Battle of the Royal Proposal Heirloom Replica Rings, As UnSeen On TV

Which Royal Replica Ring Rings Realest?

The Royal Heirloom Ring

The Royal Proposal Ring

Fans of the British Royal Family are entranced. Prince William has given his fiancée Kate Middleton the same ring his father Prince Charles gave to Princess Diana 30 years ago. Princess Di chose the ring from several shown to her in 1981, and loved it so much she wore it even after her divorce. Moments after Kate and William’s interview on British TV, the phones of jewelry stores around the world started ringing with requests for replicas of the sapphire and diamond ring.

Sadly, most of us can’t afford an exact copy of the royal ring. According to MSNBC’s today.com article, “…the sapphire alone is worth about $300,000 retail, and the whole ring about a half-million dollars.” What’s a commoner to do? Well, luckily enough, several companies have stepped in to bridge the gap. By now, most TV viewers are aware of the Royal Heirloom Ring, …”a limited edition replica of the timeless heirloom.” Sure, the sapphire is simulated, and the diamonds are cubic zirconia set in silver plate, but what did you expect for $19.90?

Ah, but what of replica rings unseen on TV? While reading a magazine the other day, I came upon a Stauer advertisement for the Royal Proposal Scienza® Sapphire Ring. This version features a 2.5 carat synthetic sapphire prong-set in solid sterling silver, surrounded by 14 lab-created diamonds. Or as the site says, “scientifically-grown stones”. This ring sports a price tag of $99.00, and their claim is that scientifically-grown stones look superior to mined stones because they have no natural flaws, giving them more luster and brilliance. So I put the question to you, Dear Reader: which replica ring is more fit for a cost-conscious, quality-minded Princess?