This blog lists Queen Elizabeth II’s jewelry collection. It includes her famous crowns, tiaras, necklaces, and gems.
There’s no denying that Queen Elizabeth’s jewellery collection is unmatched. Why wouldn’t it be? In one of the world’s oldest monarchies, it’s obvious that the queen has inherited some of the best jewels from her predecessors. While some jewels were passed on to her, others were gifted or specially made for her.
Here’s an insider look at the breath-taking collection of the queen’s jewels.
1. THE QUEEN’S ENGAGEMENT RING
Did you know that the Queen’s three-carat round-diamond solitaire engagement ring was passed on by Princess Alice? When Prince Phillip expressed his desire to marry Queen Elizabeth, his mother gave him the prime diamond of her tiara for making the ring. Interestingly, the queen can be seen wearing her engagement ring almost everywhere to mark her love and respect for her spouse.
2. THE IMPERIAL STATE CROWN
The imperial state crown was created for the coronation of King George VI in 1937. It’s embellished with 2,862 brilliant-cut diamonds, 11 emeralds, 17 sapphires and 269 pearls. In 1967, the queen wore the crown for the first time for her coronation.
As per some sources, the crown weighs almost 2.1lbs, and the queen had to shorten it an inch before wearing it. During one of her interviews, the queen admitted she cannot look down to read the speeches while wearing the same. She was last seen wearing the crown in the 2016 State Openings. However, since then the crown is carried and kept on a cushion beside her throne.
3. THE JAPANESE PEARL CHOKER
The Japanese Government commissioned this beautiful four-strand pearl choker encased with a pendant in the early 1980s. Apart from The Queen, the Duchess of Cambridge has also been seen wearing the choker.
4. QUEEN MARY’S FRINGE TIARA
In 1947, Queen Mary lent her tiara to her granddaughter (then Princess Elizabeth) for her wedding to Prince Philips. It’s a gorgeous piece of jewel made by the House of Conrad that features 47 diamond bars altogether. The Queen has been seen wearing the tiara on numerous occasions. Interestingly, she lent her tiara to her daughter, Princess Anne for her wedding and to her granddaughter Princess Beatrice.
5. QUEEN VICTORIA’S CROWN RUBY BROOCH AND THE CROWN RUBY NECKLACE
The crown ruby necklace was specially designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria. Later Queen Elizabeth inherited the necklace and brooch after her mother’s death in 2002. She was seen wearing the necklace and brooch during her visit to Germany in 2015.
6. THE LOVER’S KNOT BROOCH
This classic bow-shaped diamond brooch is another piece of jewel that the queen inherited from her grandmother, Queen Mary. Later, she was seen wearing the same during Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.
7. THE GRAND DUCHESS VLADIMIR TIARA
One of the queen’s most prized possessions, the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara has an amusing history. This gorgeous diamond and pearls tiara originally belonged to Grand Duchess Vladimir. However, during the Russian revolution, she got separated from it after fleeing St. Petersburg. Later, a member of the British Intelligence rescued the tiara and presented it before her. She passed on her tiara to her daughter, Princess Nicholas of Greece. However, she sold it to Queen Mary after her mother died. The queen went on to inherit the tiara from her grandmother.
8. THREE STRAND PEARL NECKLACE
This simple and elegant three strands pearl necklace was gifted to the queen by her beloved father, King George VI. She can be seen flaunting her necklace on several occasions as it complements every style.
9. BURMESE RUBIES
The people of Burma gifted rubies to the queen for her wedding in 1973. Later she requested the Garrad to create the exquisite Burmese Ruby Tiara encased with 94 rubies altogether.
Interesting read: Check out our blog on the most expensive diamonds in the world.
10. CROWN AMETHYST SUITE OF JEWELS
The Crown Amethyst Suite of Jewels is undeniably one of the most impressive jewellery sets in her possession. This elegant set of jewels consists of a diamond necklace, earrings and a brooch. The set was passed on from Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent to the queen.
11. CAMBRIDGE AND DELHI DURBAR PARURE AND QUEEN MARY’S GIRLS OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND TIARA
Cambridge and the Delhi Durbar Parure consist of a matching set of emerald necklaces and earrings. The Queen Mary’s Girls of Britain and Ireland tiara (also known as Granny’s tiara) is an antique passed on from Queen Mary. The tiara originally consisted of large pears but Queen Mary requested to refashion it into Cambridge Lover Knots’ Tiara.
12. THE VICTORIAN SUITE OF SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND SET
This exquisite set of sapphire diamond necklace and earrings was gifted to the queen by her beloved father, King George VI at her wedding. Later, she added a matching tiara and a bracelet to the prevailing diamond set.
13. THE CULLINAN V HEART DIAMOND BROOCH
This elegant diamond brooch was originally created for Queen Mary. It is encased with a heart-shaped diamond and surrounded by small round diamonds.
Interested to know more about different types of diamond shapes and cuts? Check out our blog on the topic.
14. THE ORIENTAL CIRCLET
The oriental circlet was inspired by the Indian jewellery on display at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Designed by Prince Albert, it was one of the prized possessions of the Queen’s mother. Later, the queen was seen wearing it on one of her trips to Malta in 2005. She paired it with a Mary’s Ruby Cluster Earrings and the Barring Ruby’s Necklace.
15. THE STATE DIADEM
The queen’s diamond diadem was originally created in 1820 for the coronation of King George IV. It consists of a magnificent combination of silver, gold, diamonds and pearls. The diadem is worn by queens and queen consorts to the State Openings of the Parliament.
16. THE FLOWER BASKET BROOCH
A charming multicolour diamond brooch featuring rubies and sapphires fashioned in a flower basket is one of the most impressive possessions of the queen. It was gifted to her by her parents at the birth of Prince Charles.
17. SCARAB BROOCH
It’s a beautiful combination of gold, rubies and diamond fashioned into an eye-catching brooch. The Scarab Brooch was gifted by Prince Philips to the queen.
18. QUEEN MARY’S BANDEAU TIARA
It was created from a brooch that Queen Mary received for her marriage by the county of Lincoln. Queen Elizabeth inherited the tiara after her grandmother’s death. Further, she lent it to Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, for her wedding.
19. CARTIER HALO TIARA
Before assuming the throne, King George VI had commissioned the Cartier Halo tiara for his wife. Later, she gifted the tiara to Princess Elizabeth on her eighteenth birthday. The queen had lent this tiara to Kate Middleton during her wedding to Prince William.
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