GETTY IMAGES / JOHN WALTON – PA IMAGES / CONTRIBUTOR
When Edoardo Mapellli Mozzi proposed to Princess Beatrice during a trip to Italy in September 2019, he popped the question with a unique engagement ring that embodies his now-wife’s style and personality. The three-carat round-cut diamond, flanked by two tapered baguettes and adorned with pavé diamonds along the band, fuses a mix of Art Deco and Victorian styles, which sets it apart from other royal rings. While her bauble—designed by British jewelry Shaun Leane—is an innovative design, it has a surprising connection to Meghan Markle and her own sparkler.
According to diamond expert Maxwell Stone of U.K.-based fine jewelry brand Steven Stone, the diamonds that comprise Princess Beatrice’s ring have the same origin as the Duchess of Sussex’s center stone. Maxwell explains that Beatrice’s diamonds were sourced from Botswana, which is the same location from which Meghan’s cushion-cut focal diamond derived. Since Meghan and Prince Harry traveled to the South African country for their third date, which was when they started falling for one another, the gemstone represents that pivotal moment in their relationship.
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GETTY IMAGES / MAX MUMBY/INDIGO / CONTRIBUTOR
Princess Beatrice’s engagement ring also includes a nod to her grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, per Stone: Both royals’ sparklers reflect an Art Deco style. The former monarch’s accessory featured a three-carat center stone, which was bordered by clusters of 10 smaller diamonds set in platinum.
Since Beatrice’s bauble has an exquisite design and diamonds with a VVS grade clarity, grading it a virtually flawless stone, Stone estimates that the ring is about $165,000. Edoardo put a lot of thought into the design, working with Leane for several months to craft the perfect piece. “The bespoke experience was a beautiful journey, fro imagining the design with Edoardo to the crafting of the finished rings,” Leane said in a statement. Since Edoardo worked with Leane, as opposed to traditional jewelry stores like Garrard, Beatrice’s ring sets itself apart from other royal sparklers.
Beatrice’s engagement ring is also quite different from that of her sister, Princess Eugenie. Her rock, which she received from Jack Brooksbank in January 2018, features a rare center gemstone, a soft pink Padparadscha sapphire, as opposed to Eugenie’s classic diamond center stone. The one-of-a-kind gemstone also has a flower-like shape, as it’s surrounded by 10 round-cut diamonds and two pear-shaped side stones.