Identifying the various pearls is fraught with difficulties because, as far as I know, the media published images of only 2 of them at the time of the wedding in 1893: the pearls given to Queen Mary by George V and the Glasgow pearls. Secondly, it is highly likely that the pearls were restrung into different configurations from time to time depending on the whims of fashion.


Sketch from a contemporary paper showing the George V pearls



HM is said to have worn these to the Devonshire House Ball in 1897.


An image of the Glasgow pearls was also published.



The necklace had 51 graduated pearls in a single strand with a diamond cluster clasp and cost 950 pounds.

The only set of images I am aware of where the clasp of Queen Mary's necklace is visible is the following. But I find it impossible to gauge whether she might be wearing the Glasgow pearls, the Kent pearls (of 47 large pearls with a diamond clasp) or any other strand.




I cannot find any information about the number of pearls in the Combined Counties pearls or their size. All that was said was that the necklace had 3 strands and cost 5, 500 pounds.

Yet, contemporary journalists who visited the display of gifts at the Imperial Institute were impressed by the beauty of the pearls --so I would assume that they had a very high lustre and very few imperfections.



Re money collected and cost