David Beckham: Gold Coast jeweller Benjamin Tracy designed Victoria Beckham’s wedding ring

A leading jeweller to the stars has revealed how he designed and created a special piece of jewellery for soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria. SEE HOW HE ENTERED THEIR ORBIT

Gold Coast jeweller Benjamin Tracy has designed items fit for members of the royal family - and one of the world’s most famed couples, Posh Spice and David Beckham.

The award-winning Robina-based designer - in the industry nearly 35 years - has recounted how down-to-earth the pair were during the process, as the pair’s lives are revealed like never before on Netflix hit Beckham.

Mr Tracy came into their rarefied orbit during a long stint in the late 1990s at the Crown Jewellers, Asprey and Garrard in the UK where he created the tiara for Sophie Rhys-Jones when she married Prince Edward.

It was the same year he was tasked with designing the wedding ring Manchester United player David Beckham gave to his then-fiance Victoria Adams, aka Posh Spice.

Victoria Adams, Posh of the band Spice Girls shows off her engagement ring in 1999.

“It was quite a buzz then in 1998 to have been given the task to hand-make Victoria’s ring, and I vividly remember the day she, David and baby Brooklyn came into the workshop for a fitting of the rings we were making for them,” he said.

“Originally, I thought I’d be starstruck, but after a moment of chatting about the rings, I was amazed at how down to earth they really were, as they took a keen interest in how the rings were coming together.

Multi award-winning Gold Coast jeweller Ben Tracy at work at Robina. Ben talks about his role designing and creating David and Victoria Beckham's wedding rings amid the revival of interest in the soccer star with the new Netflix documentary. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Victoria has since had several incarnations of the engagement ring I was involved with, but it’s still nice to see them going strong after all these years … just like the jewellery I make.”

The ring had a three-carat marquis diamond at its heart.

The couple began dating in 1997 and became engaged in early 1998 before their marriage in mid-1999.

The couple’s relationship and life together has received renewed interest in recent weeks following the launch of the four-part Beckham documentary on Netflix with bumper ratings worldwide.

Victoria Adams and David Beckham in 1998.

Mr Tracy, who today runs Finelines Jewellers in Robina, said seeing the documentary and focus on the couple’s engagement and marriage had brought back fond memories.

“It really took me back to the time I was working in London when I was fortunate enough to work for Asprey and Garrard who held the Royal warrant as the Crown Jeweller.

“During my time there, I had the privilege to work on some unique and amazing pieces for the royals and celebrities such as David and Victoria Beckham.”

Benjamin Tracy in 1999. Picture: Gold Coast Bulletin archive

Mr Tracy did his apprenticeship with Paradise Jewellers on the Gold Coast and was nominated for the 1993 Queensland Jewellery Apprentice of the Year.

At the Crown Jeweller he was commissioned to recreate the 176 carat sapphire Heart of the Ocean necklace from James Cameron’s film Titanic worn by singer Celine Dion at that year’s Academy Awards. It was sold two days earlier for $1.3m and featured 103 diamonds.

Savvy wedding: Victoria and David Beckham

In June 1999 Sophie Rhys-Jones wore her Tracy-made tiara in her wedding to Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh.

The then-27-year-old avid surfer spent two weeks remodelling the 100-year-old Victorian-era fleur-de-lis tiara from the Royal Family’s private jewellery collection.

“I left it to my own imagination,” he told the Bulletin at the time.

“Apparently Sophie Rhys-Jones was happy with it. And what I hear from the directors (the royal family) are quite happy with it.”