Jewelry We Hope to See at the Royal Wedding — Straight From Queen Elizabeth's Collection

From heirloom tiaras to world-famous diamonds, the Queen's collection is something to be envied
By Diana Pearl
May 07, 2018 03:15 PM

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BRAZILIAN AQUAMARINE TIARA

Tim Graham/Getty (2)

After receiving an aquamarine necklace and pair of earrings from the president and people of Brazil in honor of her coronation, the Queen had Garrard amp Co., the former Crown Jeweler of the United Kingdom, make this matching tiara in 1957. She's continued to update it through her reign, adding even more aquamarines and diamonds to the (already stacked) piece.

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CULLINAN V BROOCH

Reuters/Landov; REX Shutterstoc

Weighing nearly 19 carts, this diamond is shaped like a heart and is surrounded by a platinum web that ends in a border of pavé diamonds. It was originally part of a stomacher designed for Queen Mary in 1911.

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DELHI DURBAR NECKLACE

Getty; Camera Press

The Delhi Durbar was India's answer to a coronation, a massive gathering to celebrate the succession of a new Emperor or Empress of India. And just like at a coronation, there are jewels aplenty – including this diamond-and-emerald necklace made for Queen Mary for the event.

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DIAMOND FRINGE TIARA

Getty; REX Shutterstock

This item is a sentimental one for the Queen – she wore it at her 1947 wedding to Prince Philip. And it's as fragile as it appears: On the Queen's wedding day, it broke before the ceremony and had to be quickly repaired for wear.

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FLOWER BASKET BROOCH

Indigo/Getty; Camera Press

This brooch features diamonds, rubies and sapphire "flowers" and was a gift to the Queen from her parents following the birth of Prince Charles in November 1948.

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GIRLS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND TIARA

Getty; Camera Press

Originally purchased for the future Queen Mary by a committee of girls from Great Britain and Ireland to celebrate her 1893 wedding, this tiara is now a staple in Queen Elizabeth's rotation – many even say it's her favorite. It's been through many changes in its life: There were originally pearls on top of the points, which now are a part of the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara, and it can be worn both with or without a base. The Queen received the tiara as a wedding gift from her grandmother in 1947.

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GRAND DUCHESS VLADIMIR OF RUSSIA TIARA

Getty; Camera Press

This diamond-and-pearl tiara is a relic of a lost monarchy: It originally belonged to Grand Duchess Vladimir, the aunt of Nicholas II, the last tsar of Russia. She was temporarily separated from the tiara after fleeing St. Petersburg during the Russian Revolution, but was reunited with the piece a few years later when a British Secret Intelligence Service member rescued her jewels from Russia. After all that, she gave the tiara to her daughter, Princess Nicholas of Greece, who sold it to Queen Mary after her mother's passing. When Mary died, the Queen inherited it – and still wears it today.

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GRANNY'S CHIPS

Getty; REX Shutterstock

Also known as the Cullinan III and Cullinan IV, these two stones weigh a massive 94.4 and 63.6 carats respectively, and held together, they make a brooch. Since they were frequently worn by Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth's grandmother, they earned the nickname Granny's Chips.

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KING GEORGE IV STATE DIADEM

John Swannell/Camera Press; Corbis

This piece was created way back in 1820 for the coronation of King George IV. Now, people may recognize it from the State Opening of Parliament – Queen Elizabeth wears it in the procession to the event every year.

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KING GEORGE SAPPHIRE SUITE

Getty (2)

A tiara was commissioned by the Queen herself to go with this set of earrings, pendant and necklace given to her by her father as a wedding present. The original suite was created in 1850, but the tiara – and a matching bracelet – were not added to the set until 1963.

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RUBY BANDEAU NECKLACE

Getty; Corbis

This diamond-and-ruby necklace with floral detailing was another wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth from her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (and all your parents got you was a blender). It was frequently worn by the Queen in her younger years.

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LOVER'S KNOT BROOCH

Getty (2)

This oversized brooch features diamonds set in silver and gold, formed in a bow shape, and is another piece from Queen Mary's collection that Queen Elizabeth inherited after her death in 1953.

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NIZAM OF HYDERABAD NECKLACE

Beretta/Sims/REX; Getty

This Cartier-crafted piece was given to Queen Elizabeth, again as a wedding present, by a dignitary. It was most recently seen on Princess Kate during an event at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

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QUEEN MARY DIAMOND STOMACHER

REX Shutterstock (2)

This piece is a stomacher – best described as an enlarged brooch worn on the front of a dress. Queen Mary handed it down to her granddaughter, then-Princess Elizabeth, as a wedding present back in 1947, although due to changing fashions, the entire stomacher is rarely worn nowadays.

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THE QUEEN'S ENGAGEMENT RING

Getty (2)

This three-carat diamond solitaire ring may be impressive for an engagement ring, but for the Queen it's pretty small compared to the other gems in her collection. However, it has impressive origins: The diamonds in the ring were taken from a tiara owned by Philip's mother, Princess Alice.

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QUEEN VICTORIA FRINGE BROOCH

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This star-like diamond with strings of diamonds attached was made for Queen Victoria in 1856 by Garrard amp Co. from diamonds she had been given by the Sultan of Turkey. The brooch has been worn by every Queen that has followed her, including the Queen Mother and of course, Queen Elizabeth.

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WILLIAMSON CARTIER FLOWER BROOCH

AFP/Getty; Camera Press

At the center of this floral brooch is the Williamson Diamond – one of the most precious pink diamonds in the world. This, like many other pieces in her collection, was a wedding present for Queen Elizabeth, given to her by the man who discovered it, Dr. John Thoburn Williamson. It wasn't for another six years, however, that it was placed in the brooch – and before it was, many guessed it would be mounted for the Queen's coronation.

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By Diana Pearl