By Christine Frietchen on November 23, 2011 in
Sure, this isn't hard-hitting news, just something interesting we've noticed. This year's royal wedding has rekindled a trend. In pretty much every store circular (except maybe Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas), you'll see some version (sometimes more than one) of Princess Diana's (now Kate's) saphire and diamond engagement ring. Here's a look at the knock-off contenders if you're looking to surprise the princess (or the royal watcher) in your life.
JC Penney will be selling a Swarovski crystal version of the ring for $20 on Black Friday; it regularly goes for $30. Kohl's is selling one with an actual blue saphire and white saphires (though they are lab-created saphires) as a Black Friday early-bird special for $250 (down from $800). You can also get the same Swarovski version at Kohl's for $21.99 if you shop early -- that's $2 more than the price at JC Penney.
At Macy's, their Black Friday ring isn't so much a direct knock-off of the royal ring as inspired by it. There's still a blue saphire, and there are surrounding diamonds, but the band is a bit more modern. On Black Friday it goes for $250. Even Kmart has a version -- a $29.99 fake version (no real gemstones here).