The Countdown to the Royal Wedding - Pearls

Welcome to the Gracie Jewellery countdown to the Royal Wedding- Part 10

5 Days to go

Queen Alexandra loved pearls and always wore a pearl choker to hide a scar on her neck

The Queen Anne and the Queen Caroline Necklaces
These 2 strands of large lustrous graduated pearls with pearl clasps are always worn together. The top strand of forty six pearls weighs 1,045 gramms and is said to have belonged to Queen Ann, the last of the Stuart monarchs.

Queen Caroline wife of King George II had a great deal of valuable jewellery including four very fine pearl necklaces. After wearing all of them at her Coronation the fifty best pearls were made into a single strand necklace. These are at the bottom of the picture. This strand weighs 1,429.2 gramms. Both necklaces were given to Princess Elizabeth when she married. The Princess wore both strands when she married Prince Philip.

Strands of pearls are favourite day time jewellery of both the Queen and the Queen Mom.

Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Necklace
In 1887, the "Women of the British Empire" each gave between a penny and a pound to provide a celebratory memorial for the Queen's fifty years on the throne. Part of the money raised was used to commission a large equestrian statue of Prince Albert but the rest of the money was spent on this necklace, which was presented Queen Victoria on June 24, 1887. The design is of graduated diamond trefoils, each with a pearl centre. The centre piece is a quatrefoil of diamonds with a a pearl centre and drop pendant. Surmounting it is a pearl and diamond crown. It is possible to detach the centre piece and wear it as a pendant. Queen Victoria left the necklace to the Crown in 1901. There are at least three necklaces of this design in existence. Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Mrs Angus Ogilvy, was given one as a wedding gift by her husband in April 1963, and it only lacks a crown on top of the quatrefoil to be indistinguishable from the Queen's.

Queen Mary's Pendant Earrings
These earrings were converted by Queen Mary from a pendant necklace. Each has an oval pearl suspended from a collet diamond hanging in an ornate frame of scroll design, set with diamonds.

The Queen wears the necklace and earrings in Nepal on a State visit in 1986

Queen Alxandra's Dagmar Necklace
In 1863 King Frederick VII of Denmark had the crown jeweller in Copenhagen design this necklace in the Byzantine style as a wedding gift for his daughter, Princess Alexandra, later Queen Alexandra of England. It had 118 pearls and 2,000 diamonds. Festoons connecting gold medallions, with a large diamond in the middle of each, surround a centre piece of diamond set scrollwork. The two large pear-shaped pendant pearls on either side were so valuable they had been exhibited at the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1851. This is shown in its original case. Hanging on a gold loop from the centre piece is a cloisonne enamel facsimile of the 11th centry gold Dagmar Cross.

The Queen attending a dinner at the German Embassy in London in 1958. She has removed the cross and the two large pearl drops the the Dagmar necklace.

Queen Alexandra's Triple Drop Necklace and Brooch
Made by Garrard and given to Princess Alexandra by the Prince of Wales as a wedding present in 1863. The necklace has eight circular clusters of diamonds with a large pearl in the centre of each, connected by festoons of diamonds. From each of the three front cluster hangs a pear shaped pearl. Shown in its original case.

Princess Alexandra wearing the brooch in 1896.

Queen Elizabeth wearing the brooch in 1972 while on a State visit to France, reportedly the only time she has worn it.

Queen Mary's Kensington Bow Brooch.
In July 1893, the committee of the Kensington Wedding-Gift Fund representing the inhabitants of Kensington presented her with this bow-shaped diamond brooch with a large oriental pearl drop. It was made by Collingwood and Company. She wore the brooch at King Edward VII's Coronation and at her own in 1911.

The Queen inherited the Kensington bow brooch in 1953. Here she wears it in 1986 when she attended a dinner given by the President of West Germany during his State visit to Great Britain. Her six-row pearl necklace set with different sized diamond plaques and the matching earrings were a gift to the Queen from the Amir of Qatar on her 1979 visit to the Gulf States.

The Duchess of Cambridge's Pendant Brooch
A baroque pearl in a diamond set mount hangs from a diamond pendant below a large round pearl framed by fourteen brilliant cut diamonds. The Brooch belonged to Queen Mary's grandmother, Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge. It was inherited by her younger daughter, Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck. She died intestate in 1897 and her jewellery was divided among her four children, this brooch being part of Queen Mary's portion.

Queen Elizabeth inherited the brooch in 1953 and wears it here on her 48th birthday on April 21, 1974

The Duchess of Teck's Corsage Brooch
This corsage jewel is typically Victorian in design. The brooch consists of a large pearl set in a circle of diamonds enclosed in a diamond plaited scroll frame with twelve collet stones set around the edge. A U-shaped chain of large collet diamonds ends in three pendant drops.

