The Court Jeweller

Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Queen Letizia: A Year in Jewels

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Can you believe it’s already been a year? On June 19, 2014, the Prince and Princess of Asturias became King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. During her first year as queen, Letizia has provided us with some glittering jewel moments — and a whole lot of colorful earrings. Let’s have a look at some of her memorable jewelry appearances during the first year of Felipe’s reign.

For her husband’s inauguration as king, Letizia wore her favorite small stud earrings: the Comète diamond stars by Chanel (19 June)

Diamond and Australian pearl earrings for an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican (30 June)

Bulgari hoop earrings in diamonds, sapphires, and white gold for an official visit to Portugal (7 July)

A new chivalric order — the gold, diamond and ruby collar of the special class of the Order of Mohammed, Morocco’s highest order of chivalry — received during an official visit to Morocco (15 July)
A star-studded headband by Nanos coordinated with her Chanel Comète diamond stars at El Pardo (21 July)

Vibrant ruby, emerald, and moonstone earrings by Tous for a meeting with President Hollande of France (22 July)

Glittering in her diamond wedding earrings in Malaga (5 September)

Pendant earrings with green stones for National Day in Madrid (12 October)

Cabochon ruby earrings for a visit with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima in the Netherlands (15 October)

Sparkling diamond and aquamarine earrings by Bulgari for the Prince of Asturias awards gala (24 October)

The first big gala event as queen: a dinner for President Bachelet of Chile at the Royal Palace. Letizia wore her mother-in-law’s diamond floral tiara plus the diamond studs from her Australian pearl earrings and the fleur-de-lis brooch that forms the center of her new tiara (29 October)

Dark, black diamond teardrop earrings by de Grisogono for a second reception for President Bachelet (30 October)

Gorgeous diamond earrings for a journalism awards ceremony (5 November)

Wearing the exuberant, multi-colored Beethoven earrings by Tous at a nutrition conference in Rome; each earring features different colored gemstones, including chrysoprase, emerald, green tourmaline, opal, pink quartz, ruby, and turquoise (20 November)

Green butterfly earrings at the National Sports Awards (4 December)

As the new year dawned, Letizia wore a pair of black pendant earrings overlaid with glittering stars (21 January)

Lacy diamond girandole earrings for an audience at Zarzuela Palace (29 January)

The floral tiara, her diamond wedding earrings, and the fleur-de-lis brooch from the Ansorena tiara for a gala dinner in honor of President Santos of Colombia (2 March)

Dramatic silver-plated earrings with Swarovski crystals by Uno de 50 for a scholarship ceremony in Barcelona (10 April)

The exciting debut of a brand-new tiara, the smaller Ansorena Fleur-de-Lis Tiara, at Queen Margrethe II of Denmark’s 75th birthday celebrations (15 April)

Dangling diamond and white gold chandelier earrings by Yanes and a new short haircut at the Woman Awards (20 April)

A rather remarkable set of jewelry, consisting of brass pieces with embroidered leaves by Paz Sintes, at a literature awards ceremony in Madrid (21 April)

A set of jewelry by Yanes — flower blossom earrings and a matching ring — appeared at the Reina Sofia Awards (29 April)



Blue hydrothermal quartz and amber earrings by Tous at Zarzuela Palace (30 April)

Slim, minimalist earrings — the Laura Marquez white gold “Linear” style — for audiences at the Palace (18 May)

Letizia’s Cartier diamond bracelet glitters during a visit to Honduras (25 May)

The debut of new earrings by Folli Folie — the “Elements” earrings in rose gold set with crystals — coincided with the start of a state visit to France (2 June)
New earrings set with red and green gemstones for a state dinner with President Hollande in Paris (2 June)

Gorgeous golden earrings at the Cervantes Institute in Paris (4 June)

Cultured freshwater pearl drop earrings from Tous for Armed Forces Day (6 June)

Diamond and white gold nautilus earrings from Yanes were Letizia’s choice for the memorial service for the late Prince Kardam of Bulgaria (8 June)
Which of Letizia’s jewels during her first year as queen were your favorites?

Royal Jewel Rewind: Crown Princess Victoria’s Wedding (Part 2)

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Note: From Friday, June 5 until Sunday, June 14, I will be traveling and will be away from my computer. For notes about how this will affect the blog, especially commenting, visit here!
Let’s dig in to more amazing jewels from Crown Princess Victoria’s 2010 royal wedding! If you missed our earlier posts on the wedding, visit here, here, and here!

Representing Belgium at the wedding, the Duchess of Brabant (now Queen Mathilde) wore her laurel wreath tiara, plus drop earrings with pale stones, a diamond bracelet, and a diamond floral necklace. She also wore the second-highest ranking Swedish order, the Order of the Polar Star.

