Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge Dress’ Is in London This Week: The Jewellery Behind Her Most Famous Look
One of Princess Diana’s most recognisable fashion moments has returned to London. The black Christina Stambolian dress that became known around the world as the “revenge dress” is on public display at Sotheby’s in New Bond Street from 18 to 24 September 2026, before travelling internationally ahead of its December auction in New York.
More than three decades after Diana wore it to a Serpentine Gallery event, the dress still feels instantly recognisable. But the outfit was never just about the dress itself. Diana completed the look with some of the most memorable sapphire, diamond and pearl jewellery in her collection, including the blue sapphire engagement ring that remains one of the most famous engagement rings ever created.
The story behind Princess Diana’s revenge dress
Princess Diana wore the fitted, off-the-shoulder black silk dress on 29 June 1994 to a Vanity Fair fundraising dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens. That same evening, a televised documentary featuring the then Prince Charles aired in Britain, during which he acknowledged that he had been unfaithful after their marriage had “irretrievably broken down”.
Diana had owned the Christina Stambolian design for several years but had reportedly considered it too daring for a royal appearance. On this particular evening, however, its asymmetric hemline, bare shoulders and close silhouette marked a noticeable departure from the more formal style traditionally associated with royal dressing. The photographs travelled around the world, and the look quickly became known as the “revenge dress”.
The original dress is now back in the city where that famous appearance took place. It can be viewed at Sotheby’s on New Bond Street until Thursday 24 September, before it continues its international tour. Sotheby’s has given the dress an auction estimate of $150,000 to $300,000.
The sapphire and pearl choker that defined the look
Against the simplicity of the black dress, Diana’s jewellery became even more striking. At the centre of the look was her famous multi-row pearl choker, finished with a large oval sapphire surrounded by diamonds. The sapphire had originally formed part of a brooch given to Diana by the Queen Mother as a wedding gift before Diana had it transformed into the centrepiece of the pearl necklace.
It was a perfect example of something Diana became known for throughout her life: taking traditional royal jewels and wearing them in a way that felt personal and modern. The vivid blue sapphire stood out dramatically against the black neckline of the dress and tied the evening look to one of the gemstones most closely associated with her.
For a contemporary nod towards that sapphire focal point, the LILA Oval Blue Sapphire Pendant in 18k white gold places an oval blue sapphire at the centre of a clean, minimal design. It is not a reproduction of Diana’s choker, but it captures the same appeal of an intensely blue sapphire worn as the focus of a jewellery look.
Her sapphire engagement ring was part of the revenge dress look
One detail that is sometimes overlooked in photographs from the evening is that Diana was still wearing her famous sapphire engagement ring, stacked with her wedding band. The ring features the instantly recognisable combination of an oval blue sapphire framed by a halo of white diamonds, a design that has remained closely linked with royal jewellery ever since.
That silhouette directly inspired the Lily Arkwright DIANA Blue Sapphire & Lab Diamond 18k White Gold Halo Ring. Its oval blue sapphire centre is surrounded by a halo of lab grown diamonds and set in 18k white gold, creating the same blue and white contrast that made Diana’s original ring so distinctive.
For anyone drawn to Diana’s jewellery rather than simply the fashion story around the dress, this is arguably the clearest link between the photographs taken that evening and a design that can still be worn today.
The other jewels Diana wore that night
Diana also wore diamond and pearl drop earrings and a sapphire and diamond bracelet with the revenge dress. Together, the pieces created a deliberately coordinated palette of bright white diamonds, pearls and deep blue sapphire, rather than allowing any single jewel to compete with the dress.
Within Lily Arkwright's fine jewellery collection, the PETRA Statement Lab Diamond Earrings in 18k white gold offer a more contemporary way to recreate the elongated diamond sparkle visible around Diana’s face in photographs from the evening.
Blue sapphire and diamond details can also be carried through with the VOGUE Blue Sapphire & Diamond Halo Earrings in 18k white gold. These are not replicas of the earrings Diana wore, but the combination of a rich blue centre stone and bright diamond halo reflects the same sapphire and diamond pairing seen across her jewellery that night.
At the wrist, Diana wore a sapphire and diamond bracelet. A modern all-diamond alternative is the MONACO 4 Total Carat Lab Diamond Tennis Bracelet in 18k white gold, which creates the same continuous line of light around the wrist while keeping the rest of the jewellery understated.
Why Diana’s sapphire jewellery still feels so current
The lasting fascination with the revenge dress is partly about timing, but it is also about how complete the styling was. The dress was bold, while the jewellery relied on classic shapes and materials. More than 30 years later, oval sapphires, diamond halos, white metals and statement earrings still feel relevant because they sit outside short-lived trends.
Diana’s own approach also makes the look feel modern. She mixed historically important pieces with jewellery that had been altered to suit her taste, treating jewellery as something expressive rather than untouchable. British Vogue has documented how Diana repeatedly adapted and restyled important jewels, including the sapphire and pearl choker that became central to the revenge dress look.
See Diana-inspired jewellery in London
With the original revenge dress back in London for only a few days, it is a rare opportunity to see one of the most photographed outfits of the twentieth century in person. Sotheby’s London is displaying the dress at 34–35 New Bond Street until 24 September 2026.
If the exhibition leaves you inspired by Diana’s enduring blue sapphire style, Lily Arkwright’s London showroom in Marylebone Square offers the chance to view the DIANA ring and explore blue sapphire, lab grown diamond and fine jewellery designs in person.
More than three decades after one night at the Serpentine Gallery, the revenge dress remains a defining fashion image. Yet the jewellery tells an equally interesting story. From the transformed sapphire brooch at her neck to the oval sapphire ring on her hand, Diana’s choices showed how classic gemstones could be made unmistakably personal.