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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

The Top Ten: Royal Diamond Necklaces

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Time for the second in our series of top ten royal diamond posts for April! This week: all-diamond necklaces worn by royal ladies. As always, feel free to post your own top ten list in the comments below!

10. Queen Mathilde’s Diamond Necklace

Mathilde’s jewelry box may be relatively small, but the diamond necklace she wore to the pre-wedding dinner for Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg in 2012 is one of my favorites.

9. The Nassau Diamond Drop Necklace

This diamond necklace, with its distinctive central pendant drop, has been in the Luxembourgish collection for two generations; it’s been worn by both the late Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte and her daughter-in-law, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.

8. Princess Caroline’s Diamond Fringe Necklace

The diamond fringe necklace that belongs to Princess Caroline of Monaco is an absolutely design classic, worn to perfection by a glamorous princess.

7. Queen Anne-Marie and Princess Benedikte’s Twin Diamond Necklaces

Princess Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her younger sister, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, have identical, intricate diamond necklaces; they were made by dividing up a sautoir that belonged to their grandmother, Queen Alexandrine of Denmark.

6. The Dutch Diamond Rivière Necklace

The lovely diamond rivière from the Dutch royal collection packs a major, sparkly punch, especially when paired with the family’s diamond bandeau tiara. The necklace can also be worn with a diamond pendant.

5. Queen Ena’s Diamond Collet Necklace

The dramatic diamond collet necklace from the Spanish royal collection is a part of the joyas de pasar, a cache of jewels that is designated for the use of the country’s queen.

4. Queen Josefina’s Diamond Stomacher Necklace

The intricate diamond necklace worn for years by Princess Lilian of Sweden — and now by her niece, Crown Princess Victoria — was originally part of a diamond stomacher that belonged to Josephine of Leuchtenberg.

3. The Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace

This elaborate floral Cartier necklace was a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth II in 1947 from the Nizam of Hyderabad, though Elizabeth herself selected it from Cartier’s stock.

2. The Coronation Necklace

Made in 1858, this incredible diamond necklace has been worn by four queens — Alexandra, Mary, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth II — at their coronations. The necklace’s pendant is the Lahore Diamond, which alone weighs more than 22 carats.

1. The Greville Diamond Necklace

Part of the astonishing jewel bequest left to the Queen Mother by the Hon. Mrs. Greville, this five-stranded necklace of diamonds has been worn most recently by the Duchess of Cornwall. If I had this one, I’d wear it everywhere! 🙂

The Top Ten: Royal Diamond Tiaras

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Since April’s birthstone is the king of all gemstones, the diamond, it’s pretty impossible for me to make one list of my top ten diamond pieces. So instead, let’s break it down item by item, shall we? Today, I’ve made a quick list of my favorite all-diamond tiaras worn by royal women. There are about a million stunning pieces that didn’t make the cut, so be sure to add your list in the comments below!

10. The Dutch Diamond Bandeau

This tiara started out as a necklace, given in 1879 to Queen Emma of the Netherlands. The setting may be simple, but the glitter of these impressive diamonds more than makes up for it.

9. The Luxembourg Empire Tiara

One of the very largest tiaras still worn today by a royal lady, this nineteenth-century piece can be seen gracing the head of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa at major events.

8. The Spanish Floral Tiara

Bought in 1879 for Queen Maria Cristina, this piece left the Spanish royal collection during their exile in the twentieth century. Franco reacquired it for Queen Sofia as a wedding gift, and the Spanish royal ladies have been donning it regularly ever since.

7. Princess Sibilla’s Art Deco Tiara

Princess Sibilla acquired this versatile diamond tiara (probably as a gift from her family) after becoming a member of Luxembourg’s grand ducal family; its gorgeous Art Deco design also allows it to be worn in two distinct versions.

6. The Baden Fringe Tiara

This piece, which originally belonged to Queen Victoria of Sweden, is everything you’d want a sunburst tiara to be: uniform, striking, and oh-so-sparkly.

5. Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara

One of the many treasures of the Leuchtenberg family, this all-diamond tiara is now worn by the Queen of Norway.

4. The Khedive of Egypt Tiara

Made by Cartier in 1905 as a wedding gift for Princess Margaret of Connaught, this lovely tiara has become a sentimental wedding diadem for the descendants of Queen Ingrid of Denmark.

3. The Braganza Tiara

From 1820s imperial Brazil to present-day royal Sweden, this intricate and enormous diamond tiara makes a serious statement. It’s also the perfect tiara for Queen Silvia, whose mother was born in Brazil.

2. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

Classic and balanced, this fairytale nineteenth-century tiara from Queen Mary’s collection has become the favorite sparkler of her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.

1. Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara

Can you beat a wall of diamonds? I don’t think you can — and the fact that it’s been an important part of Queen Elizabeth II’s tiara arsenal for more than half a century says it all!

This Week in Royal Jewels: March 20-26

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March 20-26, 2015
Royal tours brought out the bling this week — be sure to vote for your favorites in the poll!
10. Queen Letizia of Spain had planned for these simple earrings to be a part of the first event of a state visit to France this week; however, the visit was cut short after a German aircraft flying from Barcelona tragically crashed in the French Alps.

9. Catching up with an event from last week, Princess Anne wore gold and pearl jewelry during her visit to the Philippines on March 17.
8. Last Thursday, Princess Caroline wore major earrings to visit an art exhibition in Monte Carlo.
7. Queen Elizabeth II wore a familiar jewel — one of Queen Victoria’s diamond bow brooches — for a visit to Kent on Thursday.
6. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wore glittering earrings during the second day of her visit to South Korea.
5. On Monday, Queen Sofia of Spain wore pearls to visit the Basilica of Santa Teresa in Salamanca.
4. While viewing an exhibition of her gowns on Wednesday, Queen Margrethe II wore a large modern brooch. She worn it on previous occasions, including during one of her addresses to the nation.
3. As the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall wrapped up their American visit on Friday in Louisville, Camilla wore one of my favorite pieces from her jewelry box: her triple strand of pearls with the Art Deco-style clasp.
2. Queen Maxima was her usual exuberant self during a visit to Germany on Friday, decked out in diamonds with exaggerated hoop earrings and a dragonfly brooch.
1. We’ve got a brand-new addition to the Queen’s jewelry collection this week! Elizabeth II wore a new brooch on Friday for the re-dedication of HMS Ocean, the largest Royal Navy warship. HM is the Lady Sponsor of the ship, and the brooch (which is designed to echo the design of badge of the ship) was a gift from the ship’s captain and officers.