Can you identify the jewels worn here by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, who was arriving at a a banquet during an Austrian state visit to London in 1966?
Saturday Sparkler: Queen Rania’s Boucheron Bracelet Tiara
We talk about lots of tiaras on this blog that can be converted into other pieces of jewelry. Generally, tiaras are transformable into necklaces or brooches. But today’s small tiara is one of the few sparklers that can be worn as either a tiara or a bracelet.
The piece, which was made in 2008 by Boucheron, belongs to one of the most stunning queens in the world: Queen Rania of Jordan. Rania has more substantial tiaras in her collection (most notably, an unusual and gorgeous tiara that incorporates Arabic script into its design), but this smaller, convertible diadem has been brought out for some big occasions. In 2008, she made her first appearance in the piece at a banquet during a state visit to Brunei. Two years later, she chose it for the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in Stockholm.
In 2009, Rania wore the tiara for an even more important event for Jordan: the tenth anniversary celebrations of her husband’s accession to the throne. The public got a chance to see the tiara when she and Abdullah rode in an open-topped car through the streets of Amman. But while she wore a different tiara at the coronation — the tiara made by Cartier for Queen Alia, which was borrowed then from Princess Haya — Rania wore the same Elie Saab gown in 2009 as she had ten years earlier.
Simple and sleek, the bracelet tiara may be tiny, but in a way it complements Rania’s elegant, classic style better than more elaborate pieces would. Some have suggested that teeny tiaras like this don’t pack a major style punch, and that may be true, but I’d certainly rather see a small tiara than no tiara at all! I do, however, wish that this piece were a bit longer on the sides, as it stops a bit short on Rania’s head. Maybe a few extra diamonds would do the trick?
This Week in Royal Jewels: May 23-29
May 23-29, 2014
Lots of sparkle this week, with Kate, Max, Stephanie, and Sonja showing off a bit of glitter. When you’re done enjoying the royal jewels worn this week, head over to The Royal Roundup for a rundown of the many major royal events taking place in June!
10. The Duchess of Cambridge — or, for the day, the Countess of Strathearn — spent the day with her husband in Scotland on Thursday. She debuted a new brooch for the occasion.
Royal reporters shared that the brooch, which features a Celtic knot design, was one of Kate’s wedding gifts, though the identity of the giver has been kept private.
9. The Dutch royal couple is on a visit to Germany, and on Tuesday, Queen Maxima once again demonstrated her innovative approach to the family’s jewel collection. All of the pink stones she wears are kunzites, but her brooch is a combination of two pieces of jewelry: the top is part of a set of diamond brooches, while the diamond and kunzite pendant can be worn suspended from either a brooch or a necklace. The upper portion of Max’s earrings were often worn by Queen Juliana. (As always, more on the Dutch royal jewels, especially these earrings, is available here.)
8. The kunzites weren’t Maxima’s only jewelry outing in Germany; she also wore diamonds and pearls to visit a research facility on Monday. The brooch she wears is an heirloom from the era of Queen Emma. The piece features a natural pearl surrounded by two circular rows of diamonds.
7. In Belgium, Queen Mathilde went for a color-coordinated look while attending a lunch for the judges of the Queen Elisabeth Voice Competition, pairing green pendant earrings with a bright green dress.
6. At the annual Grand Prix gala in Monaco, Princess Charlene debuted some new pieces of jewelry by Repossi (the same jewelers who made her engagement ring): a ruby ring and a rather enormous gold cuff bracelet. (More photos and information on the bracelet here.)
For all the complaing I do, the HGDss should definetely keep her hairdresser. Girl got some lovely updos as of late. pic.twitter.com/PXyhZ72LxD
— Sydney Luxarazzi (@SydneyLux) May 25, 2014
5. The closing mass of the Octave of Our Lady of Luxembourg was held on Sunday, and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie brought out some lovely gold jewelry for the event. (Also, I agree with Sydney re: the hair!)
4. One more jewelry outing for Max this week — she really is one of our most bejeweled royal ladies these days, isn’t she? These golden pendant earrings, worn for an award ceremony on Saturday in Middelburg, are very typical of her style.
3. The garden parties at Buckingham Palace are in full swing, and on Wednesday, the Queen welcomed members of the Household Cavalry (including her grandson, Prince Harry) and their families to the palace. To honor them, she replaced her usual brooch with the badges of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals.
SMILING IN THE RAIN! Dronning Sonja festet i København. Se bildene! #Kongebloggen #TV2no #QueenSonja #QueenMargrethe pic.twitter.com/gapA1gqgjE
— Kjell Arne Totland (@TV2KjellArne) May 24, 2014
2. The Scandinavian royals have continued commemorating the bicentenary of the Norwegian Constitution. At the end of last week, the celebrations moved to Denmark, where a gala was held at the opera house in Copenhagen. For the occasion, Queen Sonja sported a brooch that dates back more than a century: it was one of Queen Maud’s wedding presents.
New portrait of Prince Henrik on the occasion of his 80th birthday on June 11th. pic.twitter.com/txAobMGz5A
— Scandinavian Royals. (@crownprincely) May 28, 2014
1. A bit of a surprise for our top jewelry story of the week, but let’s face it, who wore more bling than Prince Henrik of Denmark did in the official portrait to commemorate his 80th birthday? Among other things, he’s wearing the collar of the Order of the Elephant, the highest order of Danish chivalry. (There are also two other people in the painting, but they’re both Henrik, too. He’s being stalked a bit by his younger selves, apparently.)