We have previously discussed the crown jewels and the famous cullinan diamond, cuts of which feature in the head of the Sovereign’s Sceptre, the Imperial State Crown and a brooch well-loved by the late queen Elizabeth II. In this blog we will be shining the light on some of the lesser known pieces within the royal family’s grand personal collection and the jewellery owned by the crown. The British royal family is home to some of the most iconic and exceptionally well-crafted jewellery in the world. Many of these awe-inspiring pieces have been passed down through generations of royalty. Interestingly, some family members have chosen to re-design some pieces to match current tastes and their personal style.
In 1914, the House of Garrard crafted the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara from pearls and diamonds already owned by her family. According to the Court Jeweller, when Queen Mary commissioned the piece, she “sacrificed a tiara from her own jewelry collection, the Ladies of England Tiara, to make it.” This tiara has been well-loved by generations of royalty.
King Charles III’s gold signet ring has rarely moved from his pinky finger since the mid-1970s. The ring was last worn by Charles’ uncle, Prince Edward, the Duke of Windsor, dating back over a century. Traditionally, men in the royal family do not wear jewellery however, this rule has since been relaxed to exclude watches and wedding bands if the individual so chooses.
On the eve of their wedding, Prince Albert gifted Queen Victoria a magnificent bespoke Garrard sapphire and diamond cluster brooch. Upon her death in 1901, Queen Victoria left the iconic brooch as an heirloom of the Crown. Since then, it is believed to have been worn by each Queen Regent and Queen Consort.
The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara is a Russian imperial tiara that has been worn by several members of the British royal family, including Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth II. The tiara’s rich history includes the Russian Revolution, and has been worn at state banquets, weddings, and gala events. This unique tiara is able to switch from the original pearls to Cambridge emeralds and even be worn with no gemstones at all.
Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara is a piece that was commissioned by the Queen’s grandmother. This beautiful tiara almost didn’t make it to Westminster Abbey as the tiara supposedly snapped when placed on Queen Elizabeth the II’s head and had to be quickly mended by a jeweller from Garrard. The tiara has since continued its long-standing place at royal weddings.
The Crown Ruby Earrings, along with a matching brooch, originally belonged to Queen Victoria. Initially these pieces were set with opals but were modified to feature rubies instead. Queen Victoria later commissioned a coordinating necklace and tiara. These pieces are heirlooms of the crown, meaning they do not belong to any singular monarch. This tradition means spectacular pieces can be shared amongst generations but remain under the safety of the Crown.
A more recent addition to the royal collection includes the sapphire and diamond engagement ring originally chosen by the late princess Diana and later given to the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton. This iconic ring has cemented itself as a classic engagement style and is often referred to as the ‘the princess Diana ring’. As this piece belongs to high profile royal family memebers, it will most likely remain in the Crown’s collection.
