Imperial Family Jewels

[Martyn]

I think that we can see enough to be sure that it is the same tiara; I would have thought that it is unlikely to be a copy.
Lovely aquamarines in this suite of jewellery.  I think that at the time these jewels were made (presumably around 1900 or just before) aquamarines were coming into vogue along with amethysts and tourmalines as the colours of these semi-precious stones conformed to the new Art Nouveau Movement's colour preferences.  Of course, aquamarines are really valuable now, so this parure, with its historic association must be incredibly precious now.

[grandduchessella]

I wish there was a photo of Ella in the set. With her lovely coloring it must've been lovely. Queen Marie of Romania, when she writes about Ella in an aquamarine gown:
'...Tall, slim, graceful and infinitely gracious, a vision, a joy for the eyes, for the soul, for the heart.... Her cacoshnic of emeralds and diamonds is truly a halo to her angelic face, and the gorgeous gems covering arms and throat have...the aspect of gifts piously offered to some beloved saint. Tall, slim, graceful and infinitely gracious, a vision, a joy for the eyes, for the soul, for the heart. Yes, a vision! One feels like kneeling down when she passes in the hope of being able to touch, if only for a second, the hem of her gown... the vision of you passing before me like a blessed apparition in your gown the colour of glaciers, color of aquamarine....'
Aquamarine's would've particularly suited her, I think, based on the descriptions of her delicate 'fairy-like' beauty. They seem so pure and clear. Other jewels may have been too 'heavy' for her--semi-precious stones I think would've been best. (Though we all know of her beautiful emerald collection.)

[Martyn]

I quite agree.  Aquamarines seem perfectly suited to Ella's colouring and character.
Aquamarines have a clarity and purity that is very lovely; I have longed for an aquamarine to add to my collection for many a year but they are now so expensive and my taste is for big stones; I fear that I may have to wait a while longer.
I think that they look particularly splendid framed, as this suite is, with diamonds.  I was hoping, GDElla, that if anyone had a photo of Ella wearing these jewels then it would be you; it would be so marvellous to see her wearing them.
If she gave these jewels to Ernie and Onor and they were made around 1900, it would seem that Ella did not have them for long; we know that after Serge's death in 1905, she no longer wore her splendid jewels.  Do you know when Ernie received them?

[kenneth_elliott]

Does anyone know the present location of the turquoise and brilliants Faberge(I believe) kokoshnik style tiara? It was listed as a sale item in Lord Twinnning book on crown jewels of the world(rare old...don't bother to look). with other things from Russia,  that I now think were a sort of hodge podge from many different Romanovs and princely families. Cheers.

[grandduchessella]

Sorry I don't have one--I really wish I did. She doesn't seem to have been photographed much in her jewels--I think I've only ever seen photos of her in full court dress. I'm sure there are some lovely photos floating around out there--gives us something to look forward to!

[Michelle]

Someone else who no doubt would look absolutely ravishing and heavenly in brilliant aquamarines is Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna.  Her eyes basically were aquamarines, and I'm sure with her eyes (and her whole appearance for that matter) she would be breathtaking!

[Martyn]

Of the jewels that were found in Tobolsk, I wonder what Alix intended to do with the five tiaras that were included in this collection.
Michelle made the point that aquamarines would have really suited Olga, her eyes apparently being close to that shade of blue.
None of the tiaras in this cache of jewels were set with aquamarines, the closest being one that was set with kunzites which are a lilac colour and another that was set with almandine garnets, which are purply red.  However a tiara was offered for sale in the 20's by the Soviets,  which was set with aquamarines and diamonds, and which was supposed to have belonged to Alix.
It is interesting to speculate that maybe the five tiaras were for Alix and OTMA to use in exile; I don't suppose however that we shall ever know which jewel was intended for which daughter's use.

[Forum Admin]

Martyn
The five tiara's were not "random". One for each daughter and one for Alexandra. You are correct, though, we probably will never know which tiara was for which GD.

