Windsor Jewels Part 5

[grandduchessella]

Time to start a new thread. 

[Grace]

Re: the photo Boffer posted of the Queen in a pearl choker -- I've never before seen her in one!  I know the photo is not recent but that style looks so flattering on HM's neckline, I think it's a pity she hasn't worn it or others in the royal collection more often over the years.

[boffer]

There seems to be many in the collection - based on assuming that those belong to Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary have made their way into the vaults. It is most probable that Her Majesty simple doesnt like chockers.

And i recently read first few pages of a chapter about jewels in Paul Burrells new book ........ and it says that Her Majesty's 'vault' is infact a large safe concealed/hidden beheind a large white wardrobe in one of the dressingrooms; with many drawers of jewels.
Whereas Diana's was a simple safe hidden under the stairs.

[basilforever]

I have this fantasy of the jewel vault being this moderately sized room deep within the palace that very few are allowed to see, filled to the brim with all the royal jewels from over the ages. Tiaras, everywhere.  Hopefully we will have a Queen in the not-too distant future who is a TRUE jewelry-lover, and we can see all sorts of hidden and unusual peices come out of the vaults. Also if I was the Queen I would buy back some of the amazing tiaras that went off into minor branches of the family, like Queen Victoria's sapphire tiara and the emerald tiara that excited so much debate on the other thread.

[royal_netherlands]

 http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f78/opzich/Royals%20past%20and%20present/QEQMPD2.jpg
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1958 wearing the sapphire and diamond brooch.
And Diana Princess of Wales wearing the same  sapphire and diamond brooch a  the state banquet with Queen beatrix.

RN

[Eric_Lowe]

I heard that quite a lot of the Queen's jewels are in storage, including the stuff she never worn inheirted from Queen Mary. 

[boffer]

Apparently it is full of jewels never worn (including tiaras) that are there in many drawers.

I dont think they would simply be lying around in boxes in the cellar and would still be in the safe or "vault" - just probably in the most unaccesible drawers and corners.

It does make one wonder how much they have. I wonder if the queen has ever sorted through it all or gone searching for pieces?
I presume that it has been inventoried by Household as with nearly all of the collections that exist (never to be published, of course). But what a task that would have been to sift through jewel after jewel.

[grandduchessella]

I would gladly undertake that task no matter how long it took. 

There were so many loose stones (opals, diamonds, rubies, etc) that were presented over the years to QV and to QA that don't seem to have ever been set into pieces--it really does make you wonder what treasures there are lurking in a vault somewhere.

[Emperor of the Dominions]

Yes, it's such a pity that Her Majesty isn't really fond of jewellery. I gather she views them as necessary 'props' to denote her status in public and on state occaisions. When seeing her at leisure she only seems to wear a suite of pearls and maybe a brooch.

I would imagine that the 'vault' is brimming with gems and so any 'buying back' of former Royal jewels seems unlikely under the current Reign. We may of course see the wives of her heirs sporting many forgotten jewels. The Duchess of Cornwall seems to have made a good start, wearing the Delhi Durbar Tiara and the Boucharon favoured by Her Late Majesty The Queen Mother. Let's hope we see more of the other great Royal pieces in years to come.

R.I.

[Eric_Lowe]

Just flipped through Burell's book. He also know about the Queen's vault where there are tons of royals jewels that had not seen the light of day sibnce Queen mary worn them. QE II picked from this storage the pieces Diana and now Camilla are to wear.

I don't think Alix's fakes are with the real stuff, May made sure who are historical and what are "dress" gems. I think Maud, the most fashionable of Alix's daughters may have the lionshare of those (since they were technical not royal jewels). Maud and Alexandra Fife may also recieved some as momentoes. 

[grandduchessella]

This isn't a royal jewel but speaking of buying items for royal women, seeing as how Camilla seems to like emeralds--this would be a great buy--I'm sure EmeraldEyes would agree! 

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/search/alt_images.asp?lObjectID=4785967

There are also some emerald bangle bracelets:

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/search/alt_images.asp?lObjectID=4786008

and a big cabochon emerald ring ( 39.74 carats)

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/search/alt_images.asp?lObjectID=4786016

Ellen Barkin, the actress, is getting divorced from billionaire Ron Perelman. He apparently gifted her with millions of dollars worth of jewelry. The jewel auction is said by Christie's to be second only to the Duchess of Windsor's and one other (I forget who) in terms of the quality of the jewels.

You can see the whole collection here--I was drooling at just the 2 pages in the latest People magazine. She could actually have given La Liz a serious run for the money!

http://www.christies.com/special_sites/barkin/overview.asp

[emeraldeyes1969]

Oh, GDella, you know just what to do to bring me out of 'lurk' mode...


The emerald bead and gold cuffs belonged to Wallis originally.  If you put them on their sides, with the beads facing upwards, there is an amusing look of a coronet to them.  I don't know if that was intentional or not!   

As for the earrings and the JAR ring, well I was stunned to see the size of the pieces when worn.



Those photos on the Christie's site are wonderful in their detail, but they do lack a method for determining the actual size of things.  Somtetimes a ruler next to the item would go a long way to making one recognize the scale.  Of course, it would spoil the photo of the jewel...so I guess I just can't be pleased!
I believe the divorce has already been finalized and the sale is a way of 'cleansing' herself of her old life as a 'jewel -laden trophy wife' as she put it. 

The sale is tonight and I'm hoping the Christie's site will be updated by tomorrow so that I can see just how much $ these little trifles raised.

[grandduchessella]

Ah, so the bangle bracelets at least had a Windsor connection. 

When I got a look at the emeralds, I just knew you wouldn't be able to resist EE. 

Yes, according to People magazine, she is getting rid of the jewelry as a way of putting the past behind her, even though she was really attached to some of the pieces---and who wouldn't be! Some of the descriptions were jaw-dropping.

I especially liked the earrings---they reminded me of some of the Cambridge emerald drops.

[grandduchessella]

He actually surprised her with the divorce papers. She's selling the jewels to move on. The rep for Christie's said that their business is based on Death, Divorce and Debt.

It would be interesting to see the Windsor bracelets appear in the British royal house--I wonder if Princess Michael will go after them. Didn't she buy some items at the Duchess of Windsor auction? I still think that, with her other emerald jewelry, it would be a nice touch for Charles to try to get the bracelets for Camilla.

[boffer]

The bracelets i think were designed for Wallis by the Duke of Windsor and were purposfully made to resemble a circlet. People said that they are the closest that Mrs Simpson would ever get to a crown.