The Duchess of Cornwall Brings a Snowflake Necklace and More Van Cleef & Arpels to West Africa

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are on a tour of West Africa. 

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Last year, The Duchess of Cornwall debuted large diamond Snowflake Earrings, another piece in her growing collection of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry. For a banquet in Ghana today, she debuted a matching necklace, which she wore alongside the earrings. (The necklace has been added to the original post on her earrings.) 

There are multiple necklace styles available in the Snowflake High Jewelry collection (which is, shockingly enough, inspired by flakes of snow). Camilla's is the Pendant with Snowflake Chain. The design can have either a small or large pendant; she has the large model.

The large pendant includes 85 round diamonds totaling approximately 6.05 carats, with platinum. The retail price is currently listed at $71,000. 

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As with all of The Duchess' Van Cleef & Arpels jewels, the provenance is unknown - however, given the sheer quantity she owns, I am left to assume only that either she or The Prince of Wales (or both!) must be big fans of the jeweler. 

The Duchess wears Magic Alhambra Earrings in Malachite and a Royal British Legion Poppy Brooch during the tour
UK in The Gambia

 The couple's West African tour has been a good one for sparkly VC&A sightings, in fact. She wore her Diamond Magic Alhambra Earrings to a dinner in The Gambia (covered here at the other blog), and she also wore her Malachite Magic Alhambra Earrings during that stop (seen above). I was surprised but obviously delighted to see those appear at a daytime engagement.

Poppy Collection Women of the First World War Brooch

Her poppy brooch is new this year and has been worn throughout the trip. It's the Poppy Collection Women of the First World War Brooch, made of enamel with gold tone plating and crystals; The Duchess of Cambridge has also worn one. Each brooch comes with a certificate commemorating a woman who lost her life as a direct result of the First World War. A beautiful addition - and very fitting to The Duchess' interests - for the centenary of the armistice. You can buy one here.

The Duchess of Cornwall's Van Cleef & Arpels Snowflake Earrings and Pendant Necklace

The Duchess of Cornwall's impressive collection of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry has grown once again. For the Spanish state visit, she debuted a pair of the maison's Snowflake Earrings, a part of their Snowflake High Jewelry collection inspired by (what else?) flakes of snow.

Van Cleef & Arpels Snowflake Earrings, Large Model

The earrings come in large and small sizes; The Duchess of Cornwall has the large model. These earrings are made of round diamonds in platinum and white gold. They have 190 stones and weigh in at approximately 13.73 carats. Van Cleef & Arpels lists their retail price at $138,000; Luxury Exchange has a pair for sale at $82,645.

The Duchess wears them at the Spanish state banquet, 2017

As with most of Camilla's VC&A items, provenance is unconfirmed but I assume they were acquired by either Camilla herself or by The Prince of Wales. What we do know is that these sparkled like mad in action - which is a wonderful surprise when it comes to The Duchess of Cornwall, whose hair often hides the earrings below. They're a great fit for her.

Snowflake Earrings and Pendant with Snowflake Chain

Snowflake Pendant, Large model

In 2018, The Duchess debuted a matching necklace. It is the Pendant with Snowflake chain; this also comes in large and small models, and Camilla has the large model. Made with 85 round diamonds totaling approximately 6.05 carats, and platinum, the necklace retails for $71,000.

Appearances:
12 July 2017: State Visit from Spain, State Banquet