Queen Elizabeth II Tiaras & Necklaces 1: Nov 2005-Nov 2007

[Thomas Parkman]

Dear Princess Olga,

You astonish and flatter me!! I am a retired academic who was trained as an historian and librarian. I worked at the University here for 28 years as a research and then as music librarian. History fascinates me. I just love all the pomp and circumstance and colour at which royalty are such past masters. It satisfies some deep atavistic part in all of us. These blasted republicans are such bores. Dull, glum and boring. Nothing like covering the iron hand of power with a glove of finest brocades and jewels say I.

As for my favorite British tiaras and why--Humm. Actually my two favorites are not British at all but that is another matter. Let us see. Do not groan too much Warren but the Fife tiara. It is set with free hanging diamonds which move when the wearer moves, creating a scintillating and sparking light. It is lovely. The portland diamond tiara for the same reason, with its huge diamonds even if it is a little dated. The Princess Validimir tiara because it is such an imaginative and lovely use of pearls and then with the cambridge emeralds the same thing. And finally I am somewhat ambivalent about the Cartier Indian tiara because it is so thick and heavy but still quite impressive, indeed rather massive. An imaginative use of diamonds, pearls with sapphire highlights.

You will notice that none of the above goodies are what one would call shrinking violets. They belong to the Queen Mary School. While she may have had her foibles she was quite a gal. And adored jewelry and wore it. Tons of it. Her clothes had to be fitted with extra support and fabric so she could wear all of the stuff. She wore everything-which would have included the kitchen sink, if it had been made of platinum with a few diamonds stuck around. I agree with her: if you got it, flaunt it-with taste and elegance of course. Of course she did overwhelm you.

She was noted for the amplitude of most royal bosom. She did, after all, have six children. That most royal appurtenance was of course bedecked with the wealth of the realm on all appropriate occasions. The British Navy- when she was queen-promptly dubbed the MRB Cartier's Counter. Leave it to a bunch of sailor. Cheers. Thomas Parkman

[Alexander]

Originally Posted by auntie

I have a question, from whom did the Queen inherit the Russian Kokoshnick Tiara, I know it belonged to Queen Alexandra, and then where did it go? Why not to one of Alexandra's daughters? Duchess of Fife or Queen Maud?

Queen Mary and Alix daughters went to Sandringham to "look after" the jewels. QM's part (for her husband, the queen mothers son) she took ALL jewels which where gifts from Edward VII at their wedding or later. THe Russian Kokoshnik was a present to their silver wedding aniversery.

[PreDoc]

QEII's grandmother was a formidible adversary when she set her sights on a treasure and went to some surprising lengths (and quite controversial tactics) to obtain what she wanted either for free, or well below market value.

A shrewd opportunist, Queen Mary got her hands on - through one method or another - many exquisite pieces of Russian imperial jewelery as well as objects d'art, antiques and other furnishings from her subjects :) ... which was a tremendous contribution to her descendants.

[Warren]

We have a thread, the Jewels of Queen Mary, where this issue is discussed.

[PreDoc]

Throughout the centuries EII's ancestors have amassed beautiful tiaras through a variety of means from downright horrifying tactics to legal purchases from those in dire financial need. So with this huge collection I am wondering why she does not loan more of them out to her royal relations for the society events they enjoy attending?

If these gorgeous symbols of class were allowed to circulate royal females would be even more dazzling, which would certainly reflect back in public opinion for the monarchy. It makes sense, doesn't it?

[Warren]

Courtesy Tim Graham/Getty images
How many engagement rings in this parure?

EIIR: Diamond and Sapphire Tiara, Necklace & Earrings

[CasiraghiTrio]

Thank you, Warren. That sapphire necklace looks just like the ruby one from the Queen Mother's collection. The stones are the same shape and everything. The Queen sometimes wears the ruby one, doesn't she? I think the ruby one was another relic of Queen Mary's vast collection?

[Gaël LE BOLLOCQ]

The Ruby necklace previouly worn by the Queen Mother was left to the crown by Queen Victoria. It was originally set with opals.
Queen Alexandra had it reset, with the tiara, the earrings and the brooches (2 or 4?) with rubies.
The sapphires in the necklace are rectangular while the rubies are more oblong. But it design of the two necklaces is very close : diamond clusters interspaced with diamond collets and a long pendant.
I always thought the sapphire tiara could be a necklace that had fixed upside down (spikes instead of pendants, and chain links...). Does anyone know exactly the conditions of its fabrication ?

