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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Even More Jewels from Crown Princess Victoria’s Wedding Gala

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Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Our countdown of the best royal jewels at Crown Princess Victoria’s pre-wedding gala may be finished, but there are more jewels to enjoy from the event! Here’s a look at even more royal jewels worn at the gala, which was held ten years ago this month…

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Crown Princess Mary of Denmark wore a suite of diamond and morganite jewels from Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen. The set includes a necklace and matching earrings.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
She also wore a diamond floral bracelet. I think this is possibly also a Lynggaard piece — perhaps from their Frost range?
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Anne-Marie, the former Queen of Greece, wore diamond earrings, a pearl necklace, stacks of bracelets, and her diamond swan brooch.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Her daughter, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark, wore a dramatic pair of pearl drop earrings.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, daughter of Princess Benedikte, wore an intriguing set of jewels that appears to be made of diamonds set in gold. I believe the sapphire ring on her left hand is her engagement ring from her first marriage.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Carina Axelsson, partner of Alexandra’s brother, Prince Gustav, was also in attendance. She wore pearls, floral earrings, and a ruby ring.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway wore her convertible diamond drop earrings with the faceted red gem pendants…
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
…and a diamond bracelet.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Her sister-in-law, Princess Martha Louise, wore her suite of jewels set with blue-green moonstones.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Princess Birgitta of Sweden and Hohenzollern, an aunt of the bride, layered lots of jewels, including an impressive pair of diamond pendant earrings and a black-and-white bracelet.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Also in black and white was Queen (now Princess) Beatrix of the Netherlands, who wore pearl earrings and a pearl necklace.
MAJA SUSLIN/AFP via Getty Images
She also wore the family’s pearl cluster bangle bracelet.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
The Countess of Wessex was the British royal representative at the gala. For the occasion, she kept her jewelry quite minimal.
Adam Osterman/Getty Images
Here, you’ll note that she wore earrings with dark blue drops, plus diamonds on her right wrist.
MAJA SUSLIN/AFP via Getty Images
Also following the minimalist trend was Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, who wore small earrings and a diamond bracelet on her right wrist.
MAJA SUSLIN/AFP via Getty Images
The award for most minimal jewels, however, seems to belong to Princess Rym Ali of Jordan, whose only visible jewelry adornment was her gold wedding ring.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP via Getty Images
From Spain, the Princess of Asturias (now Queen Letizia) wore modern diamond hoops and one of her favorite bracelets, the diamond and white gold bracelet from Cartier. I believe she’s also wearing her Bulgari Parenthesis ring on her left hand.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Her sister-in-law, Infanta Elena, wore outfits inspired by traditional Spanish clothing for these wedding celebrations. On this occasion, she kept the jewelry to a minimum, wearing bracelets on both wrists…
Adam Osterman/Getty Images
…and earrings with green drops. Also note the interesting ring on her right hand.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Infanta Cristina went for a super pared-down look for the gala. Her only accessories were these simple pearl stud earrings.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
The Duchess of Brabant (now Queen Mathilde of the Belgians) accessorized with earrings with dark drops, as well as a diamond floral necklace and two diamond bracelets.
ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images
Charlene Wittstock (now the Princess of Monaco) went for a little more oomph with her jewelry than we’re used to seeing. She wore elegant earrings with pearl drops and studs, and her gown featured a brooch-like ornament at the waist.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Here’s one more view of that ornament on her gown.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
The always-elegant Princess Rosario of Bulgaria chose a pair of stunning statement earrings for the gala and concert.
ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images
And last but not least, we’ve got elegant pearls from Crown Princess Katharine of Serbia.

Tutti Frutti Breaks Record at Sotheby’s

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Sotheby’s

A major piece of jewelry broke a sales record at Sotheby’s this week, and we’ve got all the details!

Sotheby’s

This gorgeous tutti frutti bracelet was made by Cartier right around 1930. It was offered for sale anonymously at Sotheby’s this week by a “distinguished American collector.” Further lot notes suggest that the bracelet was owned at one point by the famous Flagler family from Florida.

Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s provided a detailed description of the bracelet: “Designed as meandering vines, set with old European and single-cut diamonds, featuring carved emeralds, rubies and sapphires, accented by emerald beads, cabochon sapphires and emeralds, highlighted with calibré-cut onyx and black enamel.” The onyx and enamel accents give the bracelet extra dimension.

Sotheby’s

Here’s a closer look at the carved gemstones which are a signature part of the tutti frutti style. The name of the style means “all fruits” in Italian, so appropriately the jewelry includes multicolored gemstones. The first tutti frutti necklace was made in 1901 by Cartier for Queen Alexandra, whose husband, King Edward VII, had just succeeded his mother as monarch. She reportedly needed a necklace to pair with brightly colored gowns made of Indian fabric, and an elaborate necklace that paired diamonds with rubies, emeralds, and sapphires worked perfectly. (Sadly, no photographs of Alexandra wearing the necklace appear to exist today.)

Sotheby’s

The lot notes for this particular bracelet explain that all tutti frutti “pieces share the hallmark of Mughal-cut colored stones, but each piece is unique, a variation on a captivating theme.” This bracelet is set with particularly vibrant emeralds, sapphires, and rubies.

Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s also shared a photograph of a model wearing the bracelet, giving us a better visual sense of the size of the piece.

Photo generously shared by reader Javier; do not reproduce

Cartier’s tutti frutti jewels were a sensation in the ’20s and ’30s. Edwina Mountbatten owned this fantastic tutti frutti bandeau-style tiara, which is now on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The bandeau, which also converts to a pair of bracelets, was a part of the landmark Cartier exhibition in Canberra in 2018.

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One of Cartier’s most important tutti frutti creations was the “Hindu” necklace made in 1936 for the heiress Daisy Fellowes. The firm bought the necklace back in 1992, and it’s often featured in exhibitions. In August 1994, Princess Caroline of Monaco borrowed the Fellowes tutti frutti necklace from Cartier to wear at the annual Red Cross Ball.

Michel Porro/Getty Images

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands owns her own suite of tutti frutti jewelry. The necklace and bracelet were purchased at Christie’s in Amsterdam, perhaps by King Willem Alexander. The bracelet reportedly was purchased for around $32,000, and the necklace for another $35,000, bringing the price tag for Maxima’s set to just under $70,000. She debuted the jewels at Willem-Alexander’s 40th birthday party in September 2007.

Michel Porro/Getty Images

Here’s a closer look at Maxima’s tutti frutti necklace…

Michel Porro/Getty Images

…and at the bracelet, which includes an eye-catching diamond “vine” in its design.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Maxima often mixes her tutti frutti pieces with other ruby, sapphire, and emerald jewels. In May 2018, she wore the necklace with diamond and emerald earrings for a return concert during the state visit to Luxembourg.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

During the same month, she paired the bracelet with ruby and diamond earrings for the Red Ribbon Concert in Amsterdam.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

In April 2018, she innovated even further at a gala dinner for the diplomatic corps, wearing the bracelet with pieces from Queen Juliana’s suite of diamond and aquamarine jewels.

Sotheby’s

The tutti frutti bracelet sold by Sotheby’s this week fetched a much higher price than the one worn by Queen Maxima. Auction estimates for the piece ranged from $600,000-$800,000 USD. When online bidding ended on Tuesday, the bracelet sold for a whopping $1.34 million! The final number makes it the most expensive piece of jewelry ever sold online by the famous auction house.