It is perhaps unsurprising, considering what we know of the strength of their love, that Prince Albert’s engagement ring to Queen Victoria had a particularly romantic meaning. Designed by the royal himself, the 18-carat gold ring featured a serpent eating its own tail, with rubies for eyes, a diamond for the mouth, and an emerald representing the queen’s birthstone in the centre. The idea came from the Ancient Romans, who often gifted each other “ouroboros” rings as a symbol of everlasting love. The choice is even more surprising when you consider that engagement rings were a relatively new trend in the 1800s, with the fashion being for diamond rings.
Wallis Simpson
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When the former King of England proposed to the American divorcee Wallis Simpson in 1936, he did so with style. The 19-carat emerald ring was designed by Cartier, and featured an engraving that read, “We are ours now 27 x 36” as a reference to the date of their engagement on 27 October 1936. The large gemstone was an unusual choice for the time, with diamonds still very much in vogue, and it was thought to be symbolic of the couple’s decision to break with tradition. For their 20th wedding anniversary, Wallis had the ring reset by Cartier in the halo style, with diamonds surrounding the huge emerald. The ring was later sold at auction, raising $1.9 million at Sotheby’s.
