Queen Margrethe II’s Fascinating Modern Turquoise Earrings

Queen Margrethe was on hand on May 9 at the City Hall in Copenhagen for the Craftsmen’s Association of Copenhagen’s medal presentation ceremony.

For the ceremony, she wore a striking pair of turquoise, gold, and diamond earrings with a bright red jacket.

The modern earrings are a little over a decade old. They were a gift from Margrethe’s late husband, Prince Henrik, to celebrate her 70th birthday in April 2010. The earrings were made by one of the couple’s favorite jewelers, the goldsmith Torben Hardenberg, who specializes in the kind of modern art jewelry pieces that Margrethe particularly loves.

The long pendant earrings are versatile. They can be worn at different lengths, and Margrethe often wears just the stud portion of the earrings.

The turquoise earrings were displayed last year as part of the major royal jewelry exhibition in Denmark celebrating Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee. They were shown together with two other important turquoise and diamond pieces, both gifts from Prince Henrik as well. The turquoise and gold brooch near the bottom of the photograph was made by Torben Hardenberg in 2000 as a 60th birthday present for the Queen. The design motifs of the brooch represent Margrethe, Henrik, and their sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim. In April 2015, Prince Henrik completed the suite by gifting his wife a coordinating turquoise and gold necklace to celebrate her 75th birthday.

Also displayed here is a demi-parure of ruby, gold, and pearl jewels. Torben Hardenberg made this suite in 1992 for Prince Henrik, who gave it to his wife as a silver wedding anniversary present.

Over the past quarter century, Queen Margrethe has worn the modern turquoise jewels often, both together and in combination with other pieces. Here, in April 2005, she wears the brooch with her Van Cleef & Arpels “waterfall” earrings. (She hadn’t yet received the matching turquoise earrings at this point.)

Here, during the French state visit in August 2018, Margrethe wears the stud section of the turquoise and gold earrings with pearls and Princess Margaret of Connaught’s mirrored turquoise brooch.

And here, she wears the smallest setting of the earrings together with the brooch during the Icelandic state visit in 2017.

Queen Margrethe II wore all three pieces of the married turquoise suite together at a gala dinner at Fredensborg on her 75th birthday in 2015.

Back to this month’s medal presentation—Margrethe also wore a necklace decorated with the trademarks of Danish craftsmen. Margrethe has worn the same necklace more than once for this particular event.

And here’s one more look at the jewelry combination. What do you think of the mix of colors and modern jewels?