British royal wedding: China to mint money!

Image: A woman shows a replica of the British royal engagement ring at a jewellery factory in Yiwu.
Photographs: Carlos Barria/Reuters,

Chinese manufacturers are cashing in on the British royal wedding craze as they churn out tens of thousands of replica royal engagement rings for the world.

Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry at Westminster Abbey on April 29.

British royal wedding: China to mint money!

Image: An employee packages replicas of the British royal engagement ring at a jewellery factory.
Photographs: Carlos Barria/Reuters.

While the actual price of the ring is 30 thousand pounds, the imitation rings would cost between 3 yuan ($ 0.45) and 50 yuan ($7.56).

British royal wedding: China to mint money!

Image: Replicas of the British royal engagement ring.
Photographs: Carlos Barria/Reuters.

The engagement ring with a blue sapphire, decked with diamonds belonged to William's mother, the late Princess Diana.

British royal wedding: China to mint money!

Image: An employee melts metal as he stands next to replicas of the British royal engagement ring.
Photographs: Carlos Barria/Reuters.

Factories in Yiwu in Zhejiang province are manufacturing thousands of rings to meet the global demand from United Kingdom, United States and countries in Western Europe, besides domestic demand.

British royal wedding: China to mint money!

Image: An employee sets stones on a replica of the British royal engagement ring at a jewellery factory.
Photographs: Carlos Barria/Reuters.

Chinese factories are also making other merchandise like cups, plates and key chains representing the royal couple.

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