With lockdown restrictions lifting, wedding celebrations have made an epic return, and there has been a rise in iconic engagement ring selfies on social media. An expert from national jewellery retailer Beaverbrooks analysed the most Instagrammed engagement ring styles this year, and the Kate Middleton-style Cluster Ring has made it into one of the top spots.
Recent years have seen a rise in the social media engagement ring selfie, with over six million #engagementring hashtags used on Instagram.
National jewellers Beaverbrooks spoke to Express.co.uk about the most Instagrammed engagement ring styles.
Lorna Haddon, head of diamond rings and jewellery, discovered that the Cluster Ring, which both Kate Middleton and Princess Eugenie wore, is still surging in high popularity.
The Cluster Ring has 41,317 posts on Instagram according to Beaverbrooks, making it the third most popular engagement ring style currently in the UK.
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Lorna said: “Cluster engagement rings continue to be a popular choice for brides-to-be who want to make a statement, with the ring style hashtagged over 40,000 times on Instagram.
“Cluster designs are the perfect way to incorporate vibrant coloured gemstones with diamonds, with this vintage style remaining a firm favourite thanks to rings worn by Kate Middleton and more recently, Princess Eugenie.”
When advertising Cluster Rings on their Instagram, Beaverbrooks noted the regal nature of the style due to the design being worn by members of the Royal Family.
Beaverbrooks wrote on Instagram: “A vintage design with contemporary finishes, feel like royalty with this emerald and diamond cluster ring.”
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Kate Middleton’s own Cluster engagement ring consisted of a 12-carat oval blue sapphire, cut into facets, and surrounded by fourteen solitaire diamonds.
The setting is made from 18K white gold.
William’s mother, Princess Diana, originally chose the ring herself.
Prince Charles did not propose with it in hand, but instead had a selection of rings shown to her.
When William and Kate announced their engagement in 2010, sales of sapphire engagement rings went through the roof, with jewellers all over the world reportedly buying loads of blue gems to satisfy the public’s demand for “Duchess of Cambridge rings”, according to Women and Home Magazine.
The ring was originally created by Garrard & Co., the former Crown Jeweller.
At the time of Princess Diana’s engagement in 1981, it cost £28,000.
It is now valued at approximately £300,000.
The average price of a Cluster engagement ring on Beaverbrooks is about £1,500, making it much more affordable to have one of the most stylish engagement rings on your finger.