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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Dutch/Argentine State Visit Jewels: State Banquet

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OLAF KRAAK/AFP/Getty Images

Many were expecting Queen Maxima to bring out some major diamond wattage for tonight’s Argentine state banquet in Amsterdam, and she didn’t disappoint!

OLAF KRAAK/AFP/Getty Images

With two familiar diamond pieces — the diamond bandeau and large diamond earrings — Maxima brought out a piece of jewelry that hasn’t been worn in public since the 1970s: the House Diamond Necklace.

OLAF KRAAK/AFP/Getty Images

Another view of the tiara, earrings, and necklace.

Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The elaborate necklace is a part of a three-piece parure that also includes the Stuart Tiara and the large diamond bow brooch. The set was created in 1897 for Queen Wilhelmina using a cache of heirloom diamonds that belonged to the royal house. Above, you can see all three pieces, plus several other diamond jewels, on Queen Juliana in 1962. Maxima has now worn two of the three pieces from the House Diamond Parure: the necklace and the bow brooch. Does that mean the Stuart Tiara is waiting in the wings? We can only hope!

OLAF KRAAK/AFP/Getty Images

Maxima also wore a trio of bracelets. On her right wrist, she wears one of the East Indies Bracelets. On her left, her diamond bangles, which feature small flowers with pink diamond centers. Maxima also secured her belt and sash with a diamond brooch.

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The dress that Maxima wore with the stunning family diamonds has been seen before. She wore it at the wedding of her brother, Juan Zorreguieta, at the Palais Liechtenstein in Vienna in June 2014. On that occasion, she wore a cape-style coat over the gown and a metallic belt. The top of the dress also looks to have been altered slightly.

OLAF KRAAK/AFP/Getty Images

To my surprise, Queen Maxima wasn’t given an Argentine order during this state visit. She’s wearing the sash of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. President Macri wears the same order. King Willem-Alexander, though, has been given a new Argentine order. He’s wearing the collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin, as well as the sash of his highest Dutch order, the Military William Order. The First Lady wears a newly-given order from the Netherlands, the Order of the Crown.

OLAF KRAAK/AFP/Getty Images

And, because I know you’re all interested, here’s a better look at her gown and jewels.

One more tiara! In this video, you can briefly see that Princess Beatrix attended the banquet wearing the Antique Pearl Tiara. (Princess Laurentien also attended, wearing the family’s laurel wreath tiara — thanks to EmpressRoyal for that info!) You also get to hear Willem-Alexander thanking the nation of Argentina for “the most precious of gifts: my wife, our Dutch queen.”

Dutch/Argentine State Visit Jewels: Welcome Ceremonies

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima welcomed President Mauricio Macri and First Lady Juliana Awada of Argentina to the Netherlands for the start of a state visit on Monday morning. Here’s a look at the jewels worn for the welcome events.

PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images

Queen Maxima chose pearls for the welcome ceremonies in Amsterdam, pairing them with an ensemble by Mattijs van Bergen. (The flower on the jacket, as you can see in this view, is part of van Bergen’s design.) She wore her large pearl button earrings with pearl drops, plus a natural pearl necklace.

PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images

Maxima also wore the eight-stranded seed pearl bracelet, which has a diamond and ruby clasp.

ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/AFP/Getty Images

After the official ceremonies, Maxima escorted the Argentine couple for a tour of the Anne Frank House.

PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images

Here’s a look at both of the ladies’ ensembles for the welcome events. Maxima, of course, has extensive ties to Argentina. She was born and raised in Buenos Aires, and she and Willem-Alexander now own a home in Argentina, where they often spend holidays. She has met the Macris several times, and they hosted her on an official visit to Argentina last autumn.

Jewels in Motion: Greek State Visit (1963)

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Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
In 1963, King Paul and Queen Friederike of the Hellenes made a state visit to Britain. Today, we’re looking one of the most glittering events of the visit: a gala performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Aldwych Theatre on July 11, 1963. And, even better — the jewels are sparkling in motion!

The first royal lady to arrive at the theater was Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. She was heavily involved in the visit, because she was born Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, and King Paul was her first cousin. (Prince Philip was also a first cousin to both Marina and Paul.) For the theater gala, Marina wore the diamond fringe tiara she received as a wedding gift from the City of London.
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Here’s a better view of Marina’s jewelry from this event. She’s also wearing her diamond girandole earrings and the enormous diamond bow brooch that belonged to her mother, Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark. (The earrings have since been sold, including a 2000 appearance at Christie’s. The brooch has also been sold multiple times; here are the lot notes from a December 2012 sale of the jewel at Sotheby’s.)
Marina arrived with her daughter, Princess Alexandra, who had just married the Hon. Angus Ogilvy that April. She wore the Ogilvy Tiara, a gift from her new husband.
Queen Elizabeth II wore the Vladimir Tiara (which once belonged to the Grand Duchess Vladimir, mother of Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark) with its pearl drops, as well as Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace. On the left side of the frame, you get a partial view of her aunt, Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood.
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Here’s a better look at Mary’s jewels. She wore her diamond fringe tiara, a wedding gift from Lord and Lady Inchcape. The tiara was sold by her son after her death, and it eventually was bought by the late Duke of Westminster.
Queen Friederike wore the family’s magnificent ruby suite, which had been recently reacquired from Princess Marina’s sister, Princess Olga of Yugoslavia. Friederike wore the Ruby Olive Wreath Tiara with the coordinating necklace and earrings. This gif is extra fun because it’s a meeting between two similar royal heirloom ruby sets! Hooray!