Semi-Precious Royal Jewels

[reynard]

Here's coral:

[reynard]

kind of weird, but the Victorians would have loved it.

[reynard]

Here is another amethyst tiara. It is interesting because it belonged to an American First Lady, Mrs. James Monroe

[micas]

God pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[ElisaR]

The amethysts of the Kent demi-parure. :)

[tiaraprin]

Originally Posted by ElisaR

The amethysts of the Kent demi-parure.

The Kent Demi-Parure was the property of Queen Victoria's mother, Victoire, Duchess of Kent.

[zarzuela]

A diamond and turquoise necklace and earrings belonging to Queen Sofia

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[Prince of Chota]

I absolutely love turquoise parures. My favourite would have to be that of Princess Margaret. Does anyone know what became of it after she passed away?

[RubyPrincess168]

This has to be my favorite pieces of royal jewelry ever!

Originally Posted by reynard

the jewels of Princess Bagration, bought by the Duke of Westminster for his Bride

The amethysts are pretty too. I think they are the birthstone for February. I'm not too found of turqouise in major jewelry pieces though. I think it looks odd - I guess I associate it too closely with the Southwest & Native American style jewelry.

And just in case.......Rubies are actually red sapphires. Sapphires can come in every color under the sun, but when they are red they are called rubies.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by RubyPrincess168

Rubies are actually red sapphires. Sapphires can come in every color under the sun, but when they are red they are called rubies.

From the Gem by Gem website:

Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum, one of the hardest minerals on Earth, of which the sapphire is also a variety. Pure corundum is colourless. Slight traces of elements such as chrome, iron, titanium or vanadium are responsible for the colour. Only red corundum is entitled to be called ruby, all other colours being classified as sapphires. The close relationship between the ruby and the sapphire has only been known since the beginning of the 19th century.

For centuries there were differences of opinion among the specialists as to which stones deserved to be called sapphires. Finally, it was agreed that the ruby-red ones, coloured by chrome, should be called 'rubies' and all those which were not ruby-red 'sapphires'.

[HRH Kerry]

Originally Posted by RubyPrincess168

...I'm not too found of turqouise in major jewelry pieces though. I think it looks odd - I guess I associate it too closely with the Southwest & Native American style jewelry...

For me it all depends upon the setting. I like the turquoise and diamond tiara that was owned by Princess Margaret as well as the parure that Queen Mary gave to Princess Alice. But I do know what you mean about the Southwestern style jewelry.

[michelleq]

The southwestern and/or American Indian type of Turquoise has dark specks in it. In my opinion it I prefer the Persian Turquoise which is a beautiful blue.

[Thomas Parkman]

Well, pant, slurp and drool. Here I go again. Just lovely. I have never been wild about turquoises but this has caused me to change my mind. Normally the only things that loosen up my mental rigidity are wine and chocolate. But I have always wished they had used sapphires in place of spinels in the Bagration parurue. It is such an incredible design.

Arent there some Iranian tiaras made of turquoise??? As for Amethysts are just wonderful, no matter how inexpensive they may be. I suspect if you discovered a huge deposit of rubies, all of enormous size the price of that would come crashing to the ground in short order too. Then maybe I could afford a nice ruby paurure or better-or should I say safer-still a ruby aigrette. Perhaps we should do a thread on royal hat pins and aigrettes. Cheers.

[Jane1]

Is there any famous royal jewellery with tanzanite in it? Or is it too modern?

[Thomas Parkman]

If my memory serves me tanzanite is a quite recent modern innovation or discovery from the 1970s (?) and hence would not have had enough time to be a part of famous jewelry. Also I do not know if it is considered a precious or semi-precious stone. Personally I find it a bit too garish, but that is a matter of personal preference. There is, I understand, only one source for the stone, located naturally in Tanzania. Cheers.

[Prince of Chota]

Originally Posted by michelleq

The southwestern and/or American Indian type of Turquoise has dark specks in it. In my opinion it I prefer the Persian Turquoise which is a beautiful blue.

The amount of veining and flecks in the turquoise has more to do with its quality than the location it was found. There is quite a bit of Native American jewellery that employs native turquoise as unmarred as that of persia. HOWEVER, the varied coloration is often prized by collectors of southwestern jewellery for its more rustic look. Much depends on the jeweller and the style of the piece desired.

[RubyPrincess168]

Has anybody ever seen a royal or a picture of a royal wearing Native American or Southwestern style jewelry?

[SASSY]

Originally Posted by Thomas Parkman

If my memory serves me tanzanite is a quite recent modern innovation or discovery from the 1970s (?) and hence would not have had enough time to be a part of famous jewelry. Also I do not know if it is considered a precious or semi-precious stone. Personally I find it a bit too garish, but that is a matter of personal preference. There is, I understand, only one source for the stone, located naturally in Tanzania. Cheers.

I think Tanznaite was discovered in Tanzania in 1967. I can't remember if it was Tiffany or Harry Winston that bought the mine so to speak and originally you could only buy it from them.
I would love to see some pictures of Tanzanite or Alexandrite.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by SASSY

I would love to see some pictures of Tanzanite or Alexandrite.

Tanzanite
Alexandrite

[iowabelle]

I was just wondering, has anyone ever seen Elizabeth II wearing opals? Or anyone other member of the BRF?

The women in my family love opals, and you would think that Australia has probably given the BRF some good examples of them.