Princess Claire of Belgium wore her diamond and pearl tiara at the wedding, plus diamond and pearl drop earrings.

A third Belgian princess, Astrid, wore the Savoy-Aosta Tiara from her husband’s family’s collection, pairing it with sparkling earrings and the Order of the Polar Star.

Beatrix of the Netherlands, still the country’s reigning queen in 2010, wore the gorgeous tiara from the Mellerio Ruby Parure to her goddaughter’s wedding. She also wore ruby and diamond earrings, a diamond riviere, and the Order of the Seraphim.

Maxima (then Princess, now Queen of the Netherlands) shone in diamonds at the wedding, wearing the Dutch Diamond Bandeau, a glittering diamond riviere, diamond drop earrings, and some of Queen Emma’s diamond stars on the sash of the Order of the Polar Star.

She also secured the back of her order sash with a diamond brooch and two diamond bracelets, the Dutch Diamond Star Bracelet and her own diamond wedding bracelet, as well as Queen Juliana’s diamond watch (on her left wrist).

Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands (now the Princess of Orange) is one of Crown Princess Victoria’s godchildren, so she was among the royal wedding party. Before the ceremony, she posed with her parents, Willem-Alexander and Maxima.

Princess Laurentien, another of Beatrix’s daughters-in-law, wore Queen Emma’s Diamond Tiara at the wedding with its ruby center stone. She also wore diamond earrings from the Dutch royal collection.

Laurentien doesn’t have a Swedish order, so she wore her highest Dutch order: the Order of the House of Orange. She secured the sash with a diamond brooch. This photo also gives you a good view of her diamond bracelet, one of the set made out of Queen Juliana’s large Dutch East Indies Bracelet.

Princess Mabel of the Netherlands, Beatrix’s third daughter-in-law, wore her wedding tiara to this royal wedding. The tiara was made in 1888 by Mellerio; originally the top row of gemstones was set with chocolate diamonds, but those have since been removed and replaced. The replacement stones are reportedly the top row of diamonds from the family’s sapphire tiara. She also wore large diamond pendant earrings.

Mabel doesn’t have any royal orders, hence the lack of a sash on her gown. Her late husband, Prince Friso, wore the Order of the Polar Star. Sadly, this was one of his last appearances at a major royal event before his skiing accident and his subsequent death. (Also, yes, Mabel’s dress is half skirt, half trousers.)

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg stole the show at this royal wedding, busting out the enormous Luxembourg Empire Tiara for the evening. She also wore an impressive diamond riviere, pearl drop earrings, and a pearl and diamond brooch that originally belonged to Princess Ingeborg, the wife of Prince Carl of Sweden.

Maria Teresa also wore a diamond bracelet and the Order of the Seraphim.

The Countess of Wessex, representing the Queen, wore her wedding tiara to Victoria’s wedding. (Sophie’s anniversary is also June 19 — rewind to her wedding here!) She also wore a pair of diamond earrings with a coordinating necklace. Sophie has no Swedish order, so she wore her highest British order, the Royal Victorian Order. She secured the sash with the diamond brooch given to her by her husband, the Earl of Wessex, as a first anniversary present.

Sophie also wore a pair of bracelets and her mother-in-law’s family order.

Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein wore the family’s gorgeous Habsburg Fringe Tiara at the wedding, plus diamond earrings and a beautiful diamond floral brooch.

Queen Sofia of Spain donned the Mellerio Shell Tiara at the wedding, pairing it with a pearl necklace with a shell-shaped diamond pendant. She’s also wearing the diamond earrings from the joyas de pasar collection.

Sofia secured the sash of the Order of the Seraphim with a diamond fleur-de-lis brooch.

The Princess of Asturias (now Queen Letizia) borrowed her mother-in-law’s diamond floral tiara, pairing it with her own diamond wedding earrings.

Because she has no Swedish orders, Letizia wore her highest Spanish order, the Order of Charles III. At her waist, she secured the order sash with the fleur-de-lis brooch that forms the central element of her new Ansorena tiara.

Infanta Elena of Spain wore the Marichalar Meander Tiara, a piece that was a gift from the family of her former husband. Her small earrings appear to be set with amethysts.

Like Letizia, Elena wore the Order of Charles III with her very Spanish gown.

Infanta Cristina of Spain borrowed the Cartier diamond and pearl tiara that once belonged to Queen Ena, pairing it with diamond floral earrings and the Order of Charles III.

No tiara for Charlene Wittstock at this wedding, as she wasn’t yet a Monegasque princess (not that that has really made a tiara difference, but anyway). But the earrings she chose for the ceremony are beautiful diamond girandoles.

Queen Rania of Jordan wore a tiara to the wedding, but it was her petite Boucheron Bracelet Tiara. She also wore delicate diamond earrings, plus the Order of the Seraphim and the small ribbon of Jordan’s Order of al-Hussein bin Ali.

