![King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attend the presentation of the Apples of Orange, the annual prizes of the Orange Fund, in The Hague on October 4, 2023 (KOEN VAN WEEL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima01.jpg?resize=1200%2C818&ssl=1)
The King and Queen of the Netherlands were on hand for an awards presentation on Wednesday, and Maxima wore some major sparkle for the occasion.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attends the presentation of the Apples of Orange, the annual prizes of the Orange Fund, in The Hague on October 4, 2023 (KOEN VAN WEEL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima03.jpg?resize=1200%2C864&ssl=1)
At Noordeinde Palace in The Hague on Wednesday, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima attended the presentation of the Appeltjes van Oranje (or “Apples of Orange”) Prizes, which are awarded annually to three projects focused on innovations in social welfare and social cohesion. This year’s prizes focused on building bridges within communities, bringing together groups of people to improve social relationships. Winners receive a special bronze Apple of Orange statuette, designed by Princess Beatrix, and a cash prize of 25,000 euros to be put toward further supporting the winning project.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attends the presentation of the Apples of Orange, the annual prizes of the Orange Fund, in The Hague on October 4, 2023 (KOEN VAN WEEL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima02.jpg?resize=1200%2C1740&ssl=1)
For the award presentation, Queen Maxima wore a blush colored dress embroidered with sequins, made by one of her go-to designers, Natan. She accessorized with a major pair of diamond and kunzite statement earrings from her collection. The earrings, which feature a distinctive twist at the top of the pendant, come from Steltman.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attends the grand opening of the Zorg Onderwijs Centrum van Koninklijke Kentalis in Zoetermeer on May 22, 2015 (Koen van Weel/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima05.jpg?resize=1200%2C1632&ssl=1)
Queen Maxima has had the earrings in her jewelry box for many years. One of her first prominent appearances in the jewels took place in May 2015, when she attended the opening of an institute devoted to helping those who have hearing deficits or other struggles with language.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 10, 2016 (ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima06.jpg?resize=1200%2C1413&ssl=1)
Maxima has generally paired the earrings with clothing in shades of pink, blush, tan, and beige. Above, she wears the kunzites for her arrival at the Elysee Palace in Paris during the March 2016 state visit to France.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attends the premiere of the musical The Color Purple at the NDSM Warehouse in Amsterdam on April 16, 2018 (PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima07.jpg?resize=1200%2C1695&ssl=1)
Two years later, in April 2018, she wore the earrings to attend the premiere of the musical The Color Purple in Amsterdam.
![Queen Maxima of The Netherlands attends the presentation of the Willemsorde, the highest Dutch military decoration, to Major Roy de Ruiter in The Hague on August 31, 2018 (Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima08.jpg?resize=1200%2C1738&ssl=1)
She made a dramatic appearance in the earrings in The Hague in August 2018 during the presentation of the highest Dutch military decoration, the Willemsorde.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands views items from the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace in London on October 23, 2018 (CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima09.jpg?resize=1200%2C1770&ssl=1)
She also chose the earrings, plus additional pieces from her collection of kunzite jewels, for the official welcome ceremony at Buckingham Palace during the October 2018 state visit to the United Kingdom.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visits the ECI Cultuurfabriek for the signing of the Music Agreement Goirle on May 11, 2021 (ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima10.jpg?resize=1200%2C1505&ssl=1)
Maxima has worn the earrings both for grand state occasions and local engagements. Here, in May 2021, she wears the earrings for a visit to a cultural center in Roermond.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands celebrates King's Day in Maastricht on April 27, 2022 (MARCEL VAN HOORN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima11.jpg?resize=1200%2C1800&ssl=1)
She paired the earrings with a bubblegum pink and tan ensemble on King’s Day in Maastricht in April 2022.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visits Sheep Farm de Waddel in Texel on May 9, 2023 (Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima12.jpg?resize=1200%2C1799&ssl=1)
She’s even worn the earrings on a May 2023 visit to a sheep farm! Talk about versatility.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands waves from the balcony of Noordeinde Palace on Prinsjesdag in The Hague on September 19, 2023 (KOEN VAN WEEL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-0919-03-prinsjesdag02.jpg?resize=1200%2C1821&ssl=1)
Last month, Queen Maxima chose the earrings for Prinsjesdag, pairing them with an eye-catching coat from Claes Iversen.
![Princess Laurentien and Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands are pictured on Prinsjesdag in The Hague on September 17, 2019 (Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima13.jpg?resize=1200%2C1529&ssl=1)
She’s not the only member of the family who has worn the earrings for Prinsjesdag. Princess Laurentien wore the jewels, plus other parts of the married kunzite suite, for the same occasion back in September 2019.
![Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attends the presentation of the Apples of Orange, the annual prizes of the Orange Fund, in The Hague on October 4, 2023 (KOEN VAN WEEL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-1007-02-maxima04.jpg?resize=1200%2C1616&ssl=1)
For Wednesday’s prize presentations, Queen Maxima finished off her look with the diamond and kunzite ring from the suite, as well as the pair of coordinating diamond bangles with floral accent designs.
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