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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

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.

The Top Ten: Royal Aquamarines

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It’s no surprise that royal ladies around the world have an affection for aquamarines, the clear and bright gemstone beloved by those born in March. Here are my top ten royal aquamarine jewels — add your list in the comments below!

10. Alexandra Feodorovna’s Aquamarine Brooch

An engagement present from Nicholas II of Russia to his future wife, Alix of Hesse, this lovely brooch features a large Siberian aquamarine. He purchased the piece in St. Petersburg at Fabergé and presented it to Alix in August 1894. Today, it’s in the collection at Wartski’s in London.

9. Queen Fabiola’s Aquamarines

The late Belgian queen frequently wore a number of pieces of aquamarine jewelry at gala events, including a pair of delicate drop earrings, a pendant, and the aquamarine-studded version of her wedding gift tiara.

8. The Dutch Aquamarine Parure

It’s hard to think of a better word than “fun” for the exuberant suite of aquamarines owned by the Dutch royals, from the sparkling briolettes of the tiara to the gorgeous aquamarine pendant often worn suspended from a brooch.

7. The Countess of Wessex’s Aquamarine Tiara

We looked earlier this year at the numerous aquamarine pieces worn by the Countess of Wessex; my favorite is the diamond and aquamarine tiara lent to her by her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.

6. The Swedish Aquamarine Kokoshnik

This gorgeous aquamarine kokoshnik, which also has a matching brooch, is often worn by the king’s sisters, Margaretha and Christina; it was also worn by their mother, Princess Sibylla.

5. Crown Princess Mary’s Aquamarine Girandole Earrings

The future Danish queen owns a number of aquamarine pieces, including this lovely pair of girandole earrings, which pair well with both white-tie glitter and more subdued gala dress.

4. The Luxembourg Aquamarine Parure

The grand ducal family of Luxembourg keeps this set of aquamarine jewels, which also includes a fabulous Art Deco-style aquamarine bandeau, in their palace vault.

3. The Queen Mother’s Aquamarine Brooch

Worn today by Queen Elizabeth II, this lovely diamond and aquamarine brooch is probably a set of double clips. The Queen Mother began wearing it in the 1930s.

2. The Brazilian Aquamarine Parure

In terms of sheer aquamarine brightness and power, it’s tough to outclass Queen Elizabeth II’s suite of aquamarine jewelry, given to her at various times during her reign by the people of Brazil.

1. Queen Ena’s Aquamarines

Worn most recently in public by Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, these astonishing aquamarine jewels were originally owned by Queen Ena of Spain, Sibilla’s great-grandmother. The tiara has since been remade, but the briolette aquamarine drops are as sparkling as ever.

This Week in Royal Jewels: March 6-12

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March 6-12, 2015
This week’s royal jewelry includes a load of brooches, a passel of earrings, and one very interesting beaded demi-parure. Be sure to vote for your favorites!
10. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a familiar pair of earrings — her Annoushka pearl drops with her Kiki McDonough hoops — to Margate on Wednesday, but earlier in the week, she also debuted a new pair of Kiki McDonough morganite drops.

9. The Duchess of Cornwall wore her favorite diamond and pearl earrings to Cheltenham on Wednesday. On Monday, she wore the same pair at Westminster Abbey with a diamond and pearl choker.

8. The Queen repeated her round gold brooch with a purple ensemble for a reception on Commonwealth Day.

7. At the Vatican, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians exercised the privilege du blanc — the right of a Catholic queen to wear white when meeting with the Pope — on Monday. She kept her jewelry simple, wearing a watch and a bracelet on her left arm.

6. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden chose dangling earrings to celebrate her name day on Thursday. As always, however, adorable Princess Estelle was the real star of the show.

5. Queen Rania of Jordan and Princess Lalla Salma both wore distinctive earrings during the beginning of a state visit in Morocco on Wednesday.

4. On Tuesday, Queen Elizabeth II christened a new ocean liner, the Britannia, while wearing her Pearl Trefoil Brooch.

3. Queen Letizia of Spain chose dramatic gold earrings for a visit to the National Library on Wednesday.

2. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore an interesting set of black beaded jewelry — necklace earrings, and ring — to visit a school on Monday.

1. The Queen brought one of her lesser-seen brooches, a floral piece given to her during a 1981 visit to Sri Lanka, on Wednesday; it was an extremely appropriate choice for a private audience with Sri Lanka’s president.