Luxembourg Celebrates a Royal Baptism (and a Royal Wedding!)

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

On Saturday, the royals of Luxembourg celebrated an important occasion: the baptism of a future grand duke! Here's a look at some of the jewelry we saw during the baptism of Prince Charles of Luxembourg and the wedding of his cousin, Archduchess Gabriella.

The Nightly Necklace: Queen Mary's Amethyst Necklace

Grand Ladies Site

The Duchess of York (later Queen Mary) wears her parure of amethyst jewels, including a necklace, tiara, and brooch, for a formal portrait, ca. 1893; more on the necklace, which was most recently seen on Anna Wintour, over here!

The Daily Diadem: The Romanian Greek Key Tiara

Wikimedia Commons

Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma wears the Romanian Greek Key Tiara for her wedding to King Michael of Romania, June 1948; more on the tiara over here!

State Visit Jewels: The Queen Visits Germany (2015)

Michael Ukas - Pool/Getty Images

Today, our final state visit spotlight of the week falls on the Queen's most recent foreign diplomatic visit: her 2015 state visit to Germany.

The Nightly Necklace: The Delhi Durbar Necklace

Wikimedia Commons

Queen Mary of the United Kingdom wears the necklace and jewels from the Delhi Durbar Parure (stacked with several other necklaces) in a formal portrait, ca. 1913; more on the necklace over here!

The Daily Diadem: The Hesse Strawberry Leaf Tiara

Grand Duchess Eleonore of Hesse and by Rhine wears the Hesse Strawberry Leaf Tiara in a portrait; more on the tiara's fascinating story over here!

State Visit Jewels: The Queen Visits France (2014)

ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP via Getty Images

Our survey of the jewels worn by the Queen during her most recent state visits abroad continues today with a very important visit: 2014's diplomatic trip to France, which also marked the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

The Nightly Necklace: Queen Mary's Love Trophy Collar

Wikimedia Commons

The Princess of Wales (later Queen Mary) wears the Love Trophy Collar (with the Iveagh Tiara and the Dorset Bow Brooch) in a photographic portrait taken by Alice Hughes, ca. 1905; more on the necklace over here!

The Daily Diadem: The Brunswick Tiara

Wikimedia Commons

Princess Viktoria Luise, Duchess of Brunswick wears the Brunswick Tiara in a photographic portrait taken in Berlin, ca. 1918; more on the tiara over here!

State Visit Jewels: The Queen Visits Ireland (2011)

Irish Government - Pool/Getty Images

The spring of 2011 was a momentous time for the Windsors. Not only did the family celebrate the wedding of a future king, the Queen embarked on one of the most important state visits of her entire reign: the first visit of a reigning British monarch to the Republic of Ireland.

The Nightly Necklace: Queen Mary's Eleven-Row Pearl Choker

Wikimedia Commons

Queen Mary of the United Kingdom wears her eleven-row pearl and diamond choker necklace (plus other pearls, as well as the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara with its pearl toppers) for a formal portrait, taken ca. 1912; see the present Duchess of Gloucester wearing the necklace here!

The Daily Diadem: The Greek Emeralds

Wikimedia Commons

Queen Olga of the Hellenes wears her emeralds, including several attached to a kokoshnik, in this court portrait, taken near the end of the nineteenth century; learn more about the emeralds over here!

State Visit Jewels: The Queen Visits the UAE and Oman (2010)

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

One of the things I've been missing most of all lately is state visits -- the pomp, the glamour, the banquets! Since this autumn won't be bringing us our usual round of visits, let's have a look back at some of the Queen's most recent visits abroad. Today, we're beginning with a look at the jewels she wore in the United Arab Emirates and Oman in November 2010.

The Nightly Necklace: Blue and Yellow Sapphire Necklace

 

Christie's

A stunning necklace of diamonds and blue and yellow sapphires, made in 1957 by Cartier, is displayed at Christie's ahead of its sale in New York, October 2013; the necklace sold at auction for $785,000 USD

The Daily Diadem: The Dutch Diamond Bandeau

 

FRANK VAN BEEK/AFP via Getty Images

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wears the Dutch Diamond Bandeau (with Queen Emma's Sapphire Stomacher, set with the citrine cluster) for the Swedish state banquet in Amsterdam, April 2014; more on the tiara over here!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Week Eight Results!

 

The results are in from our latest tiara tournament contests!

The Nightly Necklace: Star Sapphire Pendant Necklace

 

Christie's

A unique gold and enamel pendant necklace, designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany ca. 1910 and set with a luminous star sapphire, is displayed at Christie's ahead of its auction in New York, June 2017; the necklace sold at auction for $32,500 USD

The Daily Diadem: Queen Emma's Diamond Tiara

 

Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wears Queen Emma's Diamond Tiara for a state dinner in New Zealand, November 2016; more on the tiara's history here!

The Cambridge Sapphires

Queen Mary wears the Cambridge Sapphires (Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Mary's jewelry collection included several complete parures featuring colorful gemstones. Today, we're talking about the history of one of those sets -- the Cambridge Sapphires -- as well as their current royal status today.

The Nightly Necklace: Van Cleef and Arpels Sapphire Necklace

Christie's

A classic diamond and sapphire necklace by Van Cleef and Arpels, which is also able to be worn as a pair of bracelets, is displayed at Christie's ahead of its auction in New York, April 2015; the necklace sold at auction for $581,000 USD

The Daily Diadem: The Antique Pearl Tiara

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wears the Antique Pearl Tiara (and the Dutch Diamond and Pearl Devant de Corsage) for a diplomatic gala in Amsterdam, April 2019; more on the tiara over here!

Jewels of Prinsjesdag 2020

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

September brings the annual opening of parliament in the Netherlands, and though this year's celebrations were a little different, we've still got royal jewelry to enjoy!

The Nightly Necklace: Antique Koch Sapphire and Diamond Necklace

Christie's

A diamond and sapphire necklace composed of nineteenth-century elements, assembled in 1939 by Koch, is displayed at Christie's ahead of its sale in London, June 2013; the necklace sold at auction for approximately $386,279 USD

The Daily Diadem: The Dutch Aquamarine Tiara

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wears the Dutch Aquamarine Tiara, plus other pieces from Queen Juliana's aquamarine collection, for a diplomatic reception in Amsterdam, April 2018; more on the tiara over here!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Floral Birthday vs Louise's Diamond

Our final match-up of our Sparkling Sixteen round is a diamond dazzler!

The Nightly Necklace: Sapphire and Diamond Bib Necklace

Christie's

A 1960s diamond and sapphire bib necklace from Van Cleef and Arpels, formerly owned by an unnamed "lady of title," is displayed by Christie's ahead of its sale in Geneva, November 2016; the necklace sold at auction for approximately $338,244 USD

The Daily Diadem: The Wurttemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP via Getty Images

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wears the Wurttemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara for a state banquet in Tokyo, October 2014; more on the tiara over here!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Khedive of Egypt vs Alexandrine Sapphire

Our Wild Card bracket returns with a pair of Danish sparklers!

The Nightly Necklace: Tiffany Arts and Crafts Sapphire Necklace

Christie's

A gold and sapphire pendant necklace, designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany ca. 1910 in the Arts and Crafts style, is displayed by Christie's ahead of its sale in New York, December 2006; the necklace sold at auction for $262,400 USD

The Daily Diadem: The Mellerio Ruby Parure Tiara

Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wears the Mellerio Ruby Parure Tiara for the wedding of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden, June 2015; more on the jewels over here!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Braganza vs Aquamarine Kokoshnik

This contest matches up two incredible Bernadotte jewels!

The Nightly Necklace: The Blue Belle of Asia Necklace

Christie's

A diamond tassel necklace set with the 392.52-carat Blue Belle of Asia Sapphire is displayed by Christie's ahead of its sale in Geneva, November 2014; the necklace sold for approximately $18,661,194 USD

The Daily Diadem: The Dutch Emerald Parure Tiara

Michel Porro/Getty Images

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wears the Dutch Emerald Parure Tiara for a dinner in honor of Prince Albert II of Monaco in Apeldoorn, June 2014; more on the tiara over here!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Leuchtenberg Sapphire vs Connaught Diamond

Will it be the solid Leuchtenberg or the airy Connaught?

The Nightly Necklace: Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Charm Necklace

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway wears a delicate necklace with a selection of charm pendants for a visit to the Norwegian Consul General's residence in New York, October 2010; Mette-Marit has been wearing the necklace with different charms for more than a decade

The Daily Diadem: Queen Maud's Pearl Tiara

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Princess Martha Louise of Norway wears the small setting of (the replica of) Queen Maud's Pearl Tiara for the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O'Neill, June 2013; more on the tiara over here!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Week Seven Results!

The results are in from this week's tiara votes!

The Nightly Necklace: Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Silver Pearl Necklace

Ragnar Singsaas/Getty Images

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway wears a long necklace of silvery black pearls during commemorations of Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oslo, January 2015; the necklace also features an elegant diamond and pearl pendant

The Daily Diadem: The Savoy Ivy Wreath Tiara

MARKA/Alamy

Princess Maria Pia of Savoy wears the diamond and pearl ivy wreath tiara during the celebrations for her wedding to Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, February 1955; the tiara was made from a diamond and pearl stomacher that belonged to her grandmother, Queen Elena of Italy

A Flower Basket Brooch Mystery!

The Queen wears the Flower Basket Brooch (Rebecca Naden - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

If you're like me -- and if you're here, you probably are! -- there are few things you love more than new and exciting provenance information about a piece of royal jewelry. So I've got a big treat for you today: a new jewelry mystery, this time about one of the Queen's most sentimental jewels, the Flower Basket Brooch.

The Nightly Necklace: Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Pink Beads

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway wears a necklace of pink pearls (or beads) for a literary luncheon at The Groucho Club during the Norwegian state visit to Britain, October 2005

The Daily Diadem: Marie-Chantal's Diamond Floral Tiara

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece wears a modern diamond floral tiara for the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, May 2004; see another view of the tiara (which was probably a loan) over here!

Queen Paola and the Art Deco Bandeau

Queen Paola wears the Art Deco Bandeau, October 2012 (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Happy Birthday to Queen Paola of Belgium! Today, we're celebrating the day with a look at one of Paola's most important pieces of jewelry: the Art Deco Bandeau.

The Nightly Necklace: Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Seed Pearl Necklace

MATT DUNHAM/AFP via Getty Images

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway wears a seed pearl necklace with a small diamond bow and pearl drop pendant during the Norwegian state visit to the United Kingdom, October 2005; the pearl necklace is similar to the one worn by Princess Ingrid Alexandra with her heart pendant

The Daily Diadem: The Spanish Floral Tiara

Pool/Getty Images

Queen Letizia of Spain wears the Spanish Floral Tiara (with her wedding earrings and the joyas de pasar bracelets) for the Peruvian state banquet in Madrid, February 2019; more on the tiara here!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Vasa vs Norwegian Emerald

Our final contest of the week features two Norwegian heirlooms!

The Nightly Necklace: Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Pearls

Sion Touhig/Getty Images

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway wears a triple-stranded pearl and diamond necklace, plus a matching bracelet, for a reception ahead of the wedding of Princess Martha Louise, May 2002; the pearls were reportedly a wedding gift from Crown Prince Haakon

The Daily Diadem: The Akishino Tiara

Carlos Bergamín/Alamy

The Princess Akishino (now Crown Princess Kiko of Japan) wears the Akishino Tiara for a state banquet in honor of the King and Queen of Spain in Tokyo, April 2017; more on the tiara over here!

Scandi Sparkler Spectacular: Josefina's Diamond vs Maud's Pearl

Two Scandinavian matriarchs face off in this dazzling contest!

The Nightly Necklace: Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Wedding Necklace

Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway wears a delicate diamond necklace (with the Diamond Daisy Bandeau) on her wedding day, August 2001; more on this romantic royal wedding over here!