Royal Jewels

[alexander1917]

It has probably been done for ages, Danny. Louis XIV did it with the French Blue (now the Hope) & other stones, the Czars continually in their history. QV did a lot of gem-exchanging. Back as far as Elizabethan times, stones would be taken from one setting & put into another. Even for RFs it is too expensive to buy all new gems whenever styles change or the piece goes to a new wife with different tastes. I imagine that kind of extends to gifts by custom.

When jewels are given, say by one royal to another as w/Diana's Saudi stuff, the idea must be different than if you buy a ring for your aunt -- to provide good stones & valuable settings with the idea that the recipient may want to mess around with them. Not only are tastes different, but requirements for jewelry wear vary depending on the culture & the person's duties & appearance. Since nearly all RFs re-use stones, it's probably assumed that this may happen. The goal would be to provide excellent material for them to work with -- if they like the piece as is, great, but not essential.

Among families, it's probably the same as with you & me: pieces designed by Prince Albert for QV would be meant to please her as they are & though I don't know for sure, she's likely not to have changed those (at least for enough years so she could say, "Think I'll update this lovely thing a bit...") Even the QM got herself a new e-ring. I always wondered how she presented to Bertie that she wasn't nuts about the one he gave her -- or he may have shrugged & said, "Suit yourself, dear."

--- Laurie

famous redesigns are
the Brasilian Aquamarines, I think it was discussed some sites ago, to make a complete set.
and the Burmese Ruby Tiara, as QEtQM used the Oriental Circlet at this time and no other ruby tiara was there.
and the opal set parure which Queen Alexandra set with Rubies (O.Circlet, necklace, brooch and earrings).

and my dear friend Queen Mary - changed and redesignd pieces some, only for one event. and some pieces like the Cullinan brooches show still the hooks to hang each stone together.

 

[prince.of.preslav]

How about the Meander tiara for Zara's wedding? It is just right for a young woman, still looks very modern (compared to the Victorian, etc., styles of others in the family). It belonged originally to her gr-grandmother, Princess Andrew of Greece (why was she called Princess Andrew instead of Princess Alice, when she was born Princess of Battenburg -- a Princess in her own right?), came to HM as a wedding present, and belongs now to Zara's mother, who has worn it often.

This way of styling women has, as many other things, German roots. It was normal to see a post card/official photo labeled Prinzessin Heinrich/Oskar/August Wilhelm/whatever von Preußen. Even Queen Victoria's daughters Helena & Beatrice were stryled as Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein & Princess Henry of Battenberg respectively in Britain, not to forget Kaiserin Friedrich, aka Victoria, Princess Royal. Today, however, this only done by the British court, and that's why many photos of the Greek royal ladies have the text: Princess Andrew/Nicholas of Greece (& Denmark), even thoug in Greece they were know by Princess [Greek verstion of their own names] of Greece & Denmark. This still applies to Constantine II's daughters-in-law, Marie-Chantal and Tatiana.

Hope this complicated matter is now a bit clearer to you, dear Laurie!
Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Here are two photos where one can clearly see the text in Greek and in French:

ΗΑΒΥΗ Πριγκίπισσα Αλίκη
SA[R] la Princesse Alice


ΗΑΒΥΗ Πριγκίπισσα Ελένα
SA[R] la Princesse Hélène


Bobby

 

[Ara Ann]

Welcome here, collier! And thanks for the words about the relations between the two Duchesses.

I am going to have to retract my agreement. They are not the same earrings. In the black and white picture, the lower part has four prongs holding the sapphire. Catherine's earrings have about twice as many prongs.

Thet's the exact reason why I wrote: "The earrings may not be the same as the ones worn by Diana in the photos, yet the stones they are made of most likely belonged to Diana"

Bobby

Ok, this subject was actually featured on our news station the other day! The said Catherine's earrings were once Diana's favorite stud sapphire earrings and she had them modified to wear as drop earrings. So perhaps when they made them into the drop style, they may have also added prongs. Just sharing what I heard, since I recalled this discussion and debate!

