The Wisborg Amethysts

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We’re all familiar with the grand suite of amethysts that belongs to the Swedish royals, but today we’ve got a look at some gorgeous amethyst jewels from a junior branch of the family, the Wisborgs.

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The set belongs to Countess Marianne Bernadotte af Wisborg. She’s the widow of Prince Sigvard, the second son of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and Princess Margaret of Connaught. Sigvard gave up his royal title when he married a commoner in 1934, but he was subsequently granted the title of Count of Wisborg by a distant relative, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg. In 1961, he married his third wife, Swedish actress Marianne Lindberg. Today, she’s the last of her royal generation, and the only surviving aunt of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

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Marianne is a noted fashion icon, and her collection of jewelry includes a modern suite of gold and amethyst jewelry. The set includes a necklace, which is also able to be set on a frame and worn as a tiara, as you can see above. The suite also features earrings and a ring.

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Marianne’s most prominent recent appearance in the amethysts came in June 2013, when she wore the set for the wedding of her great-niece, Princess Madeleine of Sweden, in Stockholm.

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On that occasion, Marianne wore the necklace as a diadem, as well as the earrings. As you can see in the photograph above, she also wore the ring on her right hand.

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The amethysts in the suite are a particularly lovely shade of violet, and the gold setting emphasizes the reddish tones in the color of the stones. Purple is such a flattering color for so many women — I only wish more royal collections included parures featuring amethysts!