Windsor Jewelry We Love to Hate

[grandduchessella]

Yes, I don't like that one either. I actually didn't care for many of Wallis's pieces--too modern for me. I'll have to go back and find some pictures of some of those--they'd be perfect here.  

For EE in honor St Patrick's Day (from Sotheby's via the GREMB)

[emeraldeyes1969]

Aww, thanks!  I'll wear it on my lapel when I go down to my local Irish pub to hoist my glass of green Guinness!  

I like a lot of Wallis' stuff, I must say, but those bib necklaces...I just don't get them.  There was a turquoise and amethyst one too I think.  I'll try to get some pics up here today or tomorrow...

In the meantime, bottoms up!  

[kayekaye]

QM's (I believe) emerald choker worn by Diana as (gulp) that headband.
Oy. Wales! Noooooo!

[nelly]

Agreed!!  I like the chocker, but as a headband!??!

[grandduchessella]

Oh, definitely. I still shudder when I look back on those pictures. Even Diana couldn't carry off some things. Similarly, there were several nice tiaras in their day that fell into the unattractive category when paired with more modern hairdos--especially transitioning some Victorian/Edwardian ones into the roaring 20s. They'd practically fall down the ladies's faces due to the much shorter hair or a woman would have to wear a fake hair piece to fill it out.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes...I like the Queen Mum's scroll tiara. I wonder who has it now ? It would be a nice piece for Camilla. Classic, good taste and not like the twin towers we have seen...

[LenelorMiksi]

Oh, I loved the 1920s and 30s wear-your-tiara-on-your-forehead-look!  I prefer more natural looking hairstyles and Queen Astrid wore her jewelry that way and she always SHONE.
Whoever put the fringe tiara on Alix that day maybe was blind or nearsighted because usually it looks wonderful, but not when appearing as crooked teeth.  I don't mind the Norwegian emerald tiara, but the huge emerald on top could stand to find another placement.
Oh- and the words button and tiara should never, ever describe ONE OBJECT!!!  
Camilla did have precedent for her wheaty hair hat thing; Marina's bridesmaids wore something similar.  

[Eric_Lowe]

Maybe a wheat tiara for Camilla ?  

[grandduchessella]

But weren't Astrid's modern tiaras meant for her hairstyle? I was thinking more of the ones that were created for the thick hair of earlier deades and just slid down the forehead of the shorter bobs. Dreadful--but then it's all subjective, isn't it?  

[emeraldeyes1969]

Okay, so here is the amethyst and turquoise bib, which actually upon closer observation is not all that bad...



But here's the emerald, ruby and gold bib, which to my eyes just looks like parsley and ketchup drips.
As always, other opinions are welcome!

[kayekaye]

EII's brooches. Each and every one of them.

The parsley-and-ketchup necklace above. Grue.

Just about every single peice of costume jewellery ever sported by Fergie. At least Diana had generally more restrained taste.

(oooh. This is fun).

Not-Windsor I know, but nominate AF's tiresome rings. Mostly for the sheer annoyance they caused.

Definitely- not-a-Windsor but, IMO, one of the worst pieces I have ever seen was sported by that 'poor little insignificant princess' Dona (Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria) in a pre-marriage photo in 1881. Oh if only I still had a scanner! I bet GrandDuchesssElla or someone knows and has the pic and (I hope) can show the hideous piece of jet and the associated neckine that looks like it was run up on a piece of barbed wire..?

[emeraldeyes1969]

With a description like that tdora, I can hardly wait!

In the meantime, here's another ruby tiara that just doesn't quite work.  Wasn't this a gift to Grand Duchess Marie (?) when she married one of QV's sons?




And while I'm at it, the otherwise lovely CP Victoria of Sweden wearing the, ahem, amazing 4 button tiara.  (How can she looks so happy while wearing that frightful thing? )

[nelly]

items illustrated in #84 and #86-

words otherwise fail me in a family=friendly forum

[emeraldeyes1969]

Seems like such a waste of perfectly good stones doesn't it?  
It's just not fair!

[kayekaye]

Right then, I'm off to Hohenzollern to find that evil piece of jet wot I told you about.