Queen Maxima’s Brilliant Ruby Banquet Moment in Amsterdam

On Thursday, the Dutch royals hosted their annual dinner for the Diplomatic Corps in Amsterdam, and Queen Máxima brought out the family rubies–and a dress from deep in her wardrobe archive–for the occasion.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima welcomed members of the Diplomatic Corps to the Royal Palace in Amsterdam for Thursday’s dinner. The King delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of maintaining and strengthening relationships with neighbors both near and far. He dressed in full white tie for the dinner, while Máxima wore a festive pink evening gown with pieces from the family’s two ruby parures.

Josine Droogendijk reminds us that the dress, which Máxima wore for the first time in 2007, comes from Natan. That first appearance took place during Willem-Alexander’s 40th birthday celebrations, which were postponed to the autumn after the birth of Princess Ariane. Máxima memorably accessorized on that occasion with the necklace and bracelet from her suite of tutti frutti jewels.

Máxima wore the dress again a year and a half later, selecting it for the return event during the Swedish state visit to the Netherlands. On that occasion she also paired it with the Ruby Peacock Tiara, plus the necklace, bracelet, and earrings from the Mellerio Ruby Parure.

For Thursday’s Diplomatic Corps dinner, Máxima again wore the Ruby Peacock Tiara with the dress and its matching shawl. The tiara comes from a ruby and diamond parure made in 1897, during the early years of the reign of Queen Wilhelmina. The peacock-themed jewels were made by Schürmann.

This time, Máxima also wore the coordinating necklace from the parure with the strapless gown. Her earrings, though, come from a different set: the ruby and diamond parure acquired by King Willem III from Mellerio as a Christmas gift for his wife, Queen Emma, in 1888.

Máxima wore a gorgeous diamond and ruby bangle from the family collection on her right wrist for the dinner as well.

And on her left wrist, she stacked the bracelet from the Mellerio Ruby Parure with her diamond wedding bracelet. And there were more rubies, too: the ring from the Mellerio parure worn on the middle finger of her right hand, and her own diamond and ruby ring, a gift from Willem-Alexander to celebrate Princess Amalia’s birth in 2003, on her ring finger.

A scheduling note for this week: we’re going to have lots of current events happening, from King’s Day in the Netherlands to the British state visit to the USA and the King of Sweden’s 80th birthday gala. Look for articles to be posted at irregular times, in hopes that I can bring you the bling ASAP! Keep checking back often to make sure you don’t miss a moment!