Coronation jewellery: King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla were crowned while adorned in historic royal gems – and luxury brands from Boucheron and Fabergé designed tiaras inspired by the occasion
Britain’s King Charles wearing the Imperial State Crown, carrying the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, leaves Westminster Abbey after the Coronation Ceremonies, in London, Britain, on May 6. Photo: Reuters
The world watched as the St Edward’s Crown – last donned by the late Queen Elizabeth – was placed on King Charles’ head, while Queen Consort Camilla wore a modified version of Queen Mary’s Crown
Boucheron, De Beers, Boodles, Annoushka and Mayfair jewellers created diamond tiaras commemorating the event; Yoko London’s is inspired by Kate Middleton’s favourite Lover’s Knot
Amid great pageantry, King Charles and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday. At the climax of the ceremony, the Archbishop of Canterbury placed the historic St Edward’s Crown on the king’s head. The gold-framed crown, weighing nearly two kilograms on an ermine band and set with 444 coloured gemstones, was made in 1661 for the coronation of Charles II and was last worn in 1953 for the crowning of Queen Elizabeth.
The 17th century St. Edward’s Crown is carried on the day of Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, in London, Britain, on May 6. Photo: Reuters
Queen Camilla was proclaimed with a modified version of Queen Mary’s Crown that had the controversial Koh-i-noor diamond removed and replaced with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds which were favourite pieces from Queen Elizabeth’s personal jewellery collection. The crown was originally made in 1911 by the then-crown jeweller Garrard, which also created a new version of the Imperial State Crown in 1937 for the coronation of George VI. King Charles wore this second crown for his departure of Westminster Abbey and on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. This is set with the 317 carat Cullinan II diamond and Black Prince’s Ruby, which is in fact a spinel.
The former crown jeweller also redesigned the Sovereign’s Sceptre, another sacred object in the coronation regalia, in 1910 to add the famous 530-carat Cullinan I diamond. Blessed with such a unique and remarkable history, Garrard has crafted its own tribute to the coronation, a limited-edition necklace and earrings in its Aloria collection. “Aloria features our iconic Sovereign motif which captures the setting Garrard created for the Cullinan I diamond at the top of the Sovereign’s Sceptre,” explained Sara Prentice, creative director at Garrard. Alongside it in the Sceptre is an incredible amethyst which is symbolised in the Aloria jewels by calibre-cut amethysts and diamonds.
Advertisement
Britain’s King Charles III wearing the Imperial State Crown, and carrying the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, leaves Westminster Abbey after the Coronation Ceremonies in central London, on May 6. Photo: Reuters
There may not have been as many tiaras sparkling in the lights of Westminster Abbey as there were for Elizabeth II’s coronation, but that did not stop other Mayfair jewellers creating one-of-a-kind tiaras to commemorate the historic occasion. Tiaras might be considered an outmoded relic of the past by some, but they epitomise majesty, romance and glamour, and are very flattering, so jewellers have been busy creating glorious new pieces. The De Beers design is particularly daring and avant-garde, featuring three arcs in blue titanium and platinum, each speckled with diamonds while pear and baguette-shaped diamond drops are suspended on a fourth arc.
De Beers’ avant-garde tiara features four diamond-studded arcs in blue titanium and platinum. Photo: Handout
In honour of the late queen and the new queen’s love of pearls, “we felt it fitting to mark the occasion with our own pearl tiara”, said Yoko London’s founder and chief executive Michael Hakimian. His coronation tribute features diamonds and South Sea pearls and is inspired by the historic Lover’s Knot, a royal tiara frequently worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales.
You do not need to be a member of the nobility to wear a tiara today, but high-profile events always result in a flurry of enquiries at Bond Street jeweller David Morris where a new wishbone-shaped design set with rose-cut pear-shaped diamonds is attracting attention, along with a one-off ring that is fit for a king. The ring is set with a rare 17.3-carat blue spinel, a red spinel and diamonds, together symbolising the colours of the Union flag.
Davis Morris Coronation Tiara. Photo: Handout
This is not the only ring showcasing British craftsmanship that has emerged from the Mayfair workshops. Boodles has just finished one with a pretty pink diamond ribbon motif featuring two heart-shaped Cullinan diamonds, from the same mine as those in the royal regalia.
