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The Sutherland Diamonds
The Sutherland Diamonds, comprising a necklace of twenty large old brilliant-cut diamonds in silver-topped gold collets with two extension lengths and a pair of earrings, are an extraordinary survival amongst British noble jewels: a magnificent and historic collection of diamonds that has been prominently worn at multiple coronations, adapted and reworked over time to suit changing fashions. They might so easily have been broken up were it not for their grandeur, heritage and alleged link with Marie Antoinette.
Worn by successive Duchesses of Sutherland from the early Nineteenth Century onwards, the diamonds were the most striking family jewel in the celebrated receptions at Staffordshire House, the grandest town house in London until its sale by the 4th Duke of Sutherland in 1912. Recorded in paintings and film footage of coronations, they were worn by Harriet (1806-1868), wife of the 2nd Duke, and Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria, to the Queen’s coronation in 1838 as an enormous upright headband of diamonds. Millicent (1867-1955), wife of the 3rd Duke and Canopy Bearer at the Coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra in 1902 wore the diamonds as a tight choker with a line of diamonds extending down the front, very much in the style of a lavalière of the day. In 1937, Eileen (1891-1943), wife of the 5th Duke, wore them à la mode as a long necklace, or sautoir to the Coronation of George VI and Elizabeth.
Tradition links the diamonds to the scandal that contributed to the downfall of Marie Antoinette – the so-called ‘Affair of the Diamond Necklace’. The French queen was implicated in this, one of the grandest jewellery scams in history, and although innocent, her reputation never truly recovered. The connection is unproven, but the size, beauty, and role these diamonds played in royal and aristocratic life in Britain place them among the most remarkable surviving noble jewels.
Currently on view at the Victoria & Albert South Kensington exhibit Marie Antoinette Style (Accession Number: M.10:1 to 3-2022)
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Gold and amethyst parure (set of matching jewelry). Florence, Italy, 19th century.
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Queen Mary’s Sapphire Parure
It comprises a necklace-tiara, a necklace with sapphire clusters and a pendant, 3 brooches, 2 bracelets and a pair of earrings.
She inherited the sapphires from her aunt, Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, The Duchess of Cambridge:
This parure was given by the Queen as a wedding gift to her son George, The Duke of Kent, and his bride Princess Marina, in 1934.
Here princess Marina is wearing the whole parure.
The parure was inherited in 1968, after his mother’s passing, by the current Duke of Kent, Prince Edward, and worn by his wife Katherine:
At one point the tiara was sold and the Kents turned the main necklace in a button tiara:
And turned the bracelets into a choker.
She also took 2 sapphire clusters to turn them into earring studs vs the smaller ones of the original set.
The Kents later sold other parts of the remaining parure. It is unknown what they retained.
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Jour 8: Parure inspiration Noël, chaine en acier inoxydable, pendentif fiole en verre (contenu brillant dans le noir, voir photos) et flocon de neige en bois.
2 modèles disponibles sur ma boutique: https://4-nutty-addict.sumupstore.com/article/parure-fiole-tempete-de-neige
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Mid-Mentury Aquamarine Suite
“Aqua parure including a necklace, 2 pairs of earrings, a bracelet, a ring and a pair of clips by Seaman Schepps in original fitted box.”
- 1st Dibs
“Pat Saling is well-known for her signed pieces from Art Deco through mid-century. This Seaman Schepps aquamarine suite from the 1950s is a true find for collectors who prefer retro and vintage pieces to those of the Georgian and Victorian time periods. The aquamarines are of the finest quality – deep and clear, conjuring up sea-blue waters. The pieces in the suite combine both aquamarine beads and faceted small and large pear-shaped stones in a warm gold setting, with various earring and pendant options and a central necklace with an oval-set aquamarine and gold clasp.”
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A 19TH CENTURY TOPAZ SUITE
Gloria: Property from the late Dowager Countess Bathurst
“A 19TH CENTURY TOPAZ SUITE
Comprising an oval-cut topaz collet necklace with old-cut diamond spacer connections; a topaz collet headband; two pairs of topaz earrings, each adapted; a pear shaped topaz and old-cut diamond pendant brooch with diamond detail, adapted, together with an associated topaz double headed serpent brooch and a pair of later set topaz and diamond earrings, mounted in gold, necklace 41.5 cm, head band collet section 27 cm.
By family tradition, left by HRH The Princess Amelia (1783-1810), daughter of George III, to her Lady in Waiting The Hon. Mrs George Villiers (1775-1856) and by descent to her great granddaughter Lilias Borthwick, later Countess Bathurst (1871-1965) and by descent in the Bathurst family.”
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Important Ceylon sapphire and diamond parure, 1960s and later.
“Comprising: a necklace set with cabochon sapphires enhanced with brilliant-cut diamonds, the front set with a cabochon sapphire weighing 89.31 carats, detachable clasp signed Van Cleef & Arpels and numbered , length approximately 380mm, extendable to approximately 460mm or 540mm with two detachable segments that may also be worn as an additional bracelet, length approximately 175mm, a bracelet set with a cabochon sapphire weighing 93.36 carats, length approximately 165mm, signed Van Cleef & Arpels and numbered, and a pair of earrings respectively set with a cabochon sapphire weighing 15.32 and 16.71 carats, detachable ear clip fittings, signed Van Cleef and Arpels and numbered.”
- Sotheby’s via Alain.R.Truong
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“Turquoise Parure” - Queen Mary of Teck
Wedding gift to Queen Mary from her parents, The Duke and Duchess of Teck, was later gifted to the current Duke of Gloucester’s mother, Alice.
The Duchess of Gloucester also has a waterfall diamond necklace with turquoise and pearls drops. Are they detachable and other stones can be hanged?
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{{Disponible en boutique}}
ҨꚶꗛɌᙅꚶꕷ ᖘᕔᕓꗞᙁĬꕷ
- HERBARIUM : Chêne pédonculé (Quercus Robur)
- LAPIDARIUM : Chrysocolle, Pierre de Lune abricot, Quartz Rutile, Pierre de Soleil
LIEU DE CUEILLETTE : forêt de la Planoise (Bourgogne)
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{{Disponible en boutique}}
Ɍꚶᗹꚶꕷ ᗹԸᕔᙅҜꘘᎽɌꗛ
- HERBARIUM : Ronce (Rubus Fruticosus)
- LAPIDARIUM : Hypersthène
LIEU DE CUEILLETTE : Maison Loye (Bourgogne)
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“George VI Sapphire Set” - HM Queen Elizabeth II
- Necklace
- Pendant Earrings
“The Sapphire Parure”
HM Queen Elizabeth II
- The Belgian Sapphire Tiara (originally it was a necklace. Can it still be worn as one or is a permanent tiara now?)
Bought by the Queen herself to have a sapphire matching tiara.
- The Sapphire Bracelet
- 2 rings ( a cluster sapphire ring and a diamond sapphire ring)
Other wearer:
HM Queen Camilla
