Aquamarine, with its waterside blue likened to sparkling sea waves, has entranced royal jewel collections throughout history. Today, let's explore some famous royal aquamarine jewels. We'll delve into the details of these pieces, showcasing aquamarine's enduring popularity among European royal circles.
The Aquamarine Tiara of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
The Aquamarine Tiara of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna was a stunning aquamarine and diamond creation crafted for the last Tsarina of Russia in the early 1900s. It is set with over 300 aquamarines, some as large as 50 carats, surrounded by 1,000 brilliant diamonds. Besides, its open filigree style design prominently showed Alexandra’s vibrant collection of blue gems against her forehead and hair. As one of the largest royal aquamarine jewelry ever made, the tiara remained among Russia’s imperial treasures until the revolution.
Queen Fabiola’s Aquamarines
Queen Fabiola of Belgium had a special passion for aquamarines, which was evident in her distinguished jewelry collection. A focal point was her early 20th-century tiara featuring over 30 cushion-cut aquamarines weighing more than 200 carats. She also owned exquisite aquamarine necklaces showcasing various cuts and sizes of gemstones. Queen Fabiola possessed matching earrings and ring sets to complement her necklaces. Aquamarine finely served as Queen Fabiola’s signature color, crafted into combinations of fine regal accessories that highlighted her elegant style.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Brazilian Aquamarine Parure
Queen Elizabeth II inherited a magnificent aquamarine parure from her grandmother, Queen Mary. Crafted in the early 1900s, it featured large, oval-cut aquamarines from Brazil surrounded by glittering diamonds. The parure included an elaborate openwork tiara holding twelve aquamarines, a choker-style necklace of matched gems, a pair of teardrop earrings, and two bracelets echoing the necklace design. This exquisite matching aquamarine and diamond ensemble displayed the beauty of the signature pale blue stones.
Princess Diana’s Aquamarine Ring
Among Princess Diana’s treasured aquamarine jewelry was a striking cocktail ring gifted by her friend Lucia Flecha de Lima around 1996. Crafted by the renowned jeweler Asprey, the ring featured a stately emerald-cut aquamarine as the centerpiece. Small diamond accents lined the band, adding subtle sparkle that complemented the rich blue hue of the aquamarine. Years later, Prince Harry gifted this treasured piece from his mother’s personal collection to his new bride, Meghan Markle.
Olga Valerianovna Paley’s Aquamarine Parure
In 1912, commissioned by Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich, Cartier made this magnificent aquamarine parure for his wife, Princess Olga Paley. It includes a tiara, necklace, and corsage ornament. The tiara featured a cushion-cut aquamarine surrounded by diamonds on a platinum band, while its aigrette displayed another pear-cut aquamarine. The necklace comprised two diamond threads encircling a large cushion-cut aquamarine pendant with a pear-shaped aquamarine below. Finally, the corsage ornament used removable oval aquamarines that could be worn as separate brooches or decorations.
