01 April 2013

The Baring Ruby Necklace

The Baring Ruby Necklace
This necklace was acquired by the Queen in 1964. It had formerly belonged to the Baring collection. It is thought that the three central pendants - each a flat-cut ruby surrounded by brilliants - were originally used as a pair of earrings and a pendant before they were turned into pendants on this necklace of ruby and diamond clusters separated by single diamonds.
The acquisition of the Baring Ruby Necklace and the commission of the Burmese Ruby Tiara in 1973 seem to have been aimed at filling gaps in the Queen's collection. At that time, the primary Crown rubies (including the Oriental Circlet and accompanying jewels) were still with the Queen Mother. The Burmese tiara and this necklace became popular with the Queen as a set, with other ruby jewels thrown in from time to time. Now that she has the Queen Mother's collection in addition to her own, we've seen those pieces added in to the mix.

Appearances:
2005: State Visit to Malta
1985: State Visit to Portugal
1967: Visit to Malta  
Various Years: State Opening of Parliament 

Photos: Royal Collection/Corbis/PA
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31 March 2013

Easter Service

The Queen, accompanied by members of the Royal Family, attended Easter Service in Windsor.
Click above for an article and video from The Telegraph.
Happy Easter to you! No surprises from the Queen to report - as expected, she went for a nice spring-but-still-winter pastel outfit with an old standby brooch.


Photos: Telegraph screencap/PA
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30 March 2013

The Five Aquamarine Tiara

The Five Aquamarine Tiara
This tiara, composed of five aquamarines set in a ribbon-like diamond surround, was worn once by the Queen during a 1970 trip to Canada before it disappeared back into the vault.
The Queen (left) and the Countess of Wessex (right)
Some suspected it had been broken up, but it was proven to be intact when it reappeared on the Countess of Wessex. Chances are it is a loan to the Countess, so we will include it here as technically a part of the Queen's collection.

Click here to read more at Order of Splendor.

Appearances (all on the Countess of Wessex, unless otherwise noted):
23 October 2018: State Visit from The Netherlands, State Banquet 
21 October 2014: State Visit from Singapore
19 October 2012: The Pre-Wedding Gala Dinner in Luxembourg (at Order of Splendor)
31 October 2012: State Visit from Indonesia, State Banquet (at Order of Splendor)

Photos: Cour grand-ducale
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The Brazilian Aquamarine Parure

The Brazilian Aquamarine Parure Tiara
The President and people of Brazil gave the Queen a necklace and earrings of aquamarines and diamonds for her coronation in 1953. In 1958, they added to the set by giving her a bracelet and large brooch to match. The Queen has also added to the set, commissioning a tiara from Garrard in 1957 which was substantially changed in 1971. 
The rest of the parure (necklace, earrings, brooch, bracelet) and the Queen wearing parts of the set (the brooch alone, and the tiara, necklace, and earrings together)
The parure is still used for evening events today, and the brooch alone is occasionally worn on its own during the day.

Click here to read more at Order of Splendor.

Appearances: 
12 July 2017: State Visit from Spain, State Banquet
4 June 2013: Coronation Anniversary Service (Brooch only)
19 June 2012: Royal Ascot, Day One (Brooch only)
2011: Visit to Australia  
2009: State Visit from Mexico  
1983: State Visit to India
1982: Royal Maundy Service (Brooch only)
1967: Visit to Malta 

Photos: Getty Images/Royal Collection
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28 March 2013

Royal Maundy Service

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, attended the Royal Maundy Service at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.
Click above to see an article and video from The Telegraph.
Yummy rich blue, a hat that looks like it got caught in a fancy tornado, and the Albert for the win! This is the fifth year in a row for blue-toned outfit, I don't think anyone guessed Prince Albert's Sapphire Brooch would be it in the comments on the Maundy flashback. Were you surprised?

Photos:Telegraph screencap/Bauer Griffin
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27 March 2013

Flashback: Easter Service

As the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and quite a religious woman herself, Easter is a special holiday on the Queen's calendar. She spends the day at Windsor Castle with her family, attending church in the morning.

This handful of Easter appearances are all within the Queen's Three Strand Pearl Necklace and
Queen Mary's Button Earrings phase.






The last few years have been mostly pearl and diamond brooches with a dash of the Queen Mother's collections, all worn on happy Easter pastels. Which brooch do you think we'll see next?

Photos: Getty Images/Corbis/PA
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26 March 2013

Investiture at Buckingham Palace

The Queen held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace.
Click above for a video and article from the BBC.
And the Olympic investiture train rolls on, with gongs for Victoria Pendleton, Stella McCartney, and more. HM is very sparkly today; I thought she might forgo the brooch given the shoulder ornamentation, but she seems to have stuck one on top. Which brooch is the question: at first glance, I saw the Frosted Sunflower, but I want that one to take a rest so much that I'm happily seeing all kinds of other possibilities. Your opinions, please?

Unidentified Brooch

Photo:BBC screencap
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