especially the necklace and earrings. She often chose them for official visits, skillfully pairing them with other jewels—such as the Spencer family tiara during her tour of Australia in 1983. The last time she was seen wearing these pieces was in 1987 at a reception in Melbourne, where her dance with Prince Charles made headlines around the world.
The fate of the entire jewelry set is shrouded in mystery and speculation. The princess was known for her innovative approach to wearing jewelry and is believed to have modified some pieces. One theory suggests the unique watch was disassembled to create a choker—a popular fashion at the time—which Diana famously wore as a headband. However, this theory is questionable, as the princess was later photographed wearing the original watch and bracelet. The ring from the set was almost never seen on her finger, fueling rumors that its central stone was used in another piece of jewelry.
In addition to the “Saudi suite,” Diana’s collection included another iconic piece—a sapphire brooch gifted to her by the Queen Mother on her wedding day. Diana transformed it into the centerpiece of a seven-strand pearl necklace. Kate has yet to wear this particular jewelry. As for the sapphire earrings often worn by the current princess, their origin remains disputed. Although some say they were remade from the Saudi set, there is no definitive proof, as Diana owned several similar pairs. The world continues to wait for these hidden treasures of the ‘People’s Princess’ to come to light once more.
