Tag Archives: Brooch

Antique, Brooch, Queen Victoria's Sapphire Wedding Brooch, Sapphhire

Queen Victoria’s Sapphire Wedding Brooch

Queen Victoria is depicted dressed in her wedding wreath of orange blossom flowers and her wedding veil, with the small collar of the Garter. She also wears the brooch Prince Albert gave her on their wedding day and the ear-rings and necklace made from the Turkish diamonds given to her by the Sultan Mahmúd II in 1838. She noted in her Journal that the painting was ‘a surprise for my beloved Albert, for 10th of Feb’. It was placed in the Prince’s Dressing Room at Windsor. Signed and dated: Fr Winterhalter. Inscribed on the back with the names of the sitter and artist and the date, 1847, with the date of the Queen’s marriage, 10 February 1840.

Queen Victoria is often remembered as a stoic and solemn figure, especially during her mourning period following the death of Prince Albert. However, her love for colorful and ornate jewelry has been overshadowed by this image. showcased the happier days of her marriage, highlighting the jewelry that reflected her relationship with her husband and family, rather than commemorating death. This essay delves into the story of Victoria and Albert’s marriage through the jewelry they commissioned, gave to each other, and wore on various occasions, transforming these items into a part of the intimacy of their royal relationship.

Victoria’s wedding to Prince Albert in 1840 was a significant event for the young queen, and it produced even more jewelry.

Victoria was well-versed in the language of flowers and chose an orange-blossom wreath and trimmings for her wedding dress, which became a popular choice for Victorian brides. Prince Albert gave her a suite of orange-blossom jewelry over several years, beginning with an engagement gift accompanied by his own composition in 1839.

The obvious flower-language associations with the marriage were evident in the second brooch and the earrings, which were Christmas presents in 1845. The gold and porcelain circlet, the finest item in the suite, perpetuated the Queen’s wedding wreath, with blossoms studied from real, flowering sprigs, received in 1846.

Victoria wore it on the anniversary of her wedding day, often with the Honiton lace from her wedding dress. On her wedding anniversary in 1856, she wore a new pink dress from her mother, the Duchess of Kent, with the wreath from the set.

The orange-blossom theme recurred frequently in Victoria’s correspondence, as sprigs were constantly renewed with cuttings taken from royal wedding wreaths and bouquets. Orange blossom and myrtle, traditional in German marriage ceremonies, flourished on the terrace at Osborne House, and sprigs were sent to her married daughters to be worn on their significant anniversaries. Victorian royal brides wore orange-blossom wreaths and trimmings up to Queen Mary in 1893.

However, one of the most sentimental pieces of jewelry given to Victoria by Albert was a large sapphire set in a diamond border given to her by Albert on the eve of their marriage. She noted her wedding costume in her diary, including the sapphire brooch and her “Turkish” suite of necklace and diamond earrings. Despite being a severe critic and detail-oriented person, she let this omission pass when approving the huge group portrait. She left the brooch to the Crown in her will, but it was an intensely personal memento.

Above the Queen in her wedding dress, lace, and jewels, painted seven years later for the Prince Consort on the anniversary of their wedding, corrected this omission. Albert’s sapphire brooch is prominent on Victoria’s lace collar, and the creamy-white silk-satin dress is in the Museum of London, while the magnificent Honiton lace flounce survives in the Royal Collection. Her diamond necklace and long earrings were made by Rundells in 1839 from diamonds presented to her by Sultan Mahmúd II in 1838, hence the suite’s title.

Overall, the jewelry that Victoria and Albert gave to each other and wore on various occasions served as a symbol of their love and intimacy. While Victoria is often remembered for her somber appearance, this essay highlights the more joyful moments in her life through her jewelry choices.

The Times reporter observed that the Queen ‘wore no diamonds on her head, nothing but a simple wreath of orange blossoms…. A pair of very large diamond earrings, a diamond necklace, and the insignia of the Order of the Garter, were the personal ornaments worn by the Queen’, see The Times, 11 February 1840

This was not strictly true, as Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope (later Duchess of Cleveland) noted in her journal, she had on her head ‘a very high wreath of orange flowers, a very few diamonds studded into her hair behind‘, quoted in Picture Post, 29 November 1947, ‘When a Princess Marries’.

The cost of the lace veil and flounce, made by Miss Jane Bidney of Beer near Honiton, Devon, with a team of helpers, was reported variously at £1,000 and £1,500;. As was the convention for royal brides, Victoria’s Honiton lace veil is thrown back to reveal her face.

After the wedding ceremony Victoria asked Hayter to design an engraved seal. The design of clasped hands is a conventional expression of love in jewellery, but in this instance it has a personal meaning in showing the actual moment in the marriage ceremony of the joining of hands by the couple. On the Prince’s little finger in the design can be seen the gold ring set with an emerald, given to him as an engagement present by the Queen; she wears a bracelet with a miniature portrait of the Prince by William Ross at the centre. The seal, if it was made, has not been found. A very similar design was used for clasps to Albert’s and Victoria’s velvet covered prayer books , given to them by the Duchess of Kent on their wedding day. The prayer book clasp combines wit (clasped hands as a ‘clasp’) with sentiment of the kind so congenial to Victoria. Lady Lyttelton remembered that a seal was given by Prince Albert to the Queen, engraved with a pineapple and the legend ‘S’a gloire n’est pas sa couronne’.

