cullinan vi and viii brooch
Elizabeth II

The Cullinan VI and VIII Brooch

The Cullinan VI and VIII Brooch consists of a “marquise pendant (Cullinan VI), suspended from an emerald-cut stone (Cullinan VIII), set on a fine radiating platinum web in symmetrically scrolling and foliate millegrain and pavé-set brilliant border.” Embed from Getty Images The Cullinan VI diamond was purchased in 1908 from the diamond cutter Asscher by [read more]

vladimir tiara
Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

The Vladimir Tiara

The Vladimir Tiara is described as follows, “The intersecting brilliant-set circles of the frame are hung with 15 large claw-set pendant pearls, which can be replaced with emerald drops.” Embed from Getty Images The tiara was created for Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (born Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin), probably around the time of her marriage to Grand [read more]

Cullinan brooch
Mary of Teck

The Cullinan III and IV Brooch

The Cullinan III and IV Brooch consists of “a pear-shaped drop and a square-cut brilliant, linked together in fine pierced collet and claw settings.” Embed from Getty Images The brooch is formed of the third and fourth largest stones of the largest diamond ever found. The Cullinan diamond was offered to King Edward VII as [read more]

delhi durbar tiara
Mary of Teck

The Delhi Durbar Tiara

The Delhi Durbar Tiara was made in 1911 for Queen Mary and was the centrepiece of an emerald and diamond parure for the Delhi Durbar ceremony, meant to mark the succession of an Emperor of India. Embed from Getty Images The entire parure included the tiara, a necklace, a stomacher, a brooch and earrings. Most [read more]

queen mary's bangles
Elizabeth II

Queen Mary’s Bangles

Queen Mary’s Bangles each consist of “39 brilliants, the gold sides finely engraved.” The traditional Indian ornaments were a wedding present to the then Princess Mary of Teck from the Bombay Presidency, an administrative subdivision of India. The committee which raised the funds was chaired by Lucy Ada, Baroness Harris, whose husband was governor of [read more]