Queen Mary gave this brooch to Queen Elizabeth as a wedding gift and she wore it here as she arrived in Nepal in 1961

The large diamond and sapphire brooch pinned on Diana, Princess of Wales, dress was a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. This blue velvet dress with a collar made from antique lace that belonged to Queen Victoria, was designed especially for this brooch. But Diana didn't wear brooches to often.

Diana had this spectacular pearl choker made with the brooch as the centre piece. If given the choice of one piece of Royal jewellery to call my own, this would be my pick. Absolutely stunning.

Next time - The Crown Regalia

From the book - The Queen's Jewels by Leslie Fielding

Countdown to the Royal Wedding - Pink Saturday

Welcome to the Gracie Jewellery countdown to the Royal Wedding- Part 9

6 Days to go.

With thanks to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting our weekly meeting.

The magnificent white lily known as the Easter Lily has long stood as a symbol of purity, hope, innocence and peace. Also called the Bermuda lily, the Trumpet lily, and Jacob's Tears, the Easter lily is a biblical flower commonly associated with the resurrection of Christ.

In Christian tradition, the Easter lily signifies rebirth and a new beginning. It is said that beautiful white lilies sprang up in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus wept in the last hours before he was betrayed by Judas. Another legend claims that the white lilies grew from the repentant tears shed by Eve upon her departure from Paradise.

The lily is mentioned frequently throughout the bible and serves today as a beautiful reminder of the significance of the Easter season.

Wishing all of you a very Happy Easter.

And now to the Pink Part of this Post

The future Queen of England - Catherine Middleton - looking smashing in pink.

Coming tomorrow - The Royal Pearls

Countdown to the Royal Wedding - Coloured Stones

Welcome to the Gracie Jewellery countdown to the Royal Wedding- Part 8

7 Days to go.

The Godman Necklace
This necklace was purchased by Frederick DuCann Godman, the noted naturalist, expert on the zoology of Central America and a British Museum Trustee, while on holiday in Bavaria in the 1890's. He gave it to his two daughters and in 1965, long after his death the elderly spinster sisters wrote to the Lord Chamberlain saying that they believed they owned a piece of jewellery that had once belonged to the Empress Josephine of France and it might be of interest to Her Majesty. Sir Francis Watson, Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art, inspected the necklace, but found it did not match the detailed description of an emerald necklace in the inventory of the Empress's jewels. Despite the lack of royal connection, the Misses Godman said that they would like to present the necklace to the Queen, only requesting that she wear it occasionally. Although it is very rare for a member of the royal family to accept a personal gift from someone they don't know, this was felt to be a special occasion and the Queen, greatly touched by such a generous gesture, was delighted to add the necklace to her collection. As a thank you the Queen invited the Misses Godman to Buckingham Palace for a private audience.

Here the Queen wears the Godman necklace with Queen Victoria's Fringe Earrings- emerald drops framed by a swinging diamond fringe.

Queen Mary's Cluster Earrings
For her 59th birthday, on May 26, 1926, King George V presented Queen Mary with these earrings - large oval rubies each set in a cluster of nine brilliant cut diamonds.

Queen Elizabeth received these earrings from her parents in 1947. Here she is wearing them with a V-shaped diamond and ruby floral bandeau collar ending in a drop diamond pendant. This is of victorian workmanship and the Queen's parents purchased this as a wedding gift to the Queen

The Cambridge and Delhi Durbar Parure
This is the most magnificent parure of jewellery in the Queen's possession, was created by Queen Mary using stones from four different sources, and endures as a tribute to her taste and majestic sense of style. In 1818 Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, 7th son of King George III, married Princess Augusta of Hesse. While they were visiting Frankfurt, a State lottery was held in aid of charity; the Duchess bought some tickets and won a small box containing some forty graduated cabochon emeralds. She used some of them to make a pair of drop earrings and a necklace. At her death in 1889 the earrings, necklace and remaining emeralds became the property of her youngest daughter, Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck. When the Duchess died intestate in 1897, her jewellery was divided among her four children. Her son, the unmarried Prince Francis got the emeralds. Less than 6 months later, he died suddenly at the age of forty. He had given his mother's emeralds to his mistress, but within days of his funeral his sister Queen Mary bravely sent an emissary to the lady asking her to return the jewels, which she did. Queen Mary then used some of the Cambridge Emeralds and some Cullinan cleavings to make a completely new set of jewellery.

