Dutch/Argentine State Visit Jewels: State Banquet

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Many were expecting Queen Maxima to bring out some major diamond wattage for tonight’s Argentine state banquet in Amsterdam, and she didn’t disappoint!

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With two familiar diamond pieces — the diamond bandeau and large diamond earrings — Maxima brought out a piece of jewelry that hasn’t been worn in public since the 1970s: the House Diamond Necklace.

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Another view of the tiara, earrings, and necklace.

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The elaborate necklace is a part of a three-piece parure that also includes the Stuart Tiara and the large diamond bow brooch. The set was created in 1897 for Queen Wilhelmina using a cache of heirloom diamonds that belonged to the royal house. Above, you can see all three pieces, plus several other diamond jewels, on Queen Juliana in 1962. Maxima has now worn two of the three pieces from the House Diamond Parure: the necklace and the bow brooch. Does that mean the Stuart Tiara is waiting in the wings? We can only hope!

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Maxima also wore a trio of bracelets. On her right wrist, she wears one of the East Indies Bracelets. On her left, her diamond bangles, which feature small flowers with pink diamond centers. Maxima also secured her belt and sash with a diamond brooch.

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The dress that Maxima wore with the stunning family diamonds has been seen before. She wore it at the wedding of her brother, Juan Zorreguieta, at the Palais Liechtenstein in Vienna in June 2014. On that occasion, she wore a cape-style coat over the gown and a metallic belt. The top of the dress also looks to have been altered slightly.

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To my surprise, Queen Maxima wasn’t given an Argentine order during this state visit. She’s wearing the sash of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. President Macri wears the same order. King Willem-Alexander, though, has been given a new Argentine order. He’s wearing the collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin, as well as the sash of his highest Dutch order, the Military William Order. The First Lady wears a newly-given order from the Netherlands, the Order of the Crown.

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And, because I know you’re all interested, here’s a better look at her gown and jewels.

One more tiara! In this video, you can briefly see that Princess Beatrix attended the banquet wearing the Antique Pearl Tiara. (Princess Laurentien also attended, wearing the family’s laurel wreath tiara — thanks to EmpressRoyal for that info!) You also get to hear Willem-Alexander thanking the nation of Argentina for “the most precious of gifts: my wife, our Dutch queen.”