History of Famous Jewels and Collections

History of Famous Jewels and Collections
[ History of Famous Jewels and Collections ]

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Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain and present jewels of the Spanish Royal House

Posted by Dave <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/info/user=Dave' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on March 24, 2021, 12:29 pm

Hi guys, I would have raised certain questions before regarding the impressive jewels of Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain especially where it came to her very extremely large emeralds.

Well, I happen to be just going through some photos of this particular Queen online and noticed first off that she wears some very similar collect necklaces which can pass for the ones worn by the former Queen Sophia and Eugenie of Spain. Just view up close below and note the similarities between the jewels in the pictures.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Isabel_de_Borb%C3%B3n_y_Borb%C3%B3n-Dos_Sicilias.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5f/39/d9/5f39d9e0db845ade5ffba23b1d4a937c.jpg

Is the picture below really of Queen Isabella 2nd wearing Mellerio Shell Tiara which has been worn by Queen Sophia.

https://render.fineartamerica.com/previewhighresolutionimage.php?artworkid=30765596&widthmedium=530&heightmedium=769&x=200&y=100&domainUrl=photos.com

In the below picture, does not the pearl jewelry of Queen Isabella 2nd not strike a match with the many pearl necklaces and brooches once worn by Queen Eugenie and then to some extent Queen Sophia?

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c4/70/29/c47029903b64086f272a6d0f5aa46fc7.jpg

https://p4.storage.canalblog.com/45/63/119589/107559498.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/99/50/37/9950376e48dc48170b11a196b851c23b.jpg

Last but not least, the picture below resembles the turquoise jewelry worn by Queen Sophia.

https://live.staