The Duchess of Cornwall’s Amethyst and Diamond Necklace

The necklace is much more delicate than many of the statement pieces in Camilla’s collection. This one’s more on the understated side, but in an elegant way. Amethysts and diamonds are set in gold in a fringe pattern, with decorative gold spacers that look to me like starburst designs. I don’t believe we know the provenance of this jewel, but it certainly looks like a nineteenth-century piece to me.

The Duchess has been wearing the necklace since the early months of her marriage to the Prince of Wales. In November 2005, she wore the necklace with an outfit of plummy purple velvet for a gala celebrating the work of The Prince’s Trust at the Banqueting House in Whitehall.

She paired the necklace with her amethyst and diamond cluster earrings for the occasion. In fact, get used to seeing this combination of the necklace, earrings, and outfits, as it’s really the only way that Camilla has styled the jewel so far.

In December 2006, Camilla wore the necklace with the same earrings and dress for the Royal Variety Performance in London.

In February 2008, she wore the same combination—necklace, earrings, and outfit—once again, this time for the royal film premiere of The Other Boleyn Girl in Leicester Square.

She was photographed wearing the jewels as she greeted the film’s stars, Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, at the Odeon Theatre.

Here’s one more look at the outfit, which highlights the silver chevron pattern on the light purple accents of the outfit and its matching clutch bag. Camilla’s also wearing a bracelet on her left wrist—a gold bracelet studded with different colored gemstones.

Camilla also wore the necklace with the same earrings and gown for a banquet at Prague Castle in March 2010. On that occasion, she also wore a brooch with a Prince of Wales Feathers motif. I believe—and please correct me if I’m wrong in the comments—that this was the most recent wearing of the necklace. Camilla has worn the earrings with other jewels, including her diamond serpent necklace and the Queen Mother’s Amethyst Sautoir Necklace, but I don’t think we’ve seen the necklace since. It’s a pity—it really is a beautiful jewel.