 

[prince.of.preslav]

It has probably been done for ages, Danny. Louis XIV did it with the French Blue (now the Hope) & other stones, the Czars continually in their history. QV did a lot of gem-exchanging. Back as far as Elizabethan times, stones would be taken from one setting & put into another. Even for RFs it is too expensive to buy all new gems whenever styles change or the piece goes to a new wife with different tastes. I imagine that kind of extends to gifts by custom.

When jewels are given, say by one royal to another as w/Diana's Saudi stuff, the idea must be different than if you buy a ring for your aunt -- to provide good stones & valuable settings with the idea that the recipient may want to mess around with them. Not only are tastes different, but requirements for jewelry wear vary depending on the culture & the person's duties & appearance. Since nearly all RFs re-use stones, it's probably assumed that this may happen. The goal would be to provide excellent material for them to work with -- if they like the piece as is, great, but not essential.

Among families, it's probably the same as with you & me: pieces designed by Prince Albert for QV would be meant to please her as they are & though I don't know for sure, she's likely not to have changed those (at least for enough years so she could say, "Think I'll update this lovely thing a bit...") Even the QM got herself a new e-ring. I always wondered how she presented to Bertie that she wasn't nuts about the one he gave her -- or he may have shrugged & said, "Suit yourself, dear."

--- Laurie

Very well said, Laurie!

Re Queen Victoria and altering - I doubt it very much that she had anything that her most beloved husband - The Prince Consort - designed for her, esp after his premature death. And there's a reason for that - apart from the santimental value, Prince Albert had geat taste and most of the things he had made are quite appealing, to me at least.

As to the Saudi sapphires - If I was the (then) Crown Prince of SA, I'd rather the recepint had some alternations made, that never wearing (parts of) the set.

Bobby

 

[alexander1917]

some news from the wedding (day before) with some nice pics. but no great jewels


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2020229/Zara-Phillips-Mike-Tindall-met-cheering-crowds-arrive-rehearsal-ahead-tomorrows-royal-wedding.html

 

[alexander1917]

and Princess Andrew's Greek Key Tiara WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JewelFreak]

Yes, are we geniuses or what? The Meander tiara!

And in the meantime.....

 

[JewelFreak]

Beautiful diamond earrings on display.

When will the fascination with fascinators please end?

 

[collier]

Are those new earrings on Catherine? They don't look like her wedding earrings...

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Are those new earrings on Catherine? They don't look like her wedding earrings...

That's because they aren't the wedding earrings (currently on display at BP), collier. This is another pair of all diamond earrings, which we first saw in Canada last month. This is their secong public outing

Here's a close-up, though not quite the best:


Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Beautiful diamond earrings on display.

When will the fascination with fascinators please end?

The earrings are ofter seen on The Princess Royal, but I wonder if they might've been a wedding present to Zara...

Here's a close-up of the tiara and earrings:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dcVaft3Hn6Cv/610x.jpg

PS: +1 about the fascinators, though rarely they look nice. Where are the wide-brimmed hats these days?

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Here are a few photos of the royal party:

First is the happy mother - HRH The Princess Royal with a three row necklace of graduated pearls (worn back to front), her Grima earrings and a square diamond brooch with a welloy diamond in the center:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09Q6gMXdvHbE7/x610.jpg

Then comes The Queen with the traditional pearls and the Scallop brooch:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0ay516l7aI00R/x610.jpg
Close-up of the brooch:


The Duchess of Corwall's outfit was first worn at Trooping the Colour in 2008. I wasn't mad about the flower exposion on her head back then, don't like it now either. But I must note that it complements the pink topaz choker, which would've looked odd without it:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0f679Vl50O82W/x610.jpg

The only member of HM's extended family was The Lady Sarah Chatto, who once again wore Queen Mary's pearl and diamond necklace and earrings, with Queen Elizabeth's pearl drop and Princess Margaret's pearl and diamond star brooch. Lady Sarah also wore a bracelet (diamonds?):

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0gZe4l359d736/x610.jpg

PS: Mrs Peter Phillips was also there and wore her wedding earrings, but I've not seen a good photo yet.