11.2 carat Sapphire .925 Sterling Silver Handcrafted Ring

Brooch, Diamond

A Victorian 12.33cts Sri Lanka No heat Sapphire and Diamond Brooch Pendant

A Victorian Sri Lanka no heat sapphire and diamond brooch pendant, centred with a cushion-shaped sapphire weighing 12.33cts in gold, within a surround pave-set with circular-cut diamonds, and two further outer foliate surround of old cushion-shaped diamonds in silver on gold, detachable brooch fitting, folding pendant loop and open suspension loop, 3.7cm high

Aigrette, Brooch, Diamond, Earrings, Sapphire

The Fountain Brooch and Earrings of Elizaveta Petrovna

The Fountain aigrette worn by Elizaveta Petrovna and her descendants. Elizaveta Petrovna (1709-1761), the daughter of Peter the Great, loved brooches and had many of them made for her in a variety of styles and fashions. This piece in the form of a fountain of sapphires with diamond drops is called an Aigrette and was worn on a hat or as a hair clip. The aigrette comes in a set with massive Fountain earrings. They looked particularly striking in motion.

Brooch, Sapphire

Spectacular Simulated Sapphire Victorian Style Brooch

This gorgeous handcrafted brooch pin is the fine art of Adastra Jewelry. Adastra Jewelry puts meticulously gorgeous details of color and craftsmanship.

Brooch, Diamond, Sapphire

An Exquisite 26.41-Carat Cushion-cut Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Brooch

 

 

This 26.41-carat cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire and diamond brooch sold for $3,838,508 in November 2011 at Christie’s Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of Christie’s The cushion-shaped sapphire weighing 26.41 carats, within a two-tiered old European-cut diamond surround, mounted in 18k white, rose and yellow gold ,3.7 cm long.

An Exquisite 26.41-Carat Cushion-cut Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Brooch
An Exquisite 26.41-Carat Cushion-cut Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Brooch










Brooch, Sapphire

Stunning Sapphire and Diamond Vintage Brooches

A sapphire and diamond flower brooch, by Cartier
A sapphire and diamond flower brooch, by Cartier

 

Sapphires and Diamonds make a gorgeous selection of gemstones to create some of the most beautiful brooches and pins created.  This is a beatutiufl vintage selection of sapphire and diamond brooch and pins.   Many are created by famous jewelers such as Cartier and Oscar and Heyman Brothers.  A sapphire and diamond flower brooch, by Cartier, circa 1940. The stem set with baguette-cut diamonds, to four flowerheads, the petals set with oval-cut sapphires, with brilliant-cut diamond stamen and leaves, diamonds approx. 1.10cts total, signed Cartier, numbered, length 5.3cm

A late 19th century sapphire and diamond floral spray brooch
A late 19th century sapphire and diamond floral spray brooch




 

 

A late 19th century sapphire and diamond floral spray brooch The single flowerhead mounted en tremblant with a central brilliant-cut diamond within a border of oval mixed-cut sapphires and pavé-set old brilliant-cut diamond petals, the leaves and stem similarly set and highlighted by six oval mixed-cut sapphire buds, centre diamond is a later replacement, later pin fitting, length 7.5cm

A SAPPHIRE AND COLORED DIAMOND BROOCH, BY OSCAR HEYMAN & BROTHERS
A SAPPHIRE AND COLORED DIAMOND BROOCH, BY OSCAR HEYMAN & BROTHERS

 




 

Set with a pavé-set yellow diamond bombé pistil, extending three tiers of marquise-cut sapphire petals, to the gold and diamond stem, with circular-cut diamond leaves, mounted in platinum and 18k gold By Oscar Heyman & Brothers

SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND BROOCH, CARTIER
SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND BROOCH, CARTIER

SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND BROOCH, CARTIER Designed as a floral spray set with cabochon sapphires, brilliant-, single-cut and baguette diamonds, signed Cartier, fitted case.

Sapphire and diamond "Convolvolo" brooch, Michele Della Valle.
Sapphire and diamond “Convolvolo” brooch, Michele Della Valle.

Sapphire and diamond “Convolvolo” brooch, Michele Della Valle. Designed as a flowering branch of convolvulus, set with circular-cut sapphires and brilliant-cut diamonds, mounted in white gold and titanium, signed Michele della Valle and numbered, Italian assay and maker’s marks.

CARVED SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND "FLOWER" BROOCH
CARVED SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND “FLOWER” BROOCH

CARVED SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND “FLOWER” BROOCH Of floral motif design, set with carved sapphire flowers and leaves together weighing approximately 50.00 carats, decorated by brilliant-cut diamonds together weighing approximately 1.00 carat, mounted in 18 karat white gold.

A SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND FLOWER BROOCH, BY CARTIER
A SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND FLOWER BROOCH, BY CARTIER




 

 

 

 

A SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND FLOWER BROOCH, BY CARTIER The vari-cut diamond cluster centre set en tremblant, within the calibré-cut sapphire petals to the graduated baguette-cut diamond stem and brilliant-cut diamond leaf (two sapphires deficient), circa 1960, 7.0 cm. high, with French assay marks for platinum and gold, in red leather Cartier case Signed Cartier OCC, No. 1655

SAPPHIRE BROOCH, 'LA ROSE DE BOURBON', MICHELE DELLA VALLE Designed as a rose, set with circular-cut sapphires, mounted in white gold and titanium
SAPPHIRE BROOCH, ‘LA ROSE DE BOURBON’, MICHELE DELLA VALLE Designed as a rose, set with circular-cut sapphires, mounted in white gold and titanium