This week, a pair of jewelry auctions in Switzerland featured numerous tiaras and jewels with incredible royal provenance. We’ve featured several pieces in our recent articles, and today, I’ve got some updates on the results of the sale—including that jaw-dropping price for French royal diamonds!
Princess Margaret’s Romantic Royal Wedding Jewels
AFP via Getty Images |
Sixty-one years ago today, Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in a glittering ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London. The Queen’s sister’s romances had been major media fodder during the 1950s, and the public final got to see her in a wedding dress on May 6, 1960. Today, we’ve got a closer look at her wedding jewels, including that iconic diamond tiara.
Empress Masako’s Sparkling Enthronement Banquet Jewels
JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images |
This afternoon, our Sparkling Spotlight shines on a particularly important moment for Empress Masako of Japan: the day of the imperial enthronement in October 2019. Let’s have a closer look at the jewels she wore for the glittering banquet held after the enthronement ceremonies.
JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images |
Royal guests from around the world attended the grand banquet in Tokyo, which followed the imperial enthronement of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on October 22, 2019. Tiaras and gala jewels sparkled on all of the royal guests, including the Japanese imperial ladies.
JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images |
Empress Masako wore the most important Western-style jewel in the family’s collection: the Meiji Tiara, which was made in the late nineteenth century and which is reserved for the use of the country’s empresses. Western-style dress was introduced at the imperial court in 1887, and the tiara has been used by all empresses when wearing Western gala dress since then. The tiara can be worn with (or without) two sets of toppers: large round diamonds (worn here by Masako) or diamond stars.
JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images |
Empress Masako added even more diamonds to her ensemble from the banquet. She wore a pair of large diamond floral earrings. The flowers represented are chrysanthemums, which have important symbolic resonance for the imperial family. They’re also incorporated into other pieces of imperial jewelry, including brooches and a diamond tiara.
JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images |
The empress completed her look with a pair of impressive diamond riviere necklaces, so named because the diamonds flow and meander like rivers, and a gorgeous diamond bracelet. Her gown for the evening had ruffle and rose details at the neck. The design of the dress echoed the style of the gown worn by Masako during her wedding celebrations in 1993.
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