Kate Middleton showed the world her engagement ring a decade ago – a stunning piece that once belonged to the late Princess Diana, featuring a blue sapphire surrounded by a ring of small diamonds. In doing so, the Duchess of Cambridge set a new trend for engagement rings that did not feature the traditional white diamond. And with bridal attire now expanded to include styles ranging from white pantsuits, to sleek and structural gowns with nary a hint of lace in sight, some brides will naturally be looking for something different for their own engagement ring. And choosing a sapphire ring means you immediately have your something blue for your wedding day. Wear it like The Crown: own the room with a pearl jewellery power play Sapphires While Kate Middleton’s ring is definitely the first point of reference for most people, other celebrities have also chosen to wear a sapphire on that all-important finger. Throughout their marriage, Victoria Beckham has received 14 “engagement rings” from her husband David, one of which is set with an eye-popping oval shaped sapphire. Cartier is no stranger to royal weddings – think of the Cartier Halo tiara that the Duchess of Cambridge wore on her wedding day – and the Cartier Destinée collection comes with a centre stone that is a sapphire, ruby or emerald. Each stone is surrounded by a micro pavé of small diamonds to add extra sparkle; a pavé of diamonds also runs around the band. The Red Carpet solitaire ring by Chopard features a 10.5-carat sapphire in a cushion shape, set with diamonds in 18-karat ethical white gold. Home-grown fine jewellery brand, Ronald Abram, has various styles to choose from, including one featuring a stunning 12-carat, cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire, or one with an Asscher-cut Sri Lankan sapphire if you want something more geometric. Which royal bride wore the most expensive wedding dress in the world? “We have noticed that there has been a steady trend for sapphire engagement rings recently, especially for those seeking an alternative to traditional diamond engagement rings,” says Jonathan J. Abram, son of founder Ronald Abram. “Sapphires are ideal for engagement rings as the colour blue is very wearable and also has romantic connotations. In terms of gemological characteristics, sapphires are quite durable due to their hardness, being nine out of 10. Only a diamond is harder, which makes them ideal for engagement rings.” For something even more unique, the Boucle solitaire by Van Cleef & Arpels looks like it was shaped from piece of ribbon – one made of platinum set with diamonds and held together by a 2.16-carat, cushion-cut sapphire. Love blue, but want a lighter shade? The Liens d’Amour ring by Chaumet features an 8.28-carat, cushion-cut tanzanite stone, paired with two bands of brilliant-cut diamonds. The Liens d’Amour also comes with an 8.21-carat, cushion cut spinel in blue grey, or a cushion-cut aquamarine stone in pastel blue. Rubies Red is commonly associated with love and passion so it’s not surprising that rubies are also used for engagement rings. Beckham’s collection also includes a ruby piece that is just as impressive as her sapphire one, while Katy Perry’s ring from Orlando Bloom features a ruby surrounded by diamonds shaped like a flower. 4 times British royals did things on the cheap for their wedding day Chopard’s high jewellery collection features a ring that celebrates the symbolism of this colour, featuring a heart-shaped pigeon’s blood ruby paired with two heart-shaped diamonds on each side. Smaller diamonds are set around the band in white gold. Graff’s collection also includes an impressive 6.05-carat pear-shaped red stone set within graceful curved lines, accentuated by a total of 8.33 carats of rubies and 4.82 carats of diamonds. And while you could always wear a tiara at your wedding , you can also wear one on your finger – the Joséphine solitaire ring by Chaumet resembles a mini tiara encircling your finger, with a cushion-cut vivid red ruby surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds, all set in platinum. Pink diamonds and pink precious stones Naturally, pink has always been synonymous with weddings and all things pretty, too. In addition to pink diamonds, there are other precious stones in the same shade. The Liens d’Amour ring by Chaumet comes in a 6.69-carat, cushion-cut rubellite in a deep pink tone, or a cushion-cut morganite gemstone the same shade as delicate pink candyfloss. For something more contemporary, the Nudo collection by the Milan-based Pomellato uses gemstones such as rose quartz and blue topaz. Its Rose Quartz Nudo Classic ring features rose quartz and chalcedony matched with brown diamonds around the band, all set with 18-karat rose and white gold, with the warm tone of the rose gold and brown diamonds enhancing the smooth pink of the rose quartz. Why Meghan, Kate and all British royal brides sport a plain gold band Emeralds and green precious stones Emeralds are striking jewels that look both regal and glamorous, and certainly make a statement when set in an engagement ring. Perhaps the most famous engagement ring in history to feature an emerald is the Van Cleef & Arpels art deco ring that Jackie Kennedy received from her fiancé, the future US president John F. Kennedy. The ring included a square-cut diamond and emerald cocooned by baguette-cut diamonds. If you want to channel Jackie Kennedy’s style with your engagement ring, Van Cleef & Arpels now has the Menuet solitaire, a contemporary design featuring a 3.98-carat, emerald-cut emerald from Colombia with diamonds around the band, set in platinum. In the Cartier Destinée collection, you can choose between a one carat or 1.99 carat emerald-cut emerald, with the mount customised to each emerald in an effort to bring out the best of in each gemstone. For something more dramatic, the Forever Liz ring from Bulgari’s Cinemagia collection features an octagon-shaped, step-cut emerald of more than 24 carats or Graff’s 21.07-carat emerald-cut emerald ring, with 3.82 carats of diamonds. “Bulgari [is] the master of colour gemstones. Besides diamonds, precious colour gemstones – whether they are emeralds, rubies or sapphires – are very important and, as far as we are concerned, complementary to diamonds,” says Mauro Di Roberto, managing director for Bulgari’s jewellery business unit. The Cinemagia collection also has an Emerald City ring for fans of The Wizard of Oz , featuring a Paraiba tourmaline surrounded by “towers” of diamonds and emeralds – a design that evokes the magical allure of the city at the end of the yellow brick road. Pearls Some brides-to-be may turn away from gems altogether and opt for a perfect South Sea pearl instead. Anna Hu’s Petales d’Amour ring comes with matching earrings that will make a stunning ensemble on the big day. The pair of earrings features pearls with suspending diamond bows and briolette tassels inspired by the passementerie, or decorative fringing, of the Belle Époque period. The matching ring boasts a centred pearl surrounded by a flowing bow and ribbon of diamonds. Want more stories like this? Sign up here . Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .