The Most Famous and Memorable Jewels of Queen Elizabeth II

When we reminisce about the late Queen Elizabeth II, which ten pieces of jewelry, from crowns to diadems and brooches, are most associated with her reign?

We have selected several pieces of jewelry, ranging from majestic, dazzling diadems to the ubiquitous, understated pearl necklaces, that are linked to the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Each piece carries a memory of this remarkable woman who was a part of all our lives. Read on to discover our selection.

Who owns the Queen’s jewelry?

This question is often asked, and the jewelry worn by the Queen was a combination of coronation jewels, which are in the possession of the crown and passed from monarch to monarch, as well as her personal jewelry. But let’s start with the crowns she wore at her coronation, the most significant moment of her public life.

Crowns are the jewels most associated with royal rank, so the number one jewel is the Imperial State Crown, which the Queen wore when leaving the coronation. However, more than one crown was used.

How many crowns did the Queen wear during the coronation?

During the Queen’s coronation in June 1953, three different crowns were used. In order of appearance, they were: Imperial State Crown, St Edward's Crown, and Diamond Diadem. The Imperial State Crown is the one most closely associated with her as monarch, as she wore it from Westminster Abbey. Although St Edward's Crown was used for the actual coronation, the Imperial State Crown was worn more frequently and was captured in its full glory in the most famous portrait of the Queen by Cecil Beaton at her coronation.

The most valuable brooches the Queen wore

The Queen mastered the art of wearing jewelry, especially brooches, which suited her duties perfectly. Worn high on her left shoulder, they are visible even while sitting in a car or carriage. They can be worn on coats for outdoor events and are the largest of all day-to-night wear jewelry, making them easily noticeable from a distance. Although not the most valuable, one of the brooches she regularly wore is the Dorset Bow Brooch, which was given to then-Princess Elizabeth by her grandmother, Queen Mary, as a wedding gift in 1947.

The most impressive and valuable of all the Queen’s brooches is the Cullinan Brooch. This brooch features diamonds II and IV from the 3 106-carat rough stone discovered at the Premier Mine in South Africa in 1905. The diamond was presented to King Edward in 1907 by the Transvaal government and was sent by mail in a teapot. The shipment traveled via a highly publicized sea voyage.

The most memorable necklace worn by the Queen

Another diamond from the Cullinan (8.8 carats) hangs on the Delhi Durbar Necklace. Due to its stunning emeralds and dazzling diamonds, the Queen often wore it at state dinners. The necklace contains nine emeralds originally owned by the Queen’s grandmother, Mary of Teck, Duchess of Cambridge, who won them in a German state lottery in Frankfurt in 1818. The necklace was the centerpiece of the jewels created for Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar finale in India in 1911, at the height of the British Empire. The Queen inherited the necklace in 1953.

What is the history of the coronation necklace and earrings?

Another unforgettable jewel among the ten most memorable pieces worn by the Queen is the coronation necklace and earrings, which Her Majesty also wore at the coronation and many other significant occasions. After Queen Victoria lost a substantial amount of jewelry to her Hanoverian relatives, Garrard was commissioned to remove diamonds from swords and other seldom-used items in the Queen’s collection to create the necklace. The simplicity of the design allows 25 diamonds with a brilliant cut in a cushion shape and a central drop pendant weighing 22.48 carats to shine. The necklace, and later the matching earrings, were subsequently worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother).

Which jewelry does the Queen wear most often?

Almost every picture of the Queen features pearls. The Queen’s first serious piece of jewelry was a triple-strand pearl necklace she received when she was eighteen, given by her grandfather, King George V, to celebrate his Silver Jubilee. The Queen has also been seen wearing a double strand of larger pearls, originally part of the Hanoverian collection.

What jewelry did the Queen receive for her 21st birthday?

The South African necklace and bracelet were gifted to the young Princess Elizabeth for her 21st birthday in 1947 by the South African government. Made by Garrard & Co in London, the necklace was presented to the Princess during her parents' tour of South Africa at her birthday ball. The necklace was set with 21 graduated round brilliant diamonds, separated by baguette diamonds. It was later modified into a shorter necklace and bracelet.