[stacy]

Does Queen Elizabeth own an amethyst tiara at all? If not it's even more of a shame that the Queen Mother sold the amethyst set.

[Thomas Parkman]

DEar Members,

Here I go drooling again. But the picture of above of QEII with her sapphires is really quite stunning. Which in a way is amazing. The tiara, as far as design is concerned really is a flop-or at the best light a mediocre just pass. But the necklace and the beauty of the gems themselves redeam everything. They just need to take the tiara and get a few more gems and redo the thing.

BTW I must ask the impertinant question, since I am a computer and whatever mongoloid-what on earth is Nunn syndication? Is it the code into your vast vault of goodies that you keep hidden away and only go salivating over during the dark of a full moon? cheers. Thomas Parkman

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Thomas Parkman

BTW I must ask the impertinant question, since I am a computer and whatever mongoloid-what on earth is Nunn syndication? Is it the code into your vast vault of goodies that you keep hidden away and only go salivating over during the dark of a full moon? cheers. Thomas Parkman

No salivating over Nunn, Thomas. Nunn Syndication is a photo agency that owns the copyright to their pics. Nunn have requested that all their images be removed from this site...or else. So every page of every thread of every forum of TRF has been progressively checked over the past week by the Moderating Team to remove all Nunn Syndication images.

[Thomas Parkman]

My view of Nunn Syndication cannot be printed in a family e mail forum, even one as broad minded as this one. I know, there are limits and Warren would contact the little men in white suits were I to really say what I think. What I think crude, vulgar, highly insulting Anglo-Saxon English. What harm is there is allowing a group of people to see all those lovely photos. The basis of it all is greed, pure and simple greed. After all what harm is there, apart from the damage to the computer screen, of my drooling over the latest goodie Warren has hauled out of his barn of some jewel bedecked and hopefully drop dead gorgeous royalty or other? World Class Party Poopers, that is what they are. Cheers.

[Elspeth]

Well, the copyright law exists to protect people who make a living producing photos and articles; if their work is splashed all over the internet where it's freely available to anyone, authors and artists won't be able to afford to continue doing their work. You may be doing nothing but drooling, but other people may be copying the photos and adding them to their websites where even more people can see them without the photographer getting paid.

The days of unquestioned free access to just about anything on the internet are coming to a rapid close, and people are having to adapt.

[MARG]

Is it possible that the Sunray Necklace worn by the Queen in Post111 is the unknown Sunray Tiara worn by Queen Victoria in one of her fabulous portraits?

[Warren]

The Queen's necklace in that post was discussed elsewhere at the time and all that could be said was "modern design, therefore likely a gift, nothing else known."

[CasiraghiTrio]

A classic

(hellomagazine.com)

[magnik]

Yes, very classic - White Queen

about jewellry http://www.mag-nolia.tmfweb.nl/Unite...ace%20QEII.htm

[HRH Mims]

Queen recently wore Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, and lovely sapphire set- earrings, bracelet and necklace (NOVEMBER 21)
http://editorial.gettyimages.com/sou...72634921&cdi=0
http://editorial.gettyimages.com/sou...72634923&cdi=0

I don't know if this was posted yet:
NATIONAL PICTURES. QUEEN ELIZABETH'S WHITE WARDROBE, PARIS 1938 - AN EXHIBITION AT THE SUMMER OPENING OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE FROM 30 JULY TO 27 SEPTEMBER 2005. THE ORIENTAL CIRCLET, A DIAMOND AND RUBY TIARA ORIGINALLY MADE FOR QUEEN VICTORIA IN 1853 BY GARRARD, THE CROWN JEWELLER. IT WAS THEN SET WITH OPALS, PROBABLY TO THE DESIGNS OF PRINCE ALBERT.ALTERED IN 1888 AND AGAIN IN 1902.

http://img15.imagevenue.com/img.php?..._122_506lo.jpg
http://img145.imagevenue.com/img.php..._122_537lo.jpg
please notice me, if link falls

[joye]

Are any of our Canadian posters able to access archives etc. abou