British Royal Jewels of the Past

[marine2109]

Really very beautiful tiaras

[Thomas Parkman]

Dear Fabula,

Thank you so very much!!! You have gone far to restoring a masterpiece. The bottom restoration approaches the original except that the diamond may not match the original stone as I recall seeing it in photographs of the original. What we have today is the torso of a masterpiece. I am wondering if perhaps the diamond you put at the top on the first picture might work better or ever better still a large emerald as the central gemstone. But the emeralds certainly make it an impressive piece of work indeed. Cheers.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Thomas Parkman

I am wondering if perhaps the diamond you put at the top on the first picture might work better or ever better still a large emerald as the central gemstone.

Thomas, you've missed the point. Faubla wasn't making a fantasy tiara, he was attempting to recreate how the tiara actually looked. Comparing his work with the originals, he has done an excellent job!

both images: copyright has expired

[xtan]

what happen to the two big stones in the original tiara?

[faubla2000]

The two big diamonds are cullinan III and IV and are now worn as a brooch by the Queen. The Delhi Durbar tiara had been created so that Quuen Mary could change the stones as she wanted (cambridge emeralds or diamonds). The cullinan V heart shaped diamond could also fit as the center piece of the tiara.
Laurent (aka Faubla2000) who is a boy BTW !!

[faubla2000]

Preview

[christinacg]

Originally Posted by faubla2000

The two big diamonds are cullinan III and IV and are now worn as a brooch by the Queen. The Delhi Durbar tiara had been created so that Quuen Mary could change the stones as she wanted (cambridge emeralds or diamonds). The cullinan V heart shaped diamond could also fit as the center piece of the tiara.
Laurent (aka Faubla2000) who is a boy BTW !!

Its a shame that the large diamonds were taken out of the tiara and its a shame that QEII never wears the tiara.

[magnik]

I just wonder how many jewels - tiaras we will never see...wweren't or wouldn't be worn again...

[Elspeth]

Well, the one in your avatar hasn't seen the light of day for decades. I wonder if it still exists.

[magnik]

Yes, not like your.
I hope that it's still exist and maybe some beautiful day we will see it again...

Btw. do we know anything about tiaras before XIXth century?

[jcbcode99]

I may well be in the minority on this one, but I prefer the Delhi Durbar tiara the way it is now, as compared to it with emerald and the big diamonds. It's such a large piece as it is that having those large stones on it is really, IMO, just too much, and too busy looking. I really like it the way it is.

[magnik]

I don't say that the present DDT is terrible but I don't like the way how Camilla had wore it. It was opened too much.

Btw wasn't DDT with the stones wore by the Queen?

[iowabelle]

How very interesting, faubla. I didn't realize that the DDT is a circlet -- you can't see the back of it in most views. (The restored DDT might be a bit over the top for me -- but I'm not likely to have to wear it!)

[Thomas Parkman]

You are of course entirely correct, Warren. It is just that my memory of this particular object is that of another ??? setting. It now appears that they changed the gemstones about more than I was aware.

I am referring to a picture in which the central diamond appeared somewhat rounder than the version submitted by the noble Fabula. As I recall the Cullinan whatever on top has sixty carats and the Cullinan whatever in the center has ninety. Quite a large couple of chunks of stone if you will.

I cannot agree with the noble JBcode. I think the restoration of the emeralds restores that level of magnificence that the jewel had when it was first created. I do not care as much for the Cullinans being added to it. I think in the second picture of Queen Mary that you have shown, Warren, neither stone is present??? I think maybe a nice large emerald as the central stone would have worked much better.

But in any case Fabula is to be commended, thanked and congratulated for his good work, my carping to the contrary not withstanding. I am certainly delighted with the restoration of the emeralds indeed. Cheers.

[Sister Morphine]

I actually prefer the tiara without the emeralds and with the large diamond at the top. I'm not that big of a fan of emeralds, anyhow.

[jcbcode99]

Oh Thomas--it is so rare that we disagree that I feel quite bad! But, if you makes you feel anybetter, I would love to have seen the Durbar with emeralds and the matching necklace (although it is not favorite) on Camilla at some point. Alas, it is not to be. In the above picture, Queen Mary looks splendid with the emeralds accompanying the DDT, but I do think think that the era has passed. Also, it looks a touch top heavy in the pics that the wonderfully talented Fabula submitted for our intense drooling pleasure. I will also take this moment to say that while I like the DDT as it is, there is something missing what with that sad little empty bar on the middle of the uppermost point. Perhaps something not quite so large would be attractive? Can the great Fabula honor us with an illustration?

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Thomas Parkman

I think in the second picture of Queen Mary that you have shown, Warren, neither stone is present???

The second pic was taken in 1923. Look closely at the centre of the diadem and you will see the Cullinan IV.

[Thomas Parkman]

Brain density has taken over again Warren. But didn't somebody say there was a heart shaped diamond they put in the center at some point. I can never get all these Cullinans straight anyway. Maybe that is just as well. I gather that the undaunted Queen Mary was a quick change artist who just loved to bounce her emormous collection of goodies all over the place and used them to tiara hope like nobodys business. Of course if I had all those rocks I would tiara hop like mad too.

I am curious. Has anybody seen a really good photograph of the 1911 (?) Dehli Durbar at which this contraption was worn. I would love to see a phot restoration of it as it was worn on that occassion if it has not been done already. The pictures I have seen of Queen Mary at that time were not all that clear. But then if you are in full regalia a la George V and Queen Mary a few very large stones desplayed before the prostrate and awestruck thousands are a necessity. But those emeralds are gorgeous. I just love emeralds and emeralds if I had any would love me too. Cheers.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Thomas Parkman

I am curious. Has anybody seen a really good photograph of the 1911 (?) Dehli Durbar at which this contraption was worn.

Here is a pic of the Delhi Durbar tiara/diadem gracing Queen Mary at the Delhi Durbar of 1911.
This version is with the emeralds but minus the Cullinans. The centre has more in common with Camilla's, but is not the same. This jewel has been worn in many variations.

Pic taken 1911; copyright has expired.

[faubla2000]

Here is the DDT with Cullinan V in front. The heart shapped diamond front the brooch fits perfectly in the center of the tiara.
Laurent