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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Mette-Marit Sparkles in the Ice Lake Forest

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Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway made a trip to the Ice Lake forest in Bjerke District of Oslo on Monday, and Mette-Marit brought a pair of very sparkly earrings along with her.

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The earrings feature a clear gemstone. The size of these, plus the setting, has me convinced that these are imitation gems.

Nigel Waldron/Getty Images

Another angle. Even if they are imitation, they’re pretty. (Side note: I feel for M-M in these images. Royals can’t really get away with wearing sunglasses on engagements.)

Nigel Waldron/Getty Images

Mette-Marit also wore a ring with a blue stone on her left hand.

Nigel Waldron/Getty Images

And one more look at the crown princely couple, because they’re unfairly good looking.

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.”