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Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor Posted by Beth on July 11, 2019, 8:31 pm We know that Queen Victoria's Regal circlet was designed to take 4 Honeysuckle elements and the Koh-i-noor in place of the crosses and fleur de lys when so desired. It has been argued that the Honeysuckle elements in the tiara which the Countess of Wessex wore for her wedding are the Honeysuckle elements from the Regal circlet. As these elements seem to fit the shapes in the case designed to hold the circlet, I accept that is likely. What has intrigued me is how the Koh-i-noor would have been mounted. The specification says and later which suggests to me that only the large diamond with its surround of small rose diamonds was used when worn in the tiara and that the brooch setting was not used. In my opinion the only possible element on which to mount the Koh-i-noor would be the bottom section in the centre of the Countess' tiara. I don't think that the Koh-i-noor would have looked aesthetically pleasing above that element. Or have I misunderstood what was written in the Garrard ledger? Has any one got any opinions on this?

Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor Posted by MarcA on July 12, 2019, 6:47 am, in reply to "Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor" I’m still not 100% sure what the script says. Do you have a picture of the Koh-i-noor in the brooch setting? I can then get a little more visual on this. Previous Message We know that Queen Victoria's Regal circlet was designed to take 4 Honeysuckle elements and the Koh-i-noor in place of the crosses and fleur de lys when so desired. It has been argued that the Honeysuckle elements in the tiara which the Countess of Wessex wore for her wedding are the Honeysuckle elements from the Regal circlet. As these elements seem to fit the shapes in the case designed to hold the circlet, I accept that is likely. What has intrigued me is how the Koh-i-noor would have been mounted. The specification says and later which suggests to me that only the large diamond with its surround of small rose diamonds was used when worn in the tiara and that the brooch setting was not used. In my opinion the only possible element on which to mount the Koh-i-noor would be the bottom section in the centre of the Countess' tiara. I don't think that the Koh-i-noor would have looked aesthetically pleasing above that element. Or have I misunderstood what was written in the Garrard ledger? Has any one got any opinions on this?

Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor Posted by Beth on July 12, 2019, 7:49 am, in reply to "Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor" The first cutting from the Garrard ledger reads--- "Four Greek Honeysuckle Ornaments with sockets to fit with springs to the Circlet in lieu of the Crosses and fleur de lis, the front Ornament having screws & fittings to support the great Koh-i-noor Diamond..." The second cutting reads --- "Setting the Koh i noor in open frame work thickly set with small roses and arranging to Tiara, and large Brooch." Some views of the Koh-i-noor with and without the brooch setting. [Apologies. Photobucket has decided it isn't time to work and has taken a nap -- AGAIN!!. I'll post some images when the organisation condescends to provide some service]

Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor. Images Posted by Beth on July 12, 2019, 9:05 am, in reply to "Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor" As a brooch In this image it appears that Queen Mary is wearing the diamond without its Honeysuckle brooch fitting. There are better photos of the diamond when it was set in various crowns.

Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor. Images Posted by Dave on July 12, 2019, 2:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor. Images" Very debatable topic guys. These pictures are nice Beth, it shows QM was the real diamond Queen in the way she carried those stomachers, I wonder why none of the senior women in the British royal family cannot at least repeat her feats. The only one I see making that kind of effort is Queen Max of the Netherlands but she still has a ways to go in comparing the two. HM QE2 could be jewel shy. Regards, Dave. Previous Message As a brooch In this image it appears that Queen Mary is wearing the diamond without its Honeysuckle brooch fitting. There are better photos of the diamond when it was set in various crowns.

Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor. Images Posted by Beth on July 12, 2019, 7:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor. Images" The changes in fashion really preclude such immense displays of jewels.

Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor Posted by MarcA on July 13, 2019, 1:38 pm, in reply to "Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor" My only two points I think I can now add are the weight of the brooch on the anthemon must have been considerable or if it was removed from the brooch setting however still a weighty piece. Secondly it must have been quite an ugly coronet. Lastly I'm surprised if it ever had been configured as such some major record as in a picture or portrait would have featured it. Perhaps in the end it never appealed to have been worn in that configuration. Previous Message We know that Queen Victoria's Regal circlet was designed to take 4 Honeysuckle elements and the Koh-i-noor in place of the crosses and fleur de lys when so desired. It has been argued that the Honeysuckle elements in the tiara which the Countess of Wessex wore for her wedding are the Honeysuckle elements from the Regal circlet. As these elements seem to fit the shapes in the case designed to hold the circlet, I accept that is likely. What has intrigued me is how the Koh-i-noor would have been mounted. The specification says and later which suggests to me that only the large diamond with its surround of small rose diamonds was used when worn in the tiara and that the brooch setting was not used. In my opinion the only possible element on which to mount the Koh-i-noor would be the bottom section in the centre of the Countess' tiara. I don't think that the Koh-i-noor would have looked aesthetically pleasing above that element. Or have I misunderstood what was written in the Garrard ledger? Has any one got any opinions on this?

Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor Posted by Beth on July 15, 2019, 6:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Victoria's Regal circlet and the Koh-i-noor" We know that Queen Victoria wore the Koh-i-noor in a tiara at least once as she recorded in her journal that, during her State Visit to France, she wore "...my big diamond diadem with the Koh-i-noor in it" for the visit to the Hotel de Ville on 23 August 1855. As a memento of the visit, Napoleon III sent her a number of watercolours depicting various aspects of the visit. These can be seen in an online exhibition at the Royal Collection site. https://www.rct.uk/collection/themes/exhibitions/queen-victoria-in-paris/bowes-museum-barnard-castle/explore-the-exhibition Unfortunately, none of the paintings depicting Queen Victoria have sufficient detail to gauge what diadem she was wearing, although paintings which show her back indicate that she was wearing a circlet. The Koh-i-noor itself weighs very little, only 21.6 grams which, for those who use ounces, is just over three quarters of an ounce. https://www.costerdiamonds.com/inside-coster/how-we-cut-the-koh-i-noor-for-the-queen-of-england/

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