Tauranga jeweller sells copy of royal ring

A Tauranga jeweller has just sold a "copy-cat" version of the engagement ring which now adorns the hand of Prince William's fiancee, Kate Middleton.
Diamond Design's John Tullock sold the sapphire and diamond ring 10 days ago, well before the hype erupted surrounding the late Princess Diana's ring, which the Prince gave to Miss Middleton for their engagement.
Mr Tullock was keen to protect the privacy of the Auckland-based buyer of his ring but said it had been bought before this week's royal announcement.
"It's an outstanding ring - magnificent. I was inspired by the sapphire. I'll probably never get another one like it in my lifetime," he said.
Mr Tullock made the ring himself after buying its sapphire personally in Antwerp.
He plans to hand-deliver it to the buyer and while he could not say whether the rings were the same size without knowing comparable measurements, it was possible, he said. The ring was of "significant" size.
He suspected he could be asked to make a replica of the ring, given the hype around this week's royal engagement.
"When Prince Charles and Diana got engaged quite a lot of people came in."
Mr Tullock said every sapphire was individual and the price would vary depending on the quality and size of the stones.
"Anywhere from $5000 to $80,000."
Across the United States, major jewellery stores have registered an increase in calls from clients interested in the brilliant blue gem that appeared in breaking news stories.
The sapphire alone is worth about US$300,000 ($386,000) retail and the entire ring about US$500,000.
Julie Hammon, owner of Tauranga's Hammon Diamond Jeweller, said when Prince Charles and Diana Spencer became engaged there was a "real surge" in the popularity of diamond and sapphire clusters.
"It's a classic style that's always been around and always will be around."
Mrs Hammon said it was not in bad taste for someone proposing marriage to use a hand-me-down ring.
"I don't consider secondhand as part of the sentiment of this occasion. It's quite a common thing to pass on a ring to someone new in the family."
A quality piece of jewellery could be passed through the generations.
"It's quite special he wants her to have it," she said.
Tania Lilly, owner of Diamond and Co in Mount Maunganui, said family jewellery was "such a personal thing".
She said if Miss Middleton loved Prince William, which she did, she would be honoured to wear Princess Diana's ring.
Prince William said he gave Miss Middleton the ring as a way of making his late mother part of his special day.
"I thought it was quite nice, because obviously she's not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all. This was my way of keeping her close," the Prince said.
The Bay of Plenty Times yesterday conducted a snap street poll and asked 21 people on The Strand whether they thought it was bad taste to propose with a secondhand ring.
Two said it was offensive, 15 said not if it was a family treasure, and four said it was fine.
What do you think? Have your say in the poll on this page.
Find much more about the royal engagement in today's Bay of Plenty Times.