The World’s Most Famous ‘Engagement Ring’

Princess Diana was undoubtedly the most memorable personality associated with the House of Repossi in the late 1990s for the astonishing transformation that unfolded before my eyes—from a tale of love into a Greek tragedy of global proportions.

As one of the leading French newspapers wrote, we had been intertwined for at least a decade in what was meant to be a monumental chapter for our House: the world’s most photographed woman had chosen a Repossi design for her engagement ring.

It all began in early August 1997. Our relationship with the Ritz Hotel in Place Vendôme had been established a decade earlier when I chose it as my Parisian residence following the hotel’s acquisition and renovation by the Egyptian magnate, Mohamed Al-Fayed. His family had since become loyal clients of ours, and a mutually beneficial arrangement of favors and discounts was promptly put in place.

That summer of 1997, I received a rather ordinary call from the Ritz’s general manager, who inquired whether we had any diamond rings in Monaco for the engagement of one of their very important clients. Naturally, I responded affirmatively and, thinking nothing more of it, quickly forgot about the request.

A few days into August, without prior appointment, during a yacht cruise from Saint-Tropez, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Mr. Dodi Al-Fayed strolled into our Monaco boutique. After inquiring whether I was present, they nonchalantly chose a diamond ring from the exterior display case, asking me to liaise with the Ritz’s manager in Paris. Euphoria swept through the House of Repossi as we grasped the enormity of the occasion. We could already envision the worldwide press fixated on this momentous selection.

This choice was confirmed to me personally by the Princess herself, as well as by Mr. Al-Fayed a few days later in Saint-Tropez during a private meeting I had arranged. I wanted to ensure the ring size was perfect and, if necessary, suggest a different, more significant model—one befitting the most famous woman on the planet.

Though they confirmed their chosen model, the size required adjustment. I informed the couple that as our Italian atelier was closed for August, I would deliver it as soon as possible. To my astonishment, they informed me they needed the ring urgently, by August 30, as they intended to announce their engagement the following day.

I assured them the ring would be delivered on time, and we agreed on its handover at our Place Vendôme boutique in Paris on that very day. I swiftly arranged for the atelier in Italy to reopen, and we were ready for that fateful date. Later, I learned that the couple had returned from Sardinia to Paris on that same day, specifically to collect the much-anticipated ring.

In the meantime, we had also arranged for our Paris boutique to reopen on August 30, as it had been closed for the summer holidays. I gathered our most trusted and discreet staff to ensure the utmost privacy during the event.

August 30 turned out to be a bustling day. The appointment, confirmed by Mr. Al-Fayed’s office, was scheduled for 3 p.m. on a sun-drenched afternoon. However, a call came in shortly before, asking me to meet the clients three hours later at the Ritz itself.

I later discovered that the couple had spent the afternoon visiting Villa Windsor in the Bois de Boulogne, which belonged to the Al-Fayed family. This villa, formerly owned by the French state, had been given to the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, where they lived until their deaths. It would have been a poetic “historical nemesis” had another couple, similarly out of favor with the British Crown, made it their home, as seemed to have been their plan at the time.

We prepared for a private visit, but instead, Mr. Al-Fayed arrived directly at the boutique around 6 p.m., accompanied by a secretary and bodyguards. I welcomed Mr. Al-Fayed into the most secluded part of our boutique, the basement. After introducing him to my wife, I presented the ring they had chosen. By a twist of fate, this particular piece was from a collection aptly named Dis-moi oui (“Say Yes”)—a moment that made us all smile.

Mr. Al-Fayed then requested a selection of catalogs, as Princess Diana had admired several pieces displayed in our Ritz showcase. He also suggested a possible meeting in London the following week to discuss specific designs and to modernize some of the royal jewelry she had been wearing for some time.

After completing the formalities in the presence of his secretary, we handed over the iconic ring, along with two other sample pieces requested by the Princess. From the doorman to the staff, and from my wife to myself, we were all elated—there was an unforgettable atmosphere of excitement in the air.

That Saturday evening, the 30th, I was fortunate to catch the last flight to Monte Carlo, eager to finish the weekend with our daughter Gaia, who was thankfully home.

There is one detail I must mention: a tinted-window car (a taxi, yet somehow conspicuous) had been parked outside our boutique since 3 p.m. My wife, who noticed it while smoking a cigarette outside in Place Vendôme, sent security to investigate. Fearing it could be paparazzi, we asked them to move along, which they did, retreating about 150 meters. We quickly forgot about the incident.

What I can never forget, however, is the scene the following morning. Still basking in the joy of the previous day’s success, I was about to leave our building to fetch the morning papers when our concierge stopped me, asking if I had seen the latest news.

He then delivered the devastating blow: “Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed were killed in a car crash late last night, on Saturday, August 30, 1997.”

I don’t recall ever being so utterly shocked in my life. I returned home, empty-handed and stunned, to watch the breaking news flashing across every television channel. I alerted my wife, and for a time, we sat together in silence, dazed and speechless, staring at the screen.

We transitioned from a state of immense joy, fully aware of the great fortune this event would have brought to our House after years of struggle, to deep sadness. Our immediate thoughts turned to maintaining professional secrecy and safeguarding all sensitive information as best we could. There were, after all, prominent families and teenage sons involved, and under the deluge of media scrutiny, we had to keep everything tightly under wraps.

To be continued in the next issue…

By Alberto Repossi

Senior Editor

Jewelry has been a Repossi family legacy since 1920, beginning with Alberto Repossi's grandfather's first High Jewelry factory in northern Italy. In 1978, Alberto and his wife, Gio' Giove Repossi, opened their first store in Monaco, followed by another in Paris in 1986. By 1994, Repossi became the "Official Supplier of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco." Their creations have adorned royalty and celebrities, including Princess Diana's engagement ring in 1997 and Princess Charlene of Monaco's engagement ring.