The jewellery of the royals have captivated with stunning jewellery for hundreds of years with brilliant precious jewels and high-quality metals. Known for their rich heritage and sentimentality, royal jewellery not only represents that status that the royal family has always held, but also honours the legacy of Kings and Queens of old. From elegant diamond necklaces to statement sapphire rings, monarchs have always adorned elegant jewellery that elevates their look for every occasion.
In this article, we delve into our top three royal jewellery looks that have left a lasting impression, not only celebrating their aesthetic grandeur but also considering the deeper narratives of power, love, identity, and legacy.
The Beauty of Royal Jewellery
Throughout the ages, jewellery has served as both personal expression and status symbol for members of the royal family. Historically, these pieces were often custom-made by the the most accredited and famous jewellers of their time, meticulously designed to represent lineage, loyalty, and legacy. In more recent years, we’ve seen this tradition of meaningful jewellery continue in contemporary ways like Princess Eugenie’s rare Padparadscha sapphire engagement ring, which subtly blended tradition with modernity.
While many royal figures have remained faithful to the timeless appeal of classic gemstones and royal motifs, others have embraced newer, subtler interpretations of regal style. Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, now Princess of Wales, has brought fresh sophistication to royal jewellery, often opting for pieces that pay homage to the past while reflecting a modern, accessible sensibility.
The Bejewelled fate of Anne Boleyn
In Tudor times, jewellery was not only an accessory to show wealth but also as a way to show ownership of a woman’s love. Henry VIII was known to gift his wives and lovers expensive and luxurious jewellery in order to ‘commit’ himself to them, and vice-versa. Over the course of Anne and Henry’s courtship, Anne was gifted Katharine of Aragon’s official jewels, as well as multiple bracelets with his portrait on and a mini-pistol shaped pendant that Anne could keep her cosmetics in.
Anne Boleyn’s most iconic look is of course her own necklace that features a string of pearls, with a drop B pendant to symbolise her House of Boleyn, with three dropped pearls from the letter. She would commonly pair this with a pair of drop-pearl earrings to accentuate her soft features and exude her glamorous lifestyle.
Pearls are timeless, and leading pearl curator, Mikimoto, crafts elegant designs from strings of pearls to elegant pearl earrings. Kokichi Mikimoto was the first person to successfully culture pearls off the coast of his hometown in Japan in 1893, and ever since, Mikimoto has been adorning the necks of women across the globe.
The Anne Boleyn Edit
Stunning Sapphires Worn by the People’s Princess, Diana
Princess Diana was always known for her elegant and individual personality. Titled “The people’s princess”, Diana was the epitome of classic elegance with a hint of contemporary jewellery. Her looks from dressed-down jumpers to the iconic ‘revenge’ dress made headlines, and so did her impressive jewellery collection.
One of the most notable pieces of jewellery in Diana’s collection was her sapphire engagement ring, gifted to her by King Charles. The beautiful, shining sapphire boasted royalty, but included a diamond halo that sparkled. This ring however, was seen as scandalous even in our modern era. This was the first time that an engagement ring had not been specially crafted for the royals. Instead, Diana had chosen the design from the Garrad's Royal Catalogue, 1981, meaning that anyone who could afford the ring at the time could also attain the princess’s look.
Sapphires are one of the hardest precious gemstones known to man, just behind diamonds on the Mohs scale, meaning they are a wonderful precious stone if you are looking for a more colourful type of engagement ring. The deep blue hues reflect light and create an elegant and playful look to every outfit, perfect to add a pop of colour into your wardrobe.
The princess Diana Edit
Vintage-Chic with Princess Kate
Princess Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, is arguably the most fashionable royal to date. Her endless charm and charisma not only exudes from her sophisticated and practical style, but also her jewellery. Ever since her arrival into the royal family, Kate’s fashion has been leading news, not only for her stylish endeavours, but also as a turning point in the way we view the monarchy in a more, progressive and modern light.
Kate is well-loved for her genuine and open personality, which is well represented in every appearance of herself out of her home in Windsor. Honouring not only the late queen with her love for pearl earrings, Kate enjoys to add a pop of colour into her looks like Princess Diana. A favourite of hers being colourful precious gemstone earrings like sapphires, inspired by Princess Diana.
The Duchess of Cambridge bridges the perfect elements of sophisticated heritage and contemporary chic, just like Mikimoto's Ocean collection. The Ocean collection combines the beautiful modernity of sapphires with the timeless elegance of Akoya pearls, perfect for Princess Kate.
The Duchess of Cambridge edit
Related: A Mikimoto Love Letter to the Sea
Honour the Beauty of Royalty at Michael Spiers
The Royal family have influenced cultural style throughout history and even today we see their affect on modern fashion. When choosing the perfect pieces to add to your Autumn wardrobe, discover pieces that elevate your look for both day and evening events at our Showrooms in Truro, Plymouth, Exeter and Taunton.
