It was a not-unusual custom for there to be "life gifts" of jewels that were for the ornamentation of the monarchy by the more prominent members, but whose jewels returned to the treasury after the giftee's death. This was also the case with the late Princess of Wales, whose Lover's Knot Tiara, emerald choker, and so forth were returned to the Queen after Diana's death. The war pulled many of the jewels back to the treasury as it was anticipated that the expense of the war might require some backing.

This occurred during the Russo-Japanese war when Nicholas II sold of some of the unset jewels in the treasury to offset the costs of the war.