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

My previous post made me think just how many generations of members of the British royal family were represented at the wedding? We can imediately say - three - The Queen & The Duke, their children and some of the grandchildren. But I'd also add The late Queen Mother via her brooch and pendant, and Queen Mary via Lady Sarah's necklace and earrings. We can also add Princess Alice, whose tiara was used, and who was a close relation to the royal family.

Would you agree, or is this a very stupid thing to think?

Regards,
Bobby

 

[collier]

I agree whole heartedly! What a beautiful and astute sentiment. At my own wedding I wore items from both my side and my husband's side of the family to include members who could not be present, like his grandmother's ring that was passed to her from her great aunt and my grandmother's bracelet (on my dad's side) and the antique lace veil worn by all brides for the last 100 years on my mom's side.

It is a pity granny's chips weren't the momento chosen to represent continuity at Zara's wedding. I do like seeing them worn

 

[JewelFreak]

The earrings are ofter seen on The Princess Royal, but I wonder if they might've been a wedding present to Zara...

Bobby

The earrings were Princess Anne's -- either borrowed or maybe Anne gave them to her as a wedding gift. They're beautiful!

And P.S. Bobby, it's a lovely thought that loved ones were there in their jewels.

 

[prince.of.preslav]

One reason why I shouldn't write posts in the wee hours of the day are the spelling mistakes I make, another reason is that I simply forget what I wanted to write... So, yeasterday (July 30th) we acctually saw HRH The Duchess of Rothesay with an impressive choker (worn at Peter Phillips' weddign for the first time!) and HRH The Countess of Strathearn with lovely diamond earrings. The reason? They were at a wedding in Scotland (and in that way of thoughts - I was surprised that no members of the RF wore kilts)

On another note I was also surprissed that my (IMO) stupid idea that late members of the royal family were present at the wedding via their jewels was seen as a lovely thought, a beautiful and astute sentiment. Makes me glad and I happy that I didn't hesitate much before posting

 

[prince.of.preslav]

The earrings were Princess Anne's -- either borrowed or maybe Anne gave them to her as a wedding gift. They're beautiful!

And P.S. Bobby, it's a lovely thought that loved ones were there in their jewels.

These are the earrings that I had in mind, Laurie! Thanks for this gorgeous photo of The Princess Royal from 1973.

Here's what The DM has to offer us about the Meander tiara - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-bride-borrowed-great-grandmothers-tiara.html
A pity that we don't have photos of The Duchess of Edinburgh with this piece. I think it would've suited her.

Bobby

 

[laurensmama]

Does anyone know anything about the necklace the Princess Royal is wearing in the vogue photograph? Is there a better picture of it? Is it a family piece, borrowed from a jeweler, etc.? Thanks so much.

 

[T L]

Is that the Queen's brooch that Lady Sarah Chatto is wearing?

ETA: I see above it is "Princess Margaret's pearl and diamond star brooch"

The Queen has a very similar brooch.

 

[AGBF]

PS: Mrs Peter Phillips was also there and wore her wedding earrings, but I've not seen a good photo yet.

I don't know if you consider this photo, "good' or not, Bobby, but I saw a couple that were less flattering! I think Mrs. Phillips looks very attractive in this picture although the website from which I took the photograph criticized her outfit as being too much like a business suit with a beach hat! (The same website also criticized Lady Sarah Chatto, with whom she is pictured, for wearing white to a wedding.)

Deb/AGBF

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Is that the Queen's brooch that Lady Sarah Chatto is wearing?

ETA: I see above it is "Princess Margaret's pearl and diamond star brooch"

The Queen has a very similar brooch.

WOW! Where did you find this close-up of Lady Sarah, TL? Are there other photos of other attendees?

Here's a photo for those who've not seen Princess Margaret wearing the brooch:

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/52107313/Tim-Graham-Photo-Library

BTW, this seems to be a rather common design - The Queen, The Princess Royal, Lady Sarah, Princess Firyal (with a total of 3!) and many other people have such brooches.