[Michelle]

Since aquamarines would be the best for Olga, what do you all think would be the best for the other girls?  I think Maria might do best with sapphires because her eyes were a very deep blue, unlike Olga's VERY light eyes.  Tatiana is kind of hard...........maybe diamonds?:-/ Anastasia's also quite difficult.  Any ideas?

[Martyn]

Did I suggest that the selection of tiaras was "random"?
I rather think that Alix thought very carefully about the jewels that were taken by the IF into exile.
On the one hand I am sure that she thought that if necessary some income could be derived from the sale of jewellery - portable wealth one might say - on the other, I am sure that she wanted to ensure that she and her daughters were equipped for a future either in outside Russia; that they would need jewellery that was commensurate with their birthright was obviously part of her thinking.
It is pure speculation but we may be able to deduce something from the composition and value of the tiaras for example, Alix might reserve the use of the diamond diadem that was set with the central eight carat diamond (Soviets' valuation of 25,000 roubles in 1933), Olga the diamond and pearl diadem (value 25,000), Tatiana the diamond and turquoise (7,500), Maria the diamond and almandine garnets (5,000) and finally Anastasia diamond and kunzites (2,000).
All pure speculation of course......................

[grandduchessella]

Since aquamarines would be the best for Olga, what do you all think would be the best for the other girls?  I think Maria might do best with sapphires because her eyes were a very deep blue, unlike Olga's VERY light eyes.  Tatiana is kind of hard...........maybe diamonds?:-/ Anastasia's also quite difficult.  Any ideas?

The meaning behind jewels, flowers, etc..always interests me. It's ironic that Ella had the aquamarines since they represented a happy marriage. One filled with sympathy, trust, harmony and a true union.

I figured Olga was a little too solid for aquamarines, I thought maybe turquoise or amethyst? Still the blue (for the turquoise) but a bit more practical (and the amethyst would set off her eyes). She was so very different than Ella. Maybe pearls for Tatiana? She was very elegant. For Anastasia, maybe topaz or garnet? I don't know why, it just struck me--maybe because they're a little more unique in royal jewels? For Marie, the sapphires sound good, also perhaps amethyst for the same reason as Olga. Perhaps not the deepest blue sapphires, which can look very dark, but the rarer blue sapphires which are lighter-colored blue or the medium blue of the sky. They would also be appropriate as sapphires represent love , loyalty , sincerity and faithfulness--qualities associated with Marie. The green garnet is interesting and connected to Russia: The star among green Garnets is rare Demantoid, a gemstone for connoisseurs and lovers. It shows enormous brilliance, higher even than that of Diamond. Russia’s leading court jeweller Carl Fabergé loved the brilliant green Garnet from the Urals more than any other stone, and liked to use it in his creations. Would that have suited any of them?

[Michelle]

Oooh!  That's pretty, Ella!  I can imagine that on.............Tatiana(:-/) but I'm not really sure.  Turqoise sound great for Olga, but I still think she'd be heavenly in aquamarines.  Pearls and amethysts are good for Tatiana.  And diamonds.  Would any of them be suited for emeralds or rubies?  Oh!  Maybe Olga could have worn opals too!  I love those!  And I agree that Maria would need the kind of sapphires the color of The Heart of the Ocean from Titanic (even though that was actually a diamond in the movie ).  

[nerdycool]

Tatiana struck me as a pearl girl too! But when thinking about it, I think she'd look good with any jewels... specifically the more unusual colored ones like Peridot or Topaz... or even black Onyx (or black diamond)! As for the other girls, Olga, I think would look good in Aquamarines, a Teal Topaz, Moonstone, or a pink stone, like a Tourmaline or Kunzite. Maria would look best in bold colored stones... Emeralds, Sapphires, Amethyst, Rubies. Anastasia's chosen stones by me would include Rubies, Garnets, or Yellow Citrines. And all would look spactacular in Diamonds.

[nerdycool]

When looking at the tiaras taken into exile, I wonder when they were made. Does anyone know if they were part of Alexandra's personal collection or if the Grand Duchesses recieved a first tiara for a birthday or nameday and those are it?

[olga]

I think the tiaras all belonged to Alexandra Fyodorovna. I don't think OTMA Nikolaevna had been given tiaras. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.