Rania’s sister-in-law, Princess Rym, wore a delicate diamond tiara. She also wore the Order of the Star of Jordan.

Princess Sarvath of Jordan wore all diamonds — tiara, earrings, brooch, bracelet — with the Order of the Polar Star.

Margarita, wife of the former Tsar of Bulgaria, went sans tiara at the wedding, but she did wear an absolutely stunning necklace. She’s also wearing a Bulgarian order: the Order of Saint Alexander.

Rosario of Bulgaria, here with her husband, Prince Kyril, didn’t wear any jewelry, letting her sparkling gown speak for itself.

Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia wore a small diamond tiara with link-motif earrings and a matching necklace. She’s also wearing a Yugoslavian order, the Order of Saint Sava.

Crown Princess Margarita of Romania (third from the left) wore the family’s Greek Key Tiara, pairing it with diamond earrings, a diamond necklace, and the Romanian Order of Carol I.

Which tiaras from Crown Princess Victoria’s royal wedding were your favorites?

This Week in Royal Jewels: May 29-June 4

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Note: From Friday, June 5 until Sunday, June 14, I will be traveling and will be away from my computer. For notes about how this will affect the blog, especially commenting, visit here!
May 29-June 4, 2015
It’s a supersized edition of our weekly jewel roundup! Be sure to vote for your favorites in the poll below.
22. Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Duke of Lancaster, visited Lancaster Castle on Friday, and appropriately, she wore a brooch that features the Duchy of Lancaster’s coat of arms.

21. On Wednesday, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians wore pearls to attend the King Baudouin Foundation Awards.

20. The Countess of Wessex attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday in honor of the Women’s Institute. She wore pearl and diamond earrings, plus a new brooch studded with pearls.

19. The host of the WI Garden Party at Buckingham Palace was the Duchess of Cornwall, who wore one of her trademark pearl chokers with a diamond clasp, pearl earrings, and her sapphire and diamond butterfly brooch.

18. The Duchess of Gloucester also attended the WI Garden Party, wearing a gray pearl necklace, plus a set of sapphire and diamond earrings and a pair of sapphire and diamond clips.

17. A very floral Princess Alexandra was at the WI Garden Party as well, wearing pearl and diamond earrings, her pearl choker with the geometric diamond clasp, and a diamond floral brooch.

16. During the Dutch visit to Canada, Queen Maxima wore antique gold Dutch earrings as she swung by to visit the Dutch national women’s soccer team in Toronto on Friday. Later in the day, she also debuted pieces from the family’s Ears of Wheat Tiara for the first time.

15. On Monday, Maxima wore pearls to visit with President Obama at the White House in Washington, D.C., including the family’s antique strawberry leaf brooch.

14. King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain began their rescheduled state visit to France on Tuesday. Letizia wore Tous earrings set with blue quartz and amber for a visit to see a Velasquez exhibition at the Grand Palais.

13. At Tuesday evening’s state banquet in Paris, Letizia wore an intriguing pair of earrings with alternating red and light green stones.

12. Letizia wore her diamond and ruby earrings for a lunch with the French prime minister on Wednesday.

11. For Thursday’s trip to the Cervantes Institute, Letizia donned a pair of elaborate gold earrings.

10.  On Thursday, the Countess of Wessex attended the WI’s centenary meeting at the Royal Albert Hall, wearing a new pair of pearl earrings.

9. Princess Anne also attended the centenary meeting, wearing gold and pearl jewelry.

8. The Queen was the guest of honor at the centenary meeting; she wore the Cambridge Pearl Pendant Brooch as she cut the celebratory cake.

7. After the WI meeting, Sophie hurried off to Buckingham Palace to host a garden party in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Blind Veterans UK organization. She added the new pearl brooch she’d worn at the week’s earlier garden party to her outfit.

6. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wore pearl earrings during the first day of an official visit to Lisbon on Thursday.

5. For a visit later the same day with the SCA sailing team, Victoria changed into a fun pair of earrings with pink, purple, and white stones.

4. Queen Silvia of Sweden wore gold jewelry to meet with the President of India at the Nobel Forum during his state visit to Stockholm on Tuesday.

3. On Monday evening, Silvia donned Queen Sofia’s Tiara for a state banquet during the Indian state visit.

2. Crown Princess Victoria wore the Napoleonic Cut-Steel Tiara at the state banquet, while Sofia Hellqvist donned a new pair of emerald and diamond earrings by Ebba Brahe.

1. One more tiara to cap off the week! The Duchess of Cornwall attended the Royal Academy Annual Dinner, wearing the Cubitt-Shand Tiara (from her own family’s collection), plus diamond and pearl earrings, one of her pearl chokers with a diamond clasp, the Royal Victorian Order, and her mother-in-law’s family order.