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Whenever the news breaks of a royal engagement, one of the most anticipated questions is about the engagement ring. From the famous blue sapphire that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge wears to the classic three-stone style set in yellow gold that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex received from Prince Harry, there is no denying the fact that royal engagement rings are nothing short of breathtaking. Typically, the cost of a royal engagement ring is often far into the 6-figure range, although we have to say that most of them are pretty much priceless. Here is why Princess Eugenie‘s engagement ring is far rarer and more expensive than we realized.

How and when did Princess Eugenie get engaged? 

Princess Eugenie at 2018 Royal Ascot
Princess Eugenie at 2018 Royal Ascot | Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Princess Eugenie and her now-husband, Jack Brooksbank, had been together for quite some time, first meeting all the way back in 2010, while on a ski trip in Switzerland. According to Town & Country, the princess was only 20 years old, but even at such a young age, there is no doubt that she was smitten.

The feeling was obviously mutual, and the two of them dated for over 8 years, even when Princess Eugenie was living thousands of miles away in New York City for a few years.

So, how did they make the long-distance relationship work? According to Brooksbank, the couple spent “a lot of time on Skype,” and things worked out for the best. It was during a trip to Nicaragua in 2018 that Brooksbank asked Eugenie to marry him, with the princess saying it was an “incredible moment.” As for the setting, he said that there was a “beautiful volcano, summer setting, birds are flying.”

What is Eugenie’s engagement ring like?

While engagement rings most often feature a diamond as the main stone, the royals have been known to break away from tradition just a bit with rings that feature gorgeous gemstones. The Duchess of Cambridge probably wears the most well-known one, and we all know that Princess Diana chose it from a catalog years earlier.

Princess Eugenie’s ring, which is just as beautiful, features an orange sapphire with a pink tint, surrounded by diamonds. It is similar to the one her father, Prince Andrew gave her mom, Sarah Ferguson, when he proposed in 1986, and just about all royal fans would agree that the ring is stunning.

Marie Claire reports that Brooksbank chose the unique ring because of the way “it changes color when it hits certain lights, much like Eugenie — very romantic.”

Princess Eugenie’s engagement ring is far rarer and more expensive than we realized

Princess Eugenie wears a ring containing a padparadscha sapphire surrounded by diamonds as she poses with Jack Brooksbank in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London after they announced their engagement.
Princess Eugenie’s engagement ring | Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images

Anyone who has done their research knows that the average price for an engagement ring is around $5000. However, average just won’t do when it comes to royal engagements, and Eugenie’s ring is rarer and more expensive than anyone realized.

According to The Adventurine, the ring features a Padparadscha sapphire, one of the rarest there is. It is highly coveted by collectors, due to the fact that this type of stone is more expensive than a diamond — up to $10,000 to $50,000 per carat, in fact.

They aren’t found just anywhere, either — The Natural Sapphire Company reports that these precious stones mainly come from Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Tanzania.

Only the best will do for a princess about to tie the knot, and Brooksbank certainly made a wonderful choice. It was in October 2018 that Jack and Eugenie tied the knot at St. George’s Chapel located on the grounds of Windsor Castle, a perfect fall day that complimented the lovely ring just beautifully.