It’s been many years since Kate Middleton and Prince William’s engagement, but the stunning 12-carat oval sapphire engagement ring that marked the occasion remains a phenomenon. Surrounded by a whopping 14 diamonds, the iconic ring that once belonged to Prince William’s late mother, Princess Diana, has a fascinating history that dates back a couple of centuries. According to Vogue, the inspiration behind the royal bauble’s beginnings dates back to 1840, when Prince Albert had British jeweler Garrard create a sapphire-and-diamond brooch for his future wife, Queen Victoria.   “She found she loved it so much that she decided to wear it on her wedding day as her something blue on the front of her dress,” Garrard’s creative director, Sara Prentice, told the magazine.

The Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace