Shades of blue are matched up in this brooch contest…

Queen Elizabeth II’s Aquamarine Clips vs. The Australian Opal Spray Brooch

Queen Elizabeth II’s Aquamarine Clips

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth gave these classic diamond and aquamarine clip brooches to Princess Elizabeth on her eighteenth birthday in 1944. The brooches can be worn separately as clips, as she most often does, or joined together as one larger brooch. She’s loved and worn the brooches for more than seven decades, making them a regular part of her rotation.

The Australian Opal Spray Brooch

This brooch, made of gold, diamonds, and Australian black opals, was one of the Queen’s wedding gifts in 1947. It was presented to her by the Returned Sailors’, Soldiers’, and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia, and fittingly, it made a prominent appearance at the annual Commonwealth Day service in 2016. The Queen also wears the colorful brooch more generally.

We’ve got one more sparkling post today, and more brooches coming your way tomorrow!

The Queen Mum and Queen Mary face off in this morning’s match-up!

The Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch vs. The Pink Cluster Brooch

The Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch

This fantastic diamond brooch, made by Asprey, was a gift from King George VI to the Queen Mother ahead of their 1939 tour of Canada. The Queen Mum treasured the brooch, which is made to resemble a leaf of the Canadian Sugar Maple, and wore it throughout her life. The Queen inherited it from her mother in 2002. Both women have often loaned the brooch to other family members visiting Canada, and the Duchesses of Cornwall and Cambridge have made memorable recent appearances in the piece.

The Pink Cluster Brooch

This petite cluster brooch features a vivid pink gemstone (often described as a pink sapphire) set in a beautiful diamond frame. The brooch originally belonged to the Queen’s grandmother, Queen Mary. In recent years, it has become one of the Queen’s favorite brooches, appearing at palace audiences, Royal Ascot, and even one outing on Christmas Day!

Stay tuned for a colorful afternoon contest!