Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World
The tiaras that Queen Elizabeth II wore throughout her lengthy reign all came from the royal vaults—with one very interesting exception. Today, we’re talking about the Plunket Tiara, a piece which unexpectedly came to HM’s rescue one night in early 1973.
The Princess Royal celebrates her birthday today, and in her honor, we’re spending our morning with pieces from her jewelry box that have stood the test of time: her modern pearl, gold, and diamond earrings.
Few royal women have inspired more myth, legend, and furor than Marie Antoinette, the French queen whose life ended on a guillotine in the midst of revolution. The extravagance of her life, and the notoriety of her death, have made objects associated with her into something like relics. In particular, jewels connected with the tragic queen are incredibly sought after. Perhaps it’s a surprise, then, that this British aristocratic ruby and diamond necklace—which is also set with Marie Antoinette’s pearls—didn’t make it off the auction block.