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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Jewels for the Emperor’s Birthday

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TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Emperor Akihito of Japan celebrated his 84th birthday today, and as is tradition, the Japanese imperial family gathered for a public balcony appearance in Tokyo to mark the occasion.

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

The Japanese ladies have a definite jewelry uniform for both day and night. The day uniform includes pearls, brooches, and earrings. Empress Michiko, as the highest-ranking lady of the land, sometimes adds a bit more sparkle to her daytime attire, as she did today.

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Her diamond floral brooch was complimented by earrings with a diamond floral stud and a pearl drop.

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Crown Princess Masako, who will be Empress of Japan when the current emperor abdicates in 2019, wore the usual white jewels for the event, including earrings and a brooch that appears to be studded with pearls.

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

The Princess Akishino and her elder daughter, Princess Mako (who will be leaving the family when she marries next year), were also present for the appearance. Both wore pearls and brooches, though Mako appeared to add a bit of color with her brooch selection.

This Fortnight in Royal Jewels: November 17-30

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November 17-30, 2017
Time for a supersized, jam-packed royal jewel review, everybody! Enjoy loads of royal sparkle, and don’t forget to vote for your favorites in the poll below!
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

25. The Princess Royal wore golden jewels at St. Giles Cathedral for a commemoration service honoring Dr. Elsie Ingles, the pioneering doctor who is credited with saving thousands of lives after setting up seventeen Scottish Woman’s Hospitals across Europe during World War I.

ERIC LALMAND/AFP/Getty Images

24. In Mons, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians wore earrings with an appropriate design motif — apples — for a visit to the Ecole Superieure des Art.

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23. Queen Letizia of Spain wore her pave-set diamond teardrop earrings for a visit to the Royal Basilica-Sanctuary of the Most Holy and Vera Cruz de Caravaca to mark their jubilee year.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

22. Princess Caroline wore pearl earrings and two patriotic pins for National Day in Monaco (you can see the second pin over here).

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21. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a favorite pair of earrings, her sapphire cluster drops, for a visit to the Foundling Museum in London. (More over here!)

ISSEI KATO/AFP/Getty Images

20. During the state visit from Luxembourg, Crown Princess Masako of Japan wore lovely pearls for both a concert (pictured above) and the official welcome ceremonies (which you can see here).

KIMIMASA MAYAMA/AFP/Getty Images

19. Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg wore lovely pearls for the official welcome ceremonies during the state visit to Japan. (More views over here!)

KIMIMASA MAYAMA/AFP/Getty Images

18. As always, Empress Michiko of Japan was elegant in pearls for the welcome ceremony, including a lovely silver and pearl brooch. (See a close-up over here!)

VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images

17. For a luncheon with the German president, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom wore her Saskatchewan Tourmaline Brooch with pearls. (More over here!)

SEBASTIEN NOGIER/AFP/Getty Images

16. Beatrice Borromeo Casiraghi wore a gorgeous pair of pearl and diamond earrings for the National Day festivities in Monaco. (More over here!)

SEBASTIEN NOGIER/AFP/Getty Images

15. A lovely diamond brooch was Tatiana Santo Domingo Casiraghi’s choice for Monaco’s National Day. (More over here!)

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14. In Germany, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wore her blue gem-set earrings with a diamond necklace for the Swedish Business Prize 2017 ceremony (More over here!)

PLS Pool/Getty Images

13. Princess Caroline made a statement with her earrings at the National Day gala in Monaco. (More here!)

BERTRAND LANGLOIS/AFP/Getty Images

12. Princess Charlene of Monaco wore diamond stud earrings multiple times over these two weeks: for the World Rugby Awards (pictured above) and for both the day and evening events during National Day (which you can see here).

ISSEI KATO/AFP/Getty Images

11. For the concert hosted by her father during the state visit to Japan, Princess Alexandra wore a lovely diamond horseshoe ornament in her hair.

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10. The Duchess of Cambridge wore the Queen’s diamond chandelier earrings for the annual Royal Variety Performance. (Much more over here!)

Richard Pohle – WPA Pool/Getty Images

9. Queen Elizabeth II chose a favorite brooch, the Jardine Star, for a visit to the headquarters of the Canine Partners charity in Midhurst. (More about the brooch over here!)

JEROEN JUMELET/AFP/Getty Images

8. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands had several bejeweled appearances of note, including an outing for the earrings from her blue gem and moonstone suite at the Prince Bernhard Culture Foundation Prize 2017 (pictured above) and an appearance in pieces from her citrine collection (see here).

7. During a state dinner in Ghana, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark wore her turquoise bandeau and pieces from her modern turquoise collection. (More on the tiara over here!)

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6. The Duchess of Cambridge attended the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s platinum anniversary party wearing the Queen’s Japanese Pearl Choker Necklace. (Much more over here!)

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5. Empress Michiko of Japan wore a spectacular embellished pearl necklace for the state banquet during the Luxembourg state visit. (See another view of the necklace over here!)

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4. Princess Alexandra wore the Chaumet Choker Tiara with diamonds and pearls for the state banquet. (More over here!)

3. A pair of Swedish tiaras popped up at a diplomatic reception: Queen Silvia in the family’s amethyst circlet, and Princess Sofia in a modified version of her wedding tiara. (More over here!)

2. Several more members of the Japanese imperial family sported tiaras at the state banquet, including Crown Princess Masako in the Pearl Sunburst Tiara, Princess Kiko in her wedding tiara, and Princess Mako in her diamond tiara. (More on the banquet here.)

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

1. My top vote couldn’t go to anything other than the most talked-about piece of royal jewelry we saw this fortnight: the diamond engagement ring presented by Prince Harry to Meghan Markle. (Read all about the ring over here!)

State Visit Jewels: Luxembourg’s Visit to Japan

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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.

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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!)

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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.