The Aquamarine Clip Brooches

The Aquamarine Clip Brooches

These twin brooches were a gift from Queen Elizabeth’s parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, for her 18th birthday in 1944. Done in the clip style popularized by Cartier, they are an Art Deco arrangement of aquamarines and diamonds. Though they are often called the Aquamarine Cartier Clips (they are identified as such in Leslie Field’s The Queen’s Jewels, where the connection is drawn to Louis Cartier’s adaptation of wooden clothes pins), according to the Royal Collection they were made by Boucheron.

Though these clips offer many configuration possibilities (including using them as one large oval brooch, as seen on the left above), the Queen usually sticks to wearing both of them upright, in a staggered fashion. 

Appearances: 
11 May 2021: State Opening of Parliament
8 May 2020: VE Day 75th Anniversary Address
20 October 2019: Church at Windsor
5 July 2019: Dersingham Village Center Opening
14 March 2018: Audiences at Buckingham Palace
12 October 2017: Women's Royal Naval Service 100 Project Reception
8 October 2017: Church at Balmoral
29 June 2017: Queen's Young Leaders Awards
15 June 2017: Upper North Street School Commemoration
17 November 2016: Audiences at Buckingham Palace
15 May 2016: Royal Windsor Horse Show
22 April 2016: Visit from President and Mrs. Obama
12 November 2015: Civil Service Awards Reception
9 July 2015: Yeoman of the Guard Review
15 June 2015: Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Service
19 March 2015: Investiture at Buckingham Palace
10 February 2015: Wessex Birthday Reception
22 January 2015: Sandringham Women's Institute Visit 
29 October 2014: Visit from the Emir of Qatar
1 July 2014: Holyrood Week, Day 2: Garden Party
10 June 2014: Buckingham Palace Garden Party
20 April 2014: Easter Service
27 February 2014: Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education
10 December 2013: Barnardo's Headquarters Opening
20 November 2013: Audiences at Buckingham Palace
16 October 2013: Audiences at Buckingham Palace
15 June 2013: Hospital Visit
22 May 2013: Audience at Buckingham Palace
4 April 2013: British Film Industry Reception
5 February 2013: Queen Elizabeth Hospital
13 November 2012: Queen's Award for Enterprise Reception
2 November 2012: State Visit from Indonesia, Farewell
16 October 2012: Audiences at Buckingham Palace
12 October 2012: Eton Jubilee Celebration
10 October 2012: Diamond Jubilee Pageant Reception
29 August 2012: Opening Ceremony of the London Paralympic Games  
25 June 2012: Visiting Henley-on-Thames
5 June 2012: Queen's Diamond Jubilee Message 
27 April 2012: Visit to South Wales, Day 2 
14 February 2012: Charles Dickens Bicentennial Performance 
2011: State Visit to Ireland
2010: Visit to the United States
2010: Royal Ascot
2006: 80th Birthday Thanksgiving Service at St. George's Chapel
1958: Royal Maundy Service 
1958: State Visit to the Netherlands 

Photos: Leslie Field/Getty Images/Pool