The world eagerly awaits news of the arrival of the newest British Royal, due to be born any day. The royal couple’s child will officially be known as His or Her Royal Highness Prince or Princess of Cambridge, a title fitting for a child that will likely inherit the throne, and along with it, the right to wear the British Crown Jewels. GIA has highlighted a few of the spectacular jewels, which are mostly kept secured at the Tower of London.
The Sovereign’s Sceptre features the 530.2 carat Cullinan I diamond, which can be removed and worn as a brooch. Photo courtesy of Alan Jobbins.
The Sovereign’s Sceptre, originally dating back to the 1661 coronation of King Charles II, was redesigned in 1910 to accommodate the 530.20 carat gem, the Great Star of Africa. This diamond was the largest of the 105 diamonds of nearly flawless quality cut from the famous 3,106.75 carat Cullinan diamond. If the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge turns out to be a girl, the diamond can be removed from the sceptre and worn as a brooch for royal events.
The most frequently worn royal crown, the Imperial State Crown, features the Black Prince’s Ruby, one of the U.K.’s oldest Crown Jewels (14th c.). Despite the name, gemologists determined that the ‘Ruby’ is actually a red spinel, most likely from mines in Asia known for yielding exceptionally large spinel crystals. The gem known as St. Edward’s Sapphire adorns the cross at the top of the crown, the famous 317.40 carat Cullinan II diamond (also known as the Lesser Star of Africa) is set on the front, and the back band features the stunning 104 carat Stuart Sapphire (17th c.).
If the baby is a girl, she will have a number of important jewels to choose from for her own coronation, including The Coronation Necklace, worn by Queens Alexandra, Mary, Elizabeth and Her Majesty The Queen at their coronation ceremonies. When Queen Victoria lost many family jewels in 1857, Garrard, the official crown jeweler at the time, was commissioned to design new pieces using gems taken from swords and other “useless things.” The Coronation Necklace was worn frequently by Queen Victoria and features 26 stones– nine between 8.25 and 11.25 carats – which were taken from a Garter badge and sword hilt.
Are you anxiously awaiting news of the arrival of the royal baby? With the current popularity of ‘push presents,’ a jewelry gift given to the mother after giving birth, what do you think is an appropriate push present for the Duchess of Cambridge after giving birth to the future King or Queen of England?
Learn more about some of the other most prized British Royal Jewels.
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