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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Archives for December 2018

The Best Royal Jewels of 2018: #4 (Wedding Tiaras in Germany)

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(Psst! Looking for our previously-scheduled book club discussion? Check back here later this week!)
DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy
A glittering gathering in Germany that brought out multiple important historic tiaras nabs the fourth spot on our countdown…
#4: Wedding Tiaras in Germany

DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy

Duchess Sophie of Wurttemberg, granddaughter of the current head of the House of Wurttemberg, married Count Maximilian d’Andigne in October. She wore the family’s traditional diamond wedding tiara for the occasion.

At the wedding ball, Sophie’s relatives raided their vaults for some serious heirloom bling. Thanks to Vincent Meylan’s Instagram account, we got a few peeks at the jewels! Sophie’s mother, Duchess Marie Caroline of Wurttemberg (born Duchess Marie Caroline in Bavaria), wore a brilliant diamond and ruby parure that has been in the Wurttemberg family since the turn of the twentieth century. It was made by Kochert, the Austrian-based court jeweler of the Habsburgs.

But even more thrilling, another of Sophie’s aunts, Duchess Mathilde of Wurttemberg, arrived for the ball wearing the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara! It’s been years since this tiara (which inspired the famous copy now worn by the Duchess of Cambridge) was worn in public. It is presently owned by the Waldburg-Zeil family. You can read much more about the tiara in our post on its reappearance over here!

The Best Royal Jewels of 2018: #5 (Meghan’s Wedding Jewels)

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AARON CHOWN/AFP/Getty Images
Number five on our countdown of the best royal jewels of the year features some major sparkle that was perfect for Britain’s newest royal duchess!
#5: Meghan’s Wedding Jewels

JONATHAN BRADY/AFP/Getty Images

When she arrived at St. George’s Chapel in May, Meghan Markle was resplendent in both vintage and modern diamonds. Perched atop her veil was Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau, a ’30s sparkler that features a Victorian jewel, the County of Lincoln Brooch, in its center. The tiara had not been seen in public in more than half a century!

JOHN SIBLEY/AFP/Getty Images

With the tiara, Meghan wore a pair of diamond earrings from her collection: the Galanterie de Cartier earrings, which she had previously debuted a month earlier. (Read our post on the earrings here!)

Steve Parsons – WPA Pool/Getty Images

She also wore the diamond Reflection de Cartier bracelet on her right wrist.

JONATHAN BRADY/AFP/Getty Images

Meghan’s wedding ring, per royal tradition, was made by Cleave and Company using a nugget of Welsh gold.

Steve Parsons – WPA Pool/Getty Images

For their evening wedding reception, the bride and groom changed into new outfits, and the new Duchess of Sussex also swapped out her jewels. She changed into the Reflection de Cartier earrings, which match the diamond bracelet she wore for the wedding ceremony, and the large emerald-cut aquamarine ring that belonged to her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales. We’ve got much more on all of Meghan’s bridal jewels, including lots of close-ups, in the links below!

The Best Royal Jewels of 2018: #6 (Tiaras Revealed at Kensington Palace)

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© Historic Royal Palaces
A trio of Victorian-era royal tiaras soars to the sixth spot on our countdown of this year’s best royal jewelry moments…
#6: Tiaras Revealed at Kensington Palace

© Historic Royal Palaces

We initially learned last year that the Fife Tiara would be going on display as part of a new exhibition at Kensington Palace…

© Historic Royal Palaces

…but later on, we were all delighted to learn that there were even more royal jewels included in the display!

© Historic Royal Palaces

The display also features the grand diamond and emerald tiara designed for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert…

© Historic Royal Palaces

…and the rest of the jewels from the coordinating emerald and diamond parure are there, too!

© Historic Royal Palaces

And finally, we’ve got the Fife Fringe Tiara as well! (More on this tiara over here!)

© Historic Royal Palaces

I know many of you have seen the tiaras in person this year at Kensington Palace, but for those who couldn’t experience them yourself, we had some pretty spectacular views here at The Court Jeweller as well!