I couldn’t let October go by without featuring another jewel set with the month’s unusual, lovely birthstone! Today, I’m shining the spotlight on a sparkling appearance by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in one of her favorite opal brooches.
In March 2016, the Queen attended the Commonwealth Day Service, the largest annual interfaith gathering in Britain, at Westminster Abbey. The Queen has been Head of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1952.
The Queen’s choice of brooch for the Commonwealth Day event was a very appropriate one. She wore the brooch of gold, diamonds, and opals given to her by the Returned Sailors’, Soldiers’, and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia, an organization devoted to supporting former service members after they have returned home, as a wedding present in 1947.
The Australian Opal Spray Brooch, appropriately, is designed to resemble a spray of flowering gum, a native Australian plant. Its overall look definitely places it firmly in the world of 1940s jewelry design.
The Australian black opals set in the brooch are magnificent. It’s lovely to see how they catch fire when viewed from different angles.
The Queen has been wearing this brooch for nearly 75 years, and it’s easy to see why: its has a pleasant design, and the rainbow of colors in the opals allow for the piece to be paired with lots of different colorful outfits.
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