The Queen inherited the jewels on her grandmother's death in 1953 and wears it here in 1957. The emerald drops within the diamond circles on her tiara are also part of the Cambridge Emeralds

The King George VI Victorian Suite
In 1947 King George gave Princess Elizabeth a long necklace of oblong sapphires surrounded by round diamonds and separated by diamond collets as a wedding gift. To match it there was a pair of free-swinging squares shaped sapphire earrings bordered with diamonds and hanging from 3 collet stones. The suite was made around 1850. In 1952 the Queen had the necklace shortened by removing the largest stone plus one of the smaller sapphires and in 1959 a pendant was made using the big stone.

Princess Eliabeth photographed in her drawing room at Clarence House before leaving for an official visit to Kenya in 1952. King George VI died while she was there, and this picture was withheld from distribution until after the end of Court mourning on June 1, 1952. The necklace is its original length. When Noel Coward saw her wearing the suite at the 1954 Royal Command Performance at the Palladium, he wrote: "After the show we lined up and were presented to the Queen, Prince Philip and Princess Margaret. The Queen looked luminously lovely and was wearing the largest sapphires I have ever seen."

Next time - Pink Saturday

from the book - The Queen's Jewels by Leslie Fielding

Countdown to the Royal Wedding - Coloured Stone Brooches

Welcome to the Gracie Jewellery countdown to the Royal Wedding- Part 7
8 Days to go.

Queen Mary's Russian Brooch
Queen Alexandra's sister, the Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia, gave Princess May of Teck (the future Queen Mary) this brooch of a large square cut diamond and a square cut cabochon sapphire set in a scroll frame of round diamonds as a wedding present in 1893.

Queen Elizabeth wears the brooch in 1974

Queen Mary's Emerald Brooch I
Part of the Cambridge Emeralds, this cabochon emerald is surrounded by 2 rows of diamonds with an emerald drop

Queen Elizabeth wears one of her favourite brooches in 1979

The diamond and emerald scroll brooch also belonged to Queen Mary

The Prince Albert Brooch
A large oblong sapphire surrounded by twelve round diamonds was given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert on February 9, 1840 at Buckingham Palace. It was the day before their wedding and Queen Victoria wrote in her diary "dearest Albert came upstairs to her sitting room and gave her four fans and a beaufiful sapphire and diamond brooch."

Queen Victoria wears the Prince Albert brooch on her wedding day.

Next time - Coloured Stone Necklaces

from the book - The Queen's Jewels by Leslie Fielding

Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth April 21, 1926

Countdown to the Royal Wedding - Bracelets

Welcome to the Gracie Jewellery countdown to the Royal Wedding- Part 6
9 Days to go.

The Queen's 18th Birthday Bracelet
In 1944, the then Princess Elizabeth received this Cartier sapphire and diamond bracelet from her parents. The sapphires are square cut and the diamonds are baguette cut.

The Queen wears her 18th birthday bracelet in 1955

The Queen's Modern Baguettes and Brilliants Bracelet
A line of baguette diamonds runs alongside a double row of brilliant cut diamonds meeting and criss-crossing in the centre.

Her Majesty wears the bracelet on her State visit to Sri Lanka in 1982.

The Queen's 5th Wedding Anniversary Bracelet
This bracelet was made by Boucheron, designed by Prince Phillip and given to Queen Elizabeth to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary. The links are gold shaped on interlocked E's and P's. The centre medallion is Prince Philip's naval badge set in diamonds. There are 2 sapphire baguette crosses, a ruby cross, and 2 ruby and diamond studded flowers with fluted petals.

The Queen wears her Anniversary bracelet at Royal Ascot in 1954

The Prince Phillip Wedding Bracelet
Prince Philip had a hand in designing this bracelet made from diamonds from a tiara that belonged to his mother, Princess Andrew of Greece. The Queen wears it often at night or when in full ceremonial dress for public events.

Queen Elizabeth wearing here Wedding bracelet in 1948

Next time- Coloured Stone Brooches

from the book The Queen's Jewels by Leslie Fielding

Countdown to the Royal Wedding - Diamond Earrings

Welcome to the Gracie Jewellery countdown to the Royal Wedding - Part 5
10 Days to go.

Queen Mary's Cluster Earrings
Large brilliant cut diamonds set into a circle of diamonds, platinum setting with a millegrain edge.

Queen Elizabeth wears the earrings during her 1953 Christmas broadcast, during her 6-month long tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Queen Victoria's Stud Earrings
Perfectly matched large brilliant cut diamonds Queen Victoria had set on posts

This portrait was taken in 1873. Queen Victoria was 54.

Queen Elizabeth wearing the large diamonds in 1961.

The Queen's Pear Drop Earrings
Modern style earrings the Queen had made from family stones.

Diana, Princess of Wales wears the earrings on her first visit to Australia in 1983.

Next time - Bracelets

from the book The Queen's Jewels by Leslie Fielding