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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Birthday Jewels: Princess Eugenie of York

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Happy 25th birthday to Princess Eugenie of York! The Queen’s third granddaughter celebrates a milestone today, so we’re looking at some of the jewelry she’s worn out and about over the years. Don’t expect major bling — this is a princess whose jewelry tastes are a bit more delicate and minimalist than some — although you’ll note a bit of an evolution in style as the years go on…

March 2006: Wearing a tiny pendant with a bright green stone at a Marchesa party

April 2006: Wearing a more elaborate pendant for her grandmother’s 80th birthday dinner at Kew Palace

June 2006: A silver pendant necklace in New York City with her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York

December 2006: Dangling earrings for the Queen’s 80th birthday party at the Ritz

March 2007: Silver earrings and necklace for her 17th birthday party

June 2007: A bohemian necklace at a festival in Hyde Park

September 2008: A pair of necklaces at an Issa fashion show

October 2008: Layered gold pendant necklaces at Harrods

December 2008: Statement earrings for Christmas Day at Sandringham

May 2009: Stacks of bracelets and lots of rings during a visit to Chelsea Football Club

June 2009: Another glimpse of bracelets galore at Royal Ascot, with a bonus lime green satellite appendage

December 2009: A teeny-tiny golden pendant with a very sparkly golden dress for the premiere of The Young Victoria

May 2010: The same pendant at a visit to the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit, this time paired with a logo brooch from the charity

June 2010: An exaggerated costume necklace at The Elephant Parade

March 2011: Purple earrings for a Children in Crisis fundraiser

June 2011: Dainty jewels (with an evil eye motif) at the Epsom Derby

June 2011: A single delicate bracelet at Trooping the Colour

September 2011: Sparkling earrings to celebrate the birthday of the late Freddie Mercury

June 2012: Colorful bracelets (and fingernails!) at the Epsom Derby

June 2012: Geometric earrings at Royal Ascot

September 2012: Major statement earrings at “Freddie for a Day”

January 2013: Statement earrings for an official visit to Hannover

July 2014: Playful earrings at the Serpentine Gallery Summer Party

December 2014: Major earrings for a University of St. Andrews dinner in New York

February 2015: Glam earrings and ring for a party at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery

Sundays with the Queen: The Grima Ruby Brooch

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Many of the Queen’s brooches are traditional pieces, inherited from generations past. But there are an increasing number of modern pieces in her collection. Today, we’re looking at one of these newer brooches: a ruby and gold jewel made for her by Grima.

The brooch is both an example of design from the Queen’s reign and a sentimental bauble: it was given to her in 1966 by the Duke of Edinburgh. The piece consists of rubies and diamonds set in yellow gold.

The Grima Ruby Brooch was, as the name suggests, made by jeweler Andrew Grima. Born in Italy and raised in England, Grima’s pieces were striking examples of mid-century modern design. And the family also had another link to royal jewelry: Grima’s wife, Jojo, was the granddaughter of Sir Thomas Cullinan — yes, that Cullinan. Grima’s daughter, Francesca, runs the firm today.

The Queen has worn the brooch regularly throughout her reign, including appearances during her annual Christmas Broadcast. And in 2011, she chose the brooch for one of the most important diplomatic events of her reign: the landmark 2011 state visit to Ireland.

The Duchess of York’s Rubies

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For the brief period in the ’80s and ’90s when Sarah Ferguson was HRH The Duchess of York, her jewelry collection was a bit more extensive than it is today. Let’s have a look at the set of rubies she wore during her royal tenure, shall we?

The set is said to have been a gift from the Saudi royals. It’s a demi-parure of diamonds and rubies, designed in a modern style and set in yellow gold. (Unfortunately, that yellow gold setting dates the jewels a bit.) Sarah often wore the necklace and earrings with her tiara.

Sarah has long had an affection for rubies. Her engagement ring from Prince Andrew featured a Burmese ruby surrounded by diamonds.

While the engagement ring, as a personal gift, was Sarah’s to keep, it’s presumed that the Saudi rubies were not. Here’s the deal: jewels given to a royal lady are given to her as a member of the royal family, not as a private citizen. The rubies were intended for HRH The Duchess of York, not Sarah Ferguson, so when Sarah and Andrew divorced, they presumably stayed in the royal vaults.

While Sarah wore the rubies during her marriage, therefore, she hasn’t worn them since — because she no longer has them. By contrast, the tiara and diamond demi-parure that Sarah received from her parents-in-law were her own personal property, so she was able to keep them after the marriage ended.