Archives for 2017

State Visit Jewels: Luxembourg’s Visit to Japan

11.28.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg arrived in Tokyo on Monday for a state visit, and we’ve got all of the royal and imperial jewels from day one for your viewing pleasure! (Please note: some of the GIFs in this post feature flash photography.)

The day’s events began with official ceremonies at the Imperial Palace, hosted by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

KIMIMASA MAYAMA/AFP/Getty Images

Empress Michiko was her usual elegant self for the welcome ceremonies. She wore pear-shaped pearl earrings with a pearl necklace and a modern silver and pearl brooch.

KIMIMASA MAYAMA/AFP/Getty Images

Here’s a closer look at the brooch, which features a pair of pearls on a leafy silver setting.

KIMIMASA MAYAMA/AFP/Getty Images

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, who has an intense fear of flying, stayed back in Luxembourg, and Princess Alexandra accompanied her father on the visit instead. She followed in her host nation’s footsteps by wearing pearls for the welcome ceremonies, including a pearl bracelet and necklace. Her earrings appeared to feature pale pink pearl drops.

Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako also attended the welcome ceremonies, as did representatives of Japan’s government, including the prime minister. Masako also followed her mother-in-law’s examples and wore elegant pearls for the event.

ISSEI KATO/AFP/Getty Images

On Monday evening, the Japanese imperial family hosted a state banquet for their royal guests.

ISSEI KATO/AFP/Getty Images

Empress Michiko wore rather elaborate earrings and an embellished, multi-stranded pearl necklace.

Cour Grand-Ducale

Here’s another view of her jewels from the banquet.

ISSEI KATO/AFP/Getty Images

Again, Princess Alexandra accompanied her father to the banquet.

ISSEI KATO/AFP/Getty Images

Sadly, photos of Alexandra from the banquet are a bit blurred, but we can see here that she wore the family’s convertible tiara/necklace from Chaumet. (More on that one over here!)

Cour Grand-Ducale

Here’s a slightly better view, especially of the necklace. Crown Princess Masako also attended the banquet; you can view a photo of her jewels here. (She wore the magnificent Pearl Sunburst Tiara, which you can learn about over here.) Princess Kiko was in attendance, too, wearing her wedding tiara.

Prince Harry and Meghan Are Engaged!

11.27.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

Break out the champagne, magpies: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are officially engaged! I’ll be updating this post throughout the day as we get more information on the ring and the proposal, but feel free to use this post for discussion as events happen!

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

We’ve got details on the ring! According to Emily Andrews of The Sun, the ring was designed by Prince Harry himself. The gold ring is set with three diamonds: the larger central stone comes from Botswana, a place close to Harry’s heart, and it is flanked by a pair of diamonds that come from the collection of Harry’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

The thin gold band of the ring fits with the style of other rings commonly worn by Meghan. (See some examples from the Invictus Games over here!) The engagement ring was made by the current court jeweler, Cleave and Co.

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

The wedding is slated for Spring 2018, and, based on comments from the Archbishop of Canterbury this morning, it seems like it will be a church affair. Of course I’m hoping for a tiara — you can read about some of my picks for the bridal diadem over here!

Queen Maxima’s Citrines

11.27.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

BAS CZERWINSKI/AFP/Getty Images

She’s a member of the House of Orange, so it’s very appropriate that Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wears an extensive collection of jewelry set with orange gemstones. It’s said that these pieces are made of citrines, though it wouldn’t surprise me if there are a few orange topazes sprinkled throughout. Here’s a look at some of her sparkling citrine jewels.

ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP/Getty Images

One of the staples of Maxima’s collection is a pair of briolette-cut citrine drops, which she wears suspended from various pairs of diamond pendant earrings. At Princess Amalia’s christening, she wore the drops with a diamond bow brooch hung with a warm orange drop.

Michel Porro/Getty Images

Maxima wore the same brooch and oval pendant in 2004 to take her seat in the Raad van State. Here, she wore the briolette drops in a shorter earring setting.

PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images

She also has a larger pair of citrine drops, worn here in Monaco with one of the longer pairs of diamond pendant earrings. These drops actually belong to another pair of earrings with a citrine gemstone stud.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Maxima’s ensemble for the princely wedding in Monaco also included a large bracelet. This piece features various shades of citrines interspersed with white diamonds.

Mark Renders /Getty Images

This view of the bracelet, from 2006, shows the color gradations of the bracelet. Maxima also has a simpler bracelet featuring a single row of citrines and diamonds.

Michel Porro/Getty Images

For Prinsjesdag in 2007, Maxima wore several pieces of citrine jewelry, including a ring set with a large citrine on her right hand. This ring was a gift from King Willem-Alexander to celebrate the birth of Princess Alexia. (In fact, many of these citrine pieces are said to be gifts from Willem-Alexander.)

OLIVER BERG/AFP/Getty Images

That citrine ring is different from another famous orange ring in her collection: her engagement ring, shown above, which is set with a rare orange diamond.

Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images

This modern set of citrine and diamond jewels accompanied Maxima on an official visit to Mongolia in 2006.

TOUSSAINT KLUITERS/AFP/Getty Images

One of the most show-stopping pieces of citrine jewelry in the Dutch collection is this large oval-shaped citrine cluster brooch, which features a trio of diamond and citrine pendants. Here, she wears the brooch at her waist during a concert celebrating her 40th birthday.

FRANK VAN BEEK/AFP/Getty Images

The central cluster portion of the brooch can be worn separately. Maxima innovated with the piece even further in 2014, when she wore it as part of the large diamond bow ornament that belonged to Queen Emma.