Queen Elizabeth’s 5 most expensive jewels and the royals who’ve worn them
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The Royal Family have an impressive collection of jewels and officially, they are priceless. Since the Crown Jewels are not insured, it is likely they have never been appraised. However, estimates put the entire collection at £2.9 billion. But what is Queen Elizabeth’s most expensive item? Express.co.uk spoke exclusively to Sophie Naylor, Senior Bespoke Consultant at 77 Diamonds, about the monarch’s top five most expensive jewellery pieces.
Queen’s Oriental Circlet tiara – £6 million+
The Oriental Circlet Tiara was originally owned by Queen Victoria and has become one her her most prominent jewels.
Sophie explained: “It was originally designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in 1853. The original design was set with an estimated 2,600 diamonds in total with accented opals set into the centre of the lotus flower motifs.
“Due to Opal being associated with bad luck and misfortune, Queen Alexandra chose to change the stones to Burmese red rubies in 1901, which is the design we see today.
“The design itself was inspired by the architectural style of the Mughal emperors and lotus flowers from Southern Asia which ultimately inspired its name of the Oriental circlet tiara,” she added.
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Queen Mary’s fringe tiara – £5 million+
Queen Mary’s fringe tiara was most recently worn by Princess Beatrice for her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
“[It] was designed and created in 1919 and actually re-purposed diamonds from a necklace Queen Mary originally wore on her wedding day in 1893,” Sophie revealed.
“The tiara design itself is quite unique with its modern clean lines of diamonds creating a beautiful fan effect, and was the crown Queen Elizabeth chose to wear on her wedding day to Prince Philip.
“Famously, the tiara actually broke on the morning of the royal wedding and was transported to the jeweller’s workshop, where they repaired it and returned it just in time for the Queen’s arrival at Westminster Abbey.”
Queen Alexandra’s wedding necklace – £800k
It was Kate Middleton who got to wear Queen Alexandra’s wedding necklace for the Dutch state banquet back in October 2018.
“The necklace was originally gifted to Queen Alexandra by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales on their wedding day in 1863,” Sophie commented.
“The necklace is part of a full suite which included a matching Tiara, earrings and brooch.
“The design of the necklace features eight pearls surrounded by a halo of diamonds, with three detachable drop pearl pendants which can be attached or removed depending on the wearer’s preference and outfit choice.”
Queen Mary’s choker bracelet – £250k+
One of the Duchess of Cambridge’s favourite pieces to wear is Queen Mary’s choker bracelet.
Sophie revealed this is an “evolutionary piece in the royal collection”.
“[It] was originally and frequently worn by Queen Mary before the Queen mother chose to wear it as a bracelet for her 75th birthday portrait, leading the way for it to be worn as a bracelet ever since,” she added.
“This art deco style piece is made up with contemporary-style links which are set with a combination of diamonds pave set around ornate cut out patterns, and contemporary rubover set round and princess cut diamonds.”
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