The Sapphire Jubilee April 27 2017

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Sapphire Jubilee on the 6^th of February 2017 to become the first British Monarch to reign for 65 years! Sapphires have been used around the world as a gemstone to allure, command authority, heal the afflicted and influence one’s destiny but no one has used it to the splendor of the British Monarchy and in particular, Queen Elizabeth II. Hence, we focused our next blog on the magnificent collection of sapphires in Queen Elizabeth II’s Sapphire Jubilee.

George VI Victorian Suite

The George VI Victorian Suite is an elegant set of jewelry that originally consisted of 18 stunning blue sapphires in a necklace that were surrounded by clusters of diamonds. It was created by Carrington & Co. in 1850 and was gifted to the Queen by her father, King George VI, upon her marriage to Prince Phillip of Greece in 1947. This jewelry set includes some of the Queens most beloved sapphire gemstones and she had made a few adjustments to it in 1959 to make the largest sapphire stone fit as a pendant as well as a brooch. In 1963, the Queen also commissioned a matching tiara and bracelet which she featured in many occasions including her Royal State visit to the United States in 1991 and the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace in 2016.

Prince Albert Sapphire Brooch

This brooch is perhaps one of the most cherished pieces of jewelry in Queen Elizabeth II’s Sapphire Jubilee and it features a stunning navy-blue oval sapphire paired with 12 large round diamonds. The brooch was originally given by Prince Albert to Queen Victoria in 1840, the day before their wedding, which she described to be ‘a splendid brooch, a large sapphire set round with diamonds, which is really quite beautiful’. The brooch was earmarked as an heirloom to the crown and was worn regularly by all subsequent queens, Alexandra, Mary, Elizabeth and Elizabeth II. Some of its most famous appearances include the coronation of Queen Alexandra in 1902 and dinner with President and Mrs. Kennedy at Buckingham Palace in 1961.

Sapphire Chrysanthemum Brooch

This brooch is one of the first official gifts received by the Queen and its seems to have retained a very special status in her collection. It was gifted by Sir James Laing & Sons Limited and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company Limited to the then princess- Elizabeth for launching the British Princess oil tanker in 1946. The brooch features a chrysanthemum with diamond petals with a sapphire gemstone center all set in platinum. Some of its most notable appearances have been in the christening of Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II’s honeymoon photo and its recreation for her 60^th wedding anniversary.

With the invocation of Article 50 and the implications of a hard Brexit looming ahead, a gentle reminder of the power and tenacity of Britain is well founded. Its cultures, strength and elegance will set in a place a poised recovery from its painful separation from the European Union. The Sapphire Jubilee marks 65 years of economic prowess and cultural heritage and we can look forward to plenty more in this new and evolving landscape.