Cover photo by: Mark de Jong (@mrmarkdejong)
Can you imagine having the same job for over 70 years? No? That’s what makes this weekend extra special, since this weekend the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II is celebrated in the United Kingdom. When we were in London earlier this month, we could sense the excitement of the citizens for this upcoming jubilee, which will be celebrated with an extended bank holiday weekend and a lot of festivities. This jubilee marks 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms, and The Commonwealth. The Queen is the first British monarch to celebrate this extraordinary jubilee and is the second longest-reigning monarch in the world!
This exceptionally long career isn’t the only thing that makes Queen Elizabeth stand out. She is also known for her iconic style. She is often dressed in colourful dresses and coats, which is said to make her stand out in a crowd despite her short height. But what we find even more intriguing about this Queen, is her breathtaking collection of jewels, which might be the best in the world. Did you know, for example, that the Queen is a true brooch-lover just like us? In honor of the platinum jubilee, we made a timeline containing the jewellery highlights of Queen Elizabeth II. And in case you’re inspired by this style icon, we’ve added some resembling pieces from our own collection with every highlight.
1944 – A special, aquamarine gift for an 18th birthday
Since we already stated that the Queen loves brooches, let’s start off with a very special birthday brooch. In 1944, the then Princess Elizabeth turned 18 years old. To celebrate this special birthday, she received a set of aquamarine and diamond twin brooches as a gift from her parents. The two-piece art deco styles brooches were made by Boucheron and could be worn together as a large, oval brooch, or separately. A design like this was very characteristic for art deco jewellery, but is still very loved today.
In case you’re inspired by this special royal piece of jewellery, make sure to take a look at the brooches section on our web shop. We have several unique pieces, including this art deco piece that has the same colour combinations as the Queen’s beloved brooch!
1953 – The coronation necklace
When her father, King George VI, died in 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen. The official coronation took place on the 2nd of June, 1953. With a special occasion like this, came of course special pieces of jewellery. The coronation necklace is one of the most famous pieces of the royal collection. This necklace was made in 1858 by Garrard & Co and consists of 25 cushion diamonds and the 22-carat Lahore diamond as a pendant. What’s extra special about this eye-catcher of a necklace, is that it has been worn by every queen that has been coronated since 1901.
As much as we would like it, we don’t have a necklace that is as packed with diamonds as this precious piece. But don’t worry, we do have some worthy replacements! Take for example this elegant, Edwardian necklace with an Old European cut diamond. It’s a lot more subtle than the coronation necklace, which means that it is perfect to wear with any outfit!
1966 – a precious gift from Prince Philip
This piece is probably one of the more sentimental pieces that the Queen owns. In 1966, her husband Prince Philip gifted her a golden scarab-brooch featuring a large ruby at its center and smaller, surrounding rubies. Ever since, the Queen has been wearing this brooch to many occasions, and the fact that Prince Philip has unfortunately died this year, makes this piece even more special.
Like we said, just like the Queen, we are true brooch-lovers and therefore have a wide range of brooches available. If you’re enchanted by the sentimental scarab-brooch, you might like this flower bouquet brooch, which also contains rubies. The Queen herself even owns a bouquet brooch like this, which she received from her parents after the birth of Prince Charles!
1980 – a Japanese gift
In 1975, the Queen made her first state visit to Japan. Here she received a set of the finest cultured pearls from the Japanese government. A few years later, these pearls were set into a four-strand pearl choker with a diamond clasp by Crown Jeweler Garrard. This unique necklace has been worn not only by the Queen but also by Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Are you all inspired to wear pearls, but don’t want to go ‘all out’ immediately? Then this sautoire might be perfect for you! Because of the fine chain and subtle addition of pearls, it is perfect to combine with multiple outfit styles.
2012 – the bird of paradise diamond jubilee brooch
Just like this year, the Queen celebrated another special jubilee in 2012. This year, she celebrated her diamond jubilee, marking her 60 years on the throne. As a jubilee gift, the government of Singapore gave her a bird of paradise brooch. The Queen has been repeatedly spotted wearing this stunning gold and diamond piece, and we totally get that!
Are you totally in the mood to rock a flowery brooch just like the Queen? Have a look at this stunning vintage flower brooch with rosecut diamonds! She’s a bit smaller than the Queen’s piece, but that doesn’t make her less stunning.
We hope you’re inspired by the jewellery highlights of Queen Elizabeth and you’ll enjoy searching for your own royal pieces. And don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions! -xxx- Sophie