It’s the most scrutinized piece of jewelry on the planet. Honestly, maybe ever. When Prince Harry slid that three-stone gold band onto Meghan Markle’s finger in the north garden of Kensington Palace, the world didn’t just see a piece of jewelry; we saw a tectonic shift in royal tradition. But if you’ve been looking at a close up meghan markle engagement ring recently, you might have noticed something a bit… different.
The ring has a life of its own. It’s not just a static heirloom tucked away in a velvet box. It evolves.
From the ethical mines of Botswana to the private collection of the late Princess Diana, every single facet of this ring tells a story. And lately, those stories have gotten a lot more complicated.
The Original Design: A Picnic and a Promise
Let’s go back to November 2017.
The couple gave their first joint interview to the BBC, and the ring was the star. Harry didn’t just walk into a shop and pick one out. He designed it himself. Working with the late Queen’s regular jeweler, Cleave & Company, he put together a "trilogy" or three-stone setting.
✨ Don't miss: Selena Gomez Quotes: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Story
- The Center Stone: A roughly 3-carat cushion-cut diamond.
- The Origin: It was sourced from Botswana. This is the place where they essentially fell in love, camping out under the stars just weeks after their first date.
- The Side Stones: Two round diamonds. These are the heavy hitters. They came from Princess Diana’s personal jewelry collection.
- The Metal: Originally, it was a solid 18-karat yellow gold band. Harry famously said it was her favorite.
It was classic. Sturdy. Kinda traditional, actually. But for a woman who spent years in Hollywood and then stepped into the most rigid institution in the world, "traditional" was only the starting point.
The 2019 Redesign: A Gift for Archie
Fast forward to the Trooping the Colour in 2019. This was Meghan’s first major appearance after giving birth to Archie. Eagle-eyed fans—the kind who probably use magnifying glasses on their phone screens—noticed the gold band was gone.
In its place? A thin, delicate micro-pavé diamond band.
This wasn’t a random choice. Reports from the 2022 biography Finding Freedom suggest Harry worked with celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz to resize the ring (common after pregnancy) and decided to "upgrade" it at the same time. He also added a diamond eternity band to the stack.
Inside that eternity band? A hidden message. It’s set with the birthstones for the three of them: a green peridot for Meghan, a blue sapphire for Harry, and a green emerald for Archie.
The 2025 Mystery: Did She Change the Center Stone?
Now, this is where things get spicy. In late 2025 and early 2026, social media went into a complete meltdown over the trailer for her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan.
The close up meghan markle engagement ring shots in that footage showed a diamond that didn't look like a cushion cut anymore. It looked sharper. More rectangular.
Experts like Neil Dutta have pointed out that the new stone appears to be an emerald cut. This is a massive departure. An emerald cut is "step-cut," meaning it has long, linear facets that look like a hall of mirrors rather than the "crushed ice" sparkle of a cushion cut.
Some people think she actually swapped the Botswana diamond for a new one to match her "new chapter." Others think the cushion-cut stone might have been re-cut to give it those sharper corners.
💡 You might also like: Jeremy Meeks Modelling: What Really Happened After the Viral Mugshot
There's also a third theory: safety. Traveling around the world with a ring worth an estimated $350,000 (especially one with Diana’s diamonds) is a massive security risk. It’s very common for high-profile women to wear a high-quality "stunt double" or replica when they're filming or traveling. Honestly, if you were doing a cooking segment on Netflix, would you want to get dough stuck in a royal heirloom? Probably not.
Breaking Down the Specs (And the Drama)
If you’re trying to recreate this look or just want to know what makes it so pricey, here’s the prose breakdown of the current "2026 version" of the ring.
The center stone is roughly 3 carats. If it is indeed the new emerald cut seen in recent footage, the value of that stone alone sits somewhere between $100,000 and $150,000, depending on the clarity. The two side stones are roughly 0.75 carats each. Because they belonged to Princess Diana, their "market value" is basically irrelevant—they are priceless.
The total carat weight of the stack, including the micro-pavé band and the eternity ring, is estimated to be around 5 carats.
Why People Are So Divided
There is a segment of the population that thinks it’s sacrilege to change a ring designed by a Prince. They see the original yellow gold band as the "authentic" version.
But then there's the other side.
Style evolves. You aren't the same person you were ten years ago, so why should your jewelry be? By adding the pavé band and potentially updating the cut of the diamond, Meghan is treating the ring as a living piece of art. It’s a reflection of her growth from a royal newcomer to a global entrepreneur.
How to Get the Look (Without the Royal Budget)
You don't need a Prince to get a ring with this kind of vibe.
First, look for a "trilogy" setting. This three-stone style is everywhere now, partly because of the "Meghan Effect." If you want the original look, go for a 2-carat cushion-cut center stone with two round brilliant side stones on a 14k yellow gold band.
If you want the modern "Sussex" look, ask for a micro-pavé band. This is a band that is completely encrusted with tiny diamonds, so you can't even see the metal. It makes the center stones look like they’re floating.
And don't sleep on lab-grown diamonds. Meghan herself has been spotted wearing lab-grown diamonds (like her Kimai earrings). They’re chemically identical to mined diamonds but usually cost about 70% less. It’s a very "Meghan" way to get a 3-carat look without the $30,000 price tag.
What You Can Do Now
If you're looking to upgrade your own jewelry or are shopping for an engagement ring, take a page out of the Duchess's playbook. Don't feel pressured to keep a design "forever" if your taste changes.
- Audit Your Metal: If you have an old white gold ring, consider having it replated or reset in yellow gold to match current trends.
- Add a "Stacker": You don't have to change your engagement ring to change the look. Adding a thin diamond eternity band can completely transform a simple solitaire.
- Check Your Settings: If you notice your stones are wobbling—which reportedly happened to Meghan in 2023—get it to a jeweler immediately. A "loose setting" is how most people lose their center stones.
The most important thing to remember is that a ring is a symbol of a relationship. Whether it's a plain gold band or a 5-carat diamond masterpiece, the meaning is what actually matters. Just maybe keep the dough out of the prongs.