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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Festival of Remembrance Jewels 2016

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The Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II attend the 2016 Festival of Remembrance (Photo: VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images)

The British royal family gathered last night at the Royal Albert Hall for the annual Festival of Remembrance, an evening of performances to remember and honor the sacrifices of the nation’s military service members. Here’s a look at the jewels they wore, which were in line with the solemn nature of the event.

Photo: VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images

The Queen secured her poppy with a newer brooch from her collection: the Bronte Porcelain Brooch, which she wore for the first time in Northern Ireland in 2014.

Photo: VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images

The Duchess of Cornwall chose her standard jewels: one of her pearl choker necklaces with a diamond clasp, and her pearl and diamond earrings.

Photo: VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge’s jewelry was difficult to see, but you just get a hint of one of her crystal Buckley London poppy brooches here. Kate also wore pearl earrings (Anna posits the new Oscar de la Renta faux pair).

Photo: VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images

The Princess Royal was one of the most elegant women in attendance, wearing pearl drop earrings, a multi-stranded pearl necklace, and her diamond star brooch, which secured a gathering of poppies.

Photo: Army in London

Here, you get a better look at her necklace, plus her other jewels.

Photo: VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images

The Countess of Wessex arrived in a pair of lemon quartz drop earrings from Heavenly Necklaces.

Photo: VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images

Once she removed her coat, we could see that she also wore a poppy brooch from Buckley London and the badge of the Corps of Army Music (CAMUS). Sophie is their Colonel-in-Chief.

Photo: VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images

We got a great look at Princess Alexandra’s jewelry, including diamond daisy earrings, her pearl choker with the geometric clasp, and her diamond floral brooch.

Photo: Army in London

And there was one more Kent lady in attendance: Princess Michael, who secured her poppy with a sparkling brooch.

The Sunday Ring: Gina Lollobrigida’s Emerald Ring

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Gina Lollobrigida’s emerald ring is displayed ahead of a 2013 auction at Sotheby’s
[Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images]

Dame Elizabeth Taylor wasn’t the only famous actress with a penchant for major bling. Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida, who reached the height of her international fame in the ’50s and ’60s, sold off numerous pieces of her jewelry at Sotheby’s in 2013. The auction included today’s piece, a stunning diamond and emerald ring by Bulgari.

Close-up: Gina Lollobrigida’s emerald ring
[Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images]

The lot notes from the auction describe the ring as follows: a “step-cut emerald weighing 16.62 carats, framed by two rows of brilliant-cut diamonds.” The ring was made by Bulgari in 1964.

Gina Lollobrigida wears her Bulgari emerald jewels, including the ring, in 1967
[Photo: Clive Limpkin/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images]

Lollobrigida acquired the ring in the 1960s. She also owned other pieces of emerald jewelry from Bulgari, including a pair of diamond and emerald earrings and a distinctive diamond and emerald brooch. She’s wearing all three pieces in the photograph above, which dates to June 1967. You’ll note the ring on her left hand. The brooch is fastened to her Pucci headband.

Gina Lollobrigida’s emerald ring is modeled before its 2013 auction at Sotheby’s
[Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images]

Lollobrigida is still alive today, but she’s largely given up the spotlight in favor of a quieter life as a sculptor. In April 2013, she auctioned off numerous pieces of her jewelry, including various Bulgari gems, to help raise money for stem cell research. This ring sold for approximately $181,000, just above the high end of the auction estimate. After the sale, Lollobrigida explained, “It now gives me great pleasure to see that these jewels will create a legacy which will live on after me and continue to do good.”