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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

The Dutch Aquamarine Parure Tiara

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Princess Laurentien wears the aquamarine tiara (Photo: Robin Utrecht – Pool/Getty Images)

Today’s tiara is one of the more modern pieces in the Dutch royal collection: the family’s aquamarine tiara.

The sparkler was given to then-Princess Juliana in 1927 as an eighteenth birthday present by her parents, Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry. The art deco-style tiara, which is made up of pear-shaped briolette and square-cut Brazilian aquamarines (and some diamonds), was made by Dutch jewelers van Kempen, Begeer and Vos.

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

More pieces of Juliana’s aquamarine parure have been added over time, including two necklaces (a sautoir from her grandmother, Queen Emma, and a pendant from her husband, Prince Bernhard), a pair of earrings (from Juliana’s mother-in-law, Princess Armgard), and a brooch (again from Prince Bernhard). Because the set is made of pieces collected over time, rather than pieces made at the same time specifically as a set, the suite is known as a “married” parure.

Photo: CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images

Nearly all of the Dutch queens and princesses since Juliana have worn pieces of the parure, including the tiara. At the gala held the night before King Willem-Alexander’s inauguration, Princess Laurentien wore the tiara low across her brow, paying tribute to its 1920s roots. Today, both Princess Beatrix and Queen Máxima wear the tiara occasionally, though Máxima is much more likely to step out in nearly the entire parure. And all Dutch queens will also have access to the family’s aquamarines in the future — the tiara has been a part of the family’s jewel foundation since 1960, which means that it cannot be sold.

This Week in Royal Jewels: May 6-12

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May 6-12, 2016
From brooches to tiaras, we’ve got a varied slate of royal jewels for you to vote on this week. Don’t forget to let us know which pieces are your favorites in the poll below!
Photo: Mike Windle/Getty Images for Palais Princier de Monaco
10. In California on Wednesday, Princess Charlene of Monaco wore a pair of sunburst-shaped stud earrings and a diamond cross to launch the American branch of her charitable foundation.

Photo: REMKO DE WAAL/AFP/Getty Images
9. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore statement earrings in bright orange, her country’s signature color, at a climate change conference in Rotterdam on Wednesday.
Photo: Niccolo Guasti/Getty Images
8. Earrings set with diamonds and cabochon rubies were Queen Letizia of Spain’s choice for a rainy day of engagements in Seville on Tuesday.
Photo: JASPER JACOBS/AFP/Getty Images
7. On Wednesday, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians wore a major pair of gold statement earrings for a meeting at the palace in Brussels.
Photo: John Stillwell – WPA Pool/Getty Images
6. At Tuesday’s Buckingham Palace garden party, the Duchess of Gloucester wore a gorgeous suite of jewels (and carried an elaborate umbrella!). You can see closeups here, as well as glimpses of jewels worn by Princess Alexandra and the Countess of Wessex.
Photo: Dominic Lipinski – WPA Pool/Getty Images
5. The Duchess of Cornwall hosted a special garden party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday to mark the 150th anniversary of Barnardo’s, a children’s charity. For the event, she wore her grand pearl choker necklace with a diamond and pink topaz clasp.
Photo: JOHN STILLWELL/AFP/Getty Images
4. At Tuesday’s garden party, Queen Elizabeth II wore one of her 21st birthday gifts, the diamond Flame Lily Brooch.
Photo: PAUL HACKETT/AFP/Getty Images
3. The Queen held a reception for members of parliament at Buck House on Monday; she wore the Albert Brooch and a healthy amount of skepticism.
2. Two state visits this week = two tiaras! In Sweden, Queen Silvia wore the glittering Queen Sofia’s Tiara, which is also sometimes called the Nine-Prong Tiara (for obvious reasons).

1. My top vote of the week goes to one of my personal favorite tiaras: the Luxembourg Vine Leaves Tiara, worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa during the state visit to Finland.

Charlene Dazzles in California

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Princess Charlene launches The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation-USA in Santa Monica (Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Palais Princier de Monaco)

Princess Charlene of Monaco made a trip to the United States this week to launch the USA branch of her charity, The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. The official launch event was held on Wednesday at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica.

Photo: Mike Windle/Getty Images for Palais Princier de Monaco

Charlene wore a pair of diamond sunburst-shaped stud earrings and a delicate necklace with a cross pendant for the launch.

Photo: Mike Windle/Getty Images for Palais Princier de Monaco

Here’s a better look at the earring design. These look similar to a pair of Dior earrings that she’s worn previously, but I’m not convinced they’re the same.