History of Famous Jewels and Collections: Re: Canadian Jubilee Snowflake brooch

Canadian Sapphires

The words “Canadian” and “sapphires” might sound incongruous — that’s because Canadian sapphires are exceedingly rare.

In fact, the sapphires used for The Queen’s 65th Jubilee Brooch are sourced from Canada’s only known deposit, which was discovered by brothers Seemeega and Nowdluk Aqpik in 2002 near the hamlet of Kimmirut on Baffin Island.

When Hillberg & Berk sought design inspiration for The Queen’s brooch, they found it at the source — the Canadian Arctic and the one-of-a-kind nature of a snowflake. The brooch is both very regal and authentically Canadian at the same time.

Here are some of the elements that make this piece truly sparkle:
• 48 Canadian sapphires of varying colour and shape, totalling 10.19carats;
• More than 400 diamonds of varying size, including Maple Leaf certified diamonds, totalling 4.39 carats;
• Certified 18K Canadian white gold;
• The brooch is 61mm tall and 66mm wide;
• The centre of the brooch is domed and set with diamonds to reflect Hillberg & Berk’s
iconic Sparkle Ball design;
• Sapphires surround the dome and fade from dark to light.

HILLBERG & BERK