The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Borrow something regal, blue for your own ‘royal’ wedding

An oval blue sapphire surrounded by round brilliant-cut diamonds set in 14K white gold starts at about $575 at James Free Jewelers, 3100 Far Hills Ave., Kettering.

Submitted An oval blue sapphire surrounded by round brilliant-cut diamonds set in 14K white gold starts at about $575 at James Free Jewelers, 3100 Far Hills Ave., Kettering.

ENLARGE PHOTO

freelance Suite 7 chiffon surplice dress original $90 at Kohl’s.

ENLARGE PHOTO

You don’t have to be a royal to like regal things. Add a dinnerware set with flare to your gift registry, like this Gibson Elite Heritage monogram 20-piece dinnerware set original $100 at Kohl’s.

submitted You don’t have to be a royal to like regal things. Add a dinnerware set with flare to your gift registry, like this Gibson Elite Heritage monogram 20-piece dinnerware set original $100 at Kohl’s.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Britain's Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton, are seen Nov. 16 at St. James's Palace in London, after they announced their engagement. File photo

Kirsty Wigglesworth/STF Britain's Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton, are seen Nov. 16 at St. James's Palace in London, after they announced their engagement. File photo

ENLARGE PHOTO

‘A hidden gem in western Ohio’
New 22 min. ago
Tipp City offers quaint shops, cozy dining
5/25/12
How to make inexpensive, fresh flower arrangements
5/25/12
How to help the poor the 'right way'
5/25/12
Better treat soon to combat emerald ash borer
5/25/12
> More lifestyle headlines

By Amelia Robinson, Staff Writer Updated 4:20 PM Sunday, January 9, 2011

Prince William delighted and stirred the masses when he proposed to Kate Middleton with his mother’s famous engagement ring.

But James Free Jewelers President Michael S. Karaman said the jewelry industry is not expecting a run on diamond-encircled sapphire engagement rings like the one first worn by the late Princess Diana and now Middleton.

The vast majority of American couples are more traditional when it comes to such things, Karaman said.

This means diamond rings will continue to reign supreme, he said. But that doesn’t mean sapphires will be ignored either.

Karaman hopes the already popular gemstone will be a big hit this year as it was following Diana’s engagement to the Prince of Wales in 1981.

Sapphire rings, necklaces and earrings will be given as gifts during Mother’s Day, Christmas, anniversaries and birthdays, he predicted.

Looking for a few ways to mimic everyone’s favorite new princess-to-be?

Here are three ways to add the royal flare to your wedding:

Get a ring like Kate’s

The ring made famous by the late Princess Diana includes a large oval sapphire encircled by 14 round diamonds. It reportedly cost 30,000 pounds ($60,000) in 1981, the year Prince Charles popped the question to Diana. Yeah, it’s worth a bit more now — $500,000.

You may not be able to afford an exact copy of the ring, but you can get the look for considerably less.

Dress like Kate

The sapphire blue Issa London silk jersey wrap-waist dress that Kate Middleton wore to announce her engagement to Prince William sold out quickly.

But no need for despair. There are literally hundreds of great dresses on the market to help you achieve Kate’s sophisticated look.

Kate’s plate

You don’t have to be a royal to like regal things. Add a dinnerware set with flare to your gift registry. It doesn’t have to bust the piggy bank, event though it’s tempting.

Share this article