Duchess of Cornwall Jewellery 7: September 2011- December 2015

[maria-olivia]

Thanks a lot MARG, she is wearing them perfectly , it is her style.
I think she bust have an excellent jeweler and interchangeable claps !

[MARG]

Yes many of us thought that she had interchangeable clasps as well, but an in-depth look at the size and colour of the pearls leads us to believe they all have their own pearls which, when you really think about it, is amazingly awesome.

Old photos show the some of the chokers, like the garnet clasp one, predate her wedding to Charles. For example, the pearls are different colours, sizes and the number of strings vary.

Lucky, lucky, Camilla, although it has been lovely on this tour to New Zealand and Australia, to see her longer strands as well, but I don't think my favourite three string with a diamond clasp which originally belonged the Queen Mother.

http://i60.tinypic.com/msioeg.jpg

[Tilia C.]

'Pearls are a girl's best friends'?

I was wondering about the term 'choker', when does a necklace become a choker? So far I thought that a choker is a very short necklace that sits very high around your throat. It chokes you, so to speak . So those necklaces that lie on the shoulders and hang down in the front aren't chokers in the strict sense of the word. But I'm not so sure if my understanding of the term is correct. Can somebody help?

[MARG]

You are quite right, a choker is like all those shown.

I thought I was clear when I referred to her

longer strands as well, but I don't think my favourite three string with a diamond clasp which originally belonged the Queen Mother . . .

I did not say actually say it was not a choker.

[Queen Camilla]

Here's a few websites.

This one shows the length on a 'model'.
https://www.thepearlsource.com/necklace-lengths.php

from a jewelry store
Pearl Jewelry Buyer’s Guide – Learn How to Buy Pearl Jewelry from Zales
Bib: A Bib necklace consists of several strands of pearls of varying lengths.
Collar: Consisting of multiple strands of pearls, Collar necklaces were very popular during the Victorian era and are worn high on the neck. Most examples of this type of necklace are 12-13 inches long.
Choker: Similar to a collar necklace, a Choker is worn somewhat lower on the neck and is 14-16 inches long.
Princess: Recognized as the classic length for a pearl necklace, the Princess lies slightly below the neck. A versatile necklace, the Princess can be matched with many different styles of clothing with varying necklines. This type of necklace is 17-19 inches long.
Matinee: This style is routinely seen in more formal and semi-formal situation with both suits and dresses. The Matinee necklace is approximately is 20-24 inches long.
Opera: Falling below the bust line, the Opera necklace tends to be worn at formal occasions. For less formal occasions and daytime wear, the Opera can be knotted or the strand can be doubled over. This necklace is 30-36 inches long.
Rope: The longest of all pearl necklace styles, the Rope necklace can be doubled, as well as knotted to reduce its length of 36 + inches long.

[Tilia C.]

Marg, my post was meant in a more general way and was not meant as criticism of your post. It's just that I have read the term choker all over the net, often referring to longer necklaces. So I got confused.

Thanks for the explanatory links, Queen Camilla.

[Curryong]

^ I always think of chokers as those multi-strand necklaces that Queen Alexandra seemed to be extremely fond of, consisting of pearls and diamond clasps. They were worn very high up on the neck and sometimes consisted of six rigid strands. Rumour had it, I believe, that Alexandra introduced chokers to hide a mark on her neck from a childhood operation.

[Tilia C.]

The Duchess of Cornwall wore her two dragonfly brooches again yesterday in Malta.
The Queen And Senior Royals Attend The Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting - Day One | Getty Images

And another inscect brooch today, it looks like a moth or butterfly.
The Queen And Senior Royals Attend The Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting - Day Two | Getty Images

[AdmirerUS]

My inner lepidopterist wants me to mention that Butterfly antennae are clubbed at the end (as in this brooch). Most moths have antennae that look a bit like fern fronds.
On the other hand, most moths rest with wings open and most butterflies rest with wings closed.
Perhaps the brooch designer just saw the butterfly as he or she had wings open.

[padams2359]

I love animal/insect/fish brooches. The Duchess of Windsor flamingo is one of my favorites.

[Roslyn]

Originally Posted by AdmirerUS

My inner lepidopterist wants me to mention that Butterfly antennae are clubbed at the end (as in this brooch). Most moths have antennae that look a bit like fern fronds.
On the other hand, most moths rest with wings open and most butterflies rest with wings closed.
Perhaps the brooch designer just saw the butterfly as he or she had wings open.

Perhaps the brooch designer just saw the butterfly pinned in a cabinet under glass.

Thank you for the info about the antennae. I will add it to my trivia folder in my brain.

[IloveCP]

The Greville Tiara | The Court Jeweller

This tiara is very stunning and an interesting design.

[eya]

This tiara is one of my favorite and what joy to Camilla who has at her disposal. But I wonder why do not ever worn by Queen Elizabeth?

That is the late Queen Elizabeth chose and left instructions to Queen Elizabeth for the particular tiara and other jewels to available to the Prince Charles? Perhaps this is a logical reason since not never wore the same.

All the jewelry worn by Camilla was dreaming. From tiara,earrings or necklace what to let go?

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by eya

This tiara is one of my favorite and what joy to Camilla who has at her disposal. But I wonder why do not ever worn by Queen Elizabeth?

Dame Margaret Greville bequeathed all her jewels to the late Queen Elizabeth, so these were never owned by Queen Elizabeth II herself. On her turn the late Queen Elizabeth has left her entire estate to her daughter, The Queen. That was clever as inheritances from a 'sovereign to sovereign' or the consort of a sovereign to a reigning monarch are exempt from the 40% tax, above a £250,000 threshold.

The late Queen Elizabeth has left instructions to her daughter, paired with her Will. For an example certain bequests were made to members of her staff and to others. It is very well possible that the jewels went to Queen Elizabeth II (to avoid the 40% tax) but that there was an instruction for the use of items by her her favourite grandson, The Prince of Wales. Who knows.

[Tilia C.]

It is not known if the Queen Mother left instructions about the honeycomb tiara, it is just a possibility. The Queen Mother died in 2002, Camilla wore the tiara for the first time in 2006. So that was just four years later. Imagine the situation: Camilla became member of the Royal family, a tiara was needed, the Queen Mother's gems were available and unused, the honeycomb looked good on her new daughter-in-law, so let her her have it.

Considering that the Queen hardly wears the other tiaras of her mother (Oriental circlet only worn once, fringe tiara worn twice after her mother's death, other tiaras never worn by the Queen), so it might be that the Queen is content with the jewels she has worn throughout her life.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by IloveCP

The Greville Tiara | The Court Jeweller

This tiara is very stunning and an interesting design.

Yes it is and it really does suit the Duchess,the design and history are also very interesting.

[roseroyal]

I love the butterfly brooch.

[Lady Nimue]

Originally Posted by IloveCP

The Greville Tiara | The Court Jeweller
This tiara is very stunning and an interesting design.

The 4th picture down, of Camilla in the tiara taken when she is in a coach (looks like), is an outstanding picture. The tiara is perfectly lighted imo. Really shows off it's beauty (and I'm not a tiara person). Very impressive. Very beautiful.

[MARG]

Camilla looked wonderful at the CHOGM Banquet, not surprisingly, she was wearing the Greville Honeycomb. But it was her pairing of it with her gorgeous pink amethyst pearl choker that really caught the eye.

On the face of it that may have seemed an odd pairing, but she also gave us a rare sighting of the gorgeous matching pink amethyst earrings which looked quite magnificent and tied the whole look together and really looked good with her grey lace gown.

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/...re-id499038662

[roseroyal]

Love those earrings!