This Week in Royal Jewels: July 8-14

July 8-14, 2016

The summer holidays are nearly here, but we still have some jewelry pieces to ooh and ahh over. Be sure to vote for your favorite in the poll below!

10. While the media was reporting — and the IHA was denying — rumors that Emperor Akihito of Japan was considering abdication, he and Empress Michiko made a public appearance outside the imperial villa in Hayama. Michiko wore a long necklace and a really interesting pair of statement earrings.

9. Queen Letizia of Spain went floral in stud earrings by Yanes at the military academy in Zaragoza on Thursday.

8. On the first day of her visit to Aachen, Queen Silvia of Sweden wore a delicate necklace of twisted strands of pearls. Here’s more on the jewels from this engagement (including a better look at that brooch).

7. The Duchess of Cambridge was back at Wimbledon this week, wearing earrings by Brora to watch Andy Murray win his second tournament title. More photos of the earrings are here.

6. For her family’s annual summer portrait session, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands piled on the jewels, including a major floral statement necklace. See more of the pieces she wore over here.

5. Princess Benedikte went with classic jewels for the CHIO Aachen opening ceremony: a pearl necklace, pearl and diamond half-moon earrings, and a round pearl and diamond cluster brooch. See more jewels from the opening ceremony here.

4. CHIO Aachen was officially opened by Queen Silvia, who wore her pearl and topaz suite for the occasion. You can also see the impressive pearl bracelet she wore over here.

3. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom visited the new EAAA base at Cambridge airport on Wednesday. Along with an unusually simple pair of pearl stud earrings, she wore her small diamond and pink gemstone cluster brooch. Get a better look at the brooch over here.

2. Bezel-set diamonds and drop pearls were Queen Letizia’s choice for the Queen Letizia Awards in Madrid on Friday. See more views of the earrings here.

1. My top spot this week went to a major royal heirloom: the Cambridge Emerald Brooch with its emerald pendant. Queen Elizabeth II wore this jewel — which definitely says “I’m the monarch” — for her first audience with the new British prime minister, Theresa May. See additional images from the event over here.