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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Saturday Sparkler Special: Queen Mary’s Tiaras (Part 4)

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One more round of Queen Mary’s tiaras as we finish up our May specials on her collection! Today, we’re looking at tiaras that have been sold, dismantled, or are otherwise unaccounted for. (If you missed any of our earlier posts — on her diamond, diamond and pearl, and colored gemstones tiaras — be sure to go back and explore!)

The Ladies of England Tiara

Original Owner: Queen Mary of the United Kingdom
Maker: Hunt and Roskell, ca. 1893
Fate: Dismantled, ca. 1913

Given to Mary as a wedding present by a committee of 650 “Ladies of England,” the tiara could also be worn as a necklace or a corsage ornament. Mary had the tiara dismantled in 1913. The diamonds were recycled and used in two new tiaras: the Lover’s Knot Tiara and the Honeysuckle Tiara.

The County of Surrey Tiara

Original Owner: Queen Mary of the United Kingdom
Maker: Unknown, ca. 1893
Fate: Dismantled, ca. 1913

Another of Mary’s wedding presents, this tiara was a gift from the people of the County of Surrey. It could also be worn as a necklace. When Mary had it dismantled in 1913, its diamonds were used in the making of two other tiaras. Thirteen of the large brilliants were used to replace the upright pearls that were originally placed atop the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, while the rest of the diamonds were used in the construction of the Honeysuckle Tiara.

The Collingwood Fringe Tiara


Original Owner: Queen Mary of the United Kingdom
Maker: Collingwood and Co., ca. 1893
Fate: Dismantled, ca. 1919

Queen Victoria gave this convertible necklace/tiara to Mary as a wedding present, and the bride sensibly wore it nestled among flowers on her wedding day. In 1919, she had the piece dismantled, and the diamonds were used to make her new diamond fringe tiara.

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Queen Mary’s Boucheron Loop Tiara

Original Owner: Queen Mary of the United Kingdom
Maker: Boucheron, ca. 1902
Fate: Dismantled, ca. 1911

This tiara was commissioned by Mary from Boucheron in 1902, using diamonds that had been given to her by De Beers the previous year. She had it dismantled about a decade later and had the diamonds used to make the Delhi Durbar Tiara.

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Queen Mary’s Wreath Bandeau Tiara

Original Owner: Queen Mary of the United Kingdom
Maker: Unknown
Fate: Unknown

Mary wore this small bandeau in portraits; you can just make out a laurel-wreath pattern in between the larger diamonds. The fate of this small bandeau appears to be completely unknown. (The gorgeous choker she wears in this photo and the one above is the Love Trophy Collar.)

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Queen Mary’s Feather Aigrette

Original Owner: Queen Mary of the United Kingdom
Maker: Collingwood and Co., ca. 1893
Fate: Unknown

The Duke of York — later George V — gave this to his bride, Mary, as a wedding gift. She wore it in portraits, but its fate is also not known. (Note: the bandeau worn at the base of the aigrette in the photo above is the base of the Collingwood Fringe Tiara discussed above; the aigrette is a separate piece pinned into Mary’s hair.)

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Queen Mary’s Amethyst Tiara

Original Owner: Queen Mary of the United Kingdom
Maker: Unknown
Fate: sold at auction

Like her grandmother, who won the famous Cambridge emeralds in a charity lottery, Mary apparently won these amethysts at an auction. She had them set in a parure which included a tiara, a necklace, earrings, and a brooch. She gave the set to the Queen Mother, but it was later sold at auction. In recent years, Vogue editor Anna Wintour has been seen wearing the necklace from the set.

This Week in Royal Jewels: May 22-28

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May 22-28, 2015
This week’s jewel news is dominated by foreign tours and parliamentary sparkle. Enjoy, and be sure to vote for your favorite pieces in the poll below!
10. In Monaco, Princess Charlene kept her jewelry simple — a delicate necklace and small stud earrings — during Sunday’s Formula One Grand Prix.

10b. (A bonus royal jewel!) Queen Elizabeth II received the Italian president at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, wearing the Cambridge Emerald Brooch with its gorgeous emerald drop.

9. Queen Letizia of Spain embarked on a tour of Central America this week. She wore her Links of London pendant earrings during a visit to a university in Tegucigalpa on Tuesday.

8. Pearls were Letizia’s earring of choice in El Salvador on Wednesday.

7. Letizia went for a bit more glitter in Honduras on Monday evening, wearing diamond earrings and her Cartier diamond cuff bracelet for a dinner at the presidential palace.

6. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore dramatic pink pendant earrings (and a crumpled-up “hat”!) to visit a diagnostic center for those with vision and hearing disabilities on Friday.

5. In Stockholm, Queen Silvia of Sweden wore pearls and a golden brooch for Childhood Day on Sunday.

4. This week, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima headed to Canada for a state visit. For their virst day of engagements in Ottawa, Maxima wore diamond and ruby earrings.

3. At a state dinner in Ottawa on Wednesday evening, Maxima wore the tiara and brooch from the family’s Ruby Peacock Parure, as well as ruby and diamond pendant earrings, a ruby and diamond ring, and a diamond bracelet that was previously worn by Queen Juliana.

2. Pomp and circumstance were at a high in Britain this week, as the royals gathered for the state opening of parliament. The Duchess of Cornwall wore the Boucheron tiara from the Greville bequest, plus pearl and diamond earrings, a pearl and diamond choker necklace, and a diamond (and sapphire?) bar brooch.

1. The Queen wins it for me this week with four stunning pieces of jewelry: the George IV Diamond Diadem, the Imperial State Crown, the Coronation Earrings, and the Coronation Necklace. How could I give the top spot to anyone else? Read more about all of the jewels from the state opening of parliament over here!

State Opening of Parliament Jewels: May 2015

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Today, Queen Elizabeth II traveled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster to officially open parliament. She’s been doing this for more than sixty years now, but the event is still as filled with pomp and circumstance (and jewels!) as ever.

On her way to and from the Houses of Parliament, the Queen wore the diamond diadem made in 1820 for the coronation of King George IV. From this angle, you can just see the yellow hue of the diamond in the center of the front cross pattée. You can read more about the history of this centuries-old diadem in yesterday’s post.

Here’s a great look at the side of the diadem, which features the emblems of England, Scotland, and Ireland (the rose, thistle, and shamrock, respectively) set with more than 1,000 diamonds. The intertwined floral elements are alternated with crosses pattée.

And here’s a good look at the back of the tiara and its base, which features rows of pearls.

For her speech in front of the Houses of Lords and Commons, the Queen donned the Imperial State Crown. It traveled in a separate carriage to Westminster.

And it was carried in on a special pillow!

You can read more about the history of the Imperial State Crown and its gems, which include the Black Prince’s Ruby, the Stuart Sapphire, and the Cullinan II Diamond, over here.

The Queen also wore two pieces of jewelry that belonged to Queen Victoria: the Coronation Earrings and Coronation Necklace.

Here’s an especially good look at the glittering earrings. We’ve previously discussed the earrings more here, and the necklace over here.

The Duchess of Cornwall attended the state opening as well, wearing the Boucheron diamond tiara left to the Queen Mother as a part of the Greville inheritance.

She also wore one of her trademark pearl chokers, this time the version with the all-diamond clasp with a cross motif. This photo also provides a nice look at the bar brooch she’s used to secure the sash of the Royal Victorian Order.

Princess Anne also attended, but she wore a uniform rather than a gown and jewels. Have a look at those medals and braids!

Also wearing a boatload of medals and decorations: the Duke of Edinburgh.

And the Prince of Wales was well-decorated as well.

And here’s a fun tiara sighting to round out our post: this is the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, wearing a tiara to the state opening.