It brought in more than double its estimated value.
Published on October 07, 2025 11:55AM
Courtesy of Sotheby's
Key Takeaways
- Sotheby's Paris hosted a fine jewelry auction last month, and several sapphire and diamond rings—much like Kate Middleton's royal engagement ring—sold for staggering prices.
- A 10.68 carat cushion-cut sapphire and diamond ring sold for $819,982, bringing in more than double its estimated value.
- Another ring, this one a 18.25 carat cushion-shaped sapphire and diamond ring, sold for $656,026.
Kate Middleton's sapphire and diamond engagement ring might be one of the most well-known pieces of jewelry in the world, but it's certainly not the only one of its kind. In recent years, gemstone engagement rings have become more popular, likely in response to the Princess of Wales's statement jewelry. Last month, two sapphire and diamond rings sold at a Sotheby's auction in Paris, and one of those baubles brought in more than twice its estimated value.
According to Sotheby's, the two sapphire and diamond rings were listed as part of the auction house's fine jewelry auction, which was called A Legacy of Elegance: Jewels from an Exceptional Collection; bidding closed on September 30, 2025, and Rapport notes that the entire auction brought in $8.7 million. Notably, the statement-making rings were among the top sales.
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The top-selling ring featured a 10.68 carat cushion-cut sapphire stone set between two triangular-shaped diamonds, set in platinum. Sotheby's noted that the sizable center stone was "of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating and a minor amount of oil in fissures." The initial high estimate for the ring was $328,718, but it sold for more than double bringing in a whopping $819,982. For reference, Princess Kate's engagement ring was most recently valued at roughly $520,000.
Another significant sapphire and diamond ring sold during the auction—this one, a piece from Cartier. Sotheby's noted that the ring featured an 18.25 carat cushion-shaped sapphire surrounded by brilliant-cut and baguette diamonds. The auction house found this stone to be "of Burmese origin, with no indication of heat treatment." They also noted that the color was a vivid blue, which is also referred to as "Royal Blue." Though that ring was larger in size, it sold for $656,026, which was within estimates for the piece.
There were 269 total lots during the auction, including an array of different diamond rings. Other notable sales included a toi et moi sapphire, emerald, and diamond ring that brought in $238,555 and a 16.98 carat rectangular brilliant cut diamond ring that sold for $208,736.