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

I don't know if you consider this photo, "good' or not, Bobby, but I saw a couple that were less flattering! I think Mrs. Phillips looks very attractive in this picture although the website from which I took the photograph criticized her outfit as being too much like a business suit with a beach hat! (The same website also criticized Lady Sarah Chatto, with whom she is pictured, for wearing white to a wedding.)

Deb/AGBF

LOL This certanly isn't a good photo in terms of clarity, Deb. I don't want to imagine the others
When I fist saw Autumn, I thought that her outfit wasn't the most appropriate for a British society wedding and rather reserved, compared to what we've seen so far on her. Here's a clear photo, showing the pearl and diamond earrings:


PS: I had the same thought about Lady Sarah.

Bobby

 

[AGBF]

I don't know if you consider this photo, "good' or not, Bobby, but I saw a couple that were less flattering! I think Mrs. Phillips looks very attractive in this picture although the website from which I took the photograph criticized her outfit as being too much like a business suit with a beach hat! (The same website also criticized Lady Sarah Chatto, with whom she is pictured, for wearing white to a wedding.)

LOL This certanly isn't a good photo in terms of clarity, Deb. I don't want to imagine the others
When I fist saw Autumn, I thought that her outfit wasn't the most appropriate for a British society wedding and rather reserved, compared to what we've seen so far on her. Here's a clear photo, showing the pearl and diamond earrings:


PS: I had the same thought about Lady Sarah.

Bobby

I love your photo, Bobby, and I assure you that the other photos I saw and did not post were far less flattering (to use a euphemistic phrase) than the photo I posted. The photo you posted shows Autumn Phillips as the beautiful young woman she is (but perhaps all you were looking for was the clarity of the diamond and pearl earrings in the photo)!

Deb/AGBF

 

[LadyMaria]

4 days, 6 attempts to get an IV in my arm, and not one but TWO surgeries later, I am finally home and on the mend. The big problem was that the kidney stone was not 4-5 mm as the doctor thought, but rather 9 mm across. It was bigger than my 1/3 carat diamond in my wedding ring.

Thank you again for all the thoughts and prayers these last few weeks! I'll post pictures of my new "royal jewels" as they come out.

 

[LadyMaria]

Yes, are we geniuses or what? The Meander tiara!

Yes, we are! We had this pegged last week!

 

[LadyMaria]

Beautiful diamond earrings on display.

The earrings are ofter seen on The Princess Royal, but I wonder if they might've been a wedding present to Zara...

Here's a close-up of the tiara and earrings:

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dcVaft3Hn6Cv/610x.jpg


Bobby

I doubt that the Princess Royal gifted the earrings to Zara. As we all know, Zara is not really a girly girl, into fancy jewelry or anything. Really, would she have that many occasions to wear them to? If she wants to borrow them, I'm sure her mother would loan them again.

 

[LadyMaria]

My previous post made me think just how many generations of members of the British royal family were represented at the wedding? We can imediately say - three - The Queen & The Duke, their children and some of the grandchildren. But I'd also add The late Queen Mother via her brooch and pendant, and Queen Mary via Lady Sarah's necklace and earrings. We can also add Princess Alice, whose tiara was used, and who was a close relation to the royal family.

Would you agree, or is this a very stupid thing to think?

Regards,
Bobby

Most definately NOT a stupid thing to think my dear Bobby! Remember why William picked his mother's engagement ring for Catherine. Jewelry is a great way to include those who cannot be at the wedding in person. I wore my grandmother's pink tourmaline ring at my wedding for that very reasonn.

 

[LadyMaria]

I was very struck by the marked resemblance of Lady Sara Chatto to her mother, the late Princess Margaret!

 

[LadyMaria]

I found this picture of the Princess Royal very touching. It is one of the most human, emotional pictures I think I've ever seen of her. I remember seeing the same look on my mother's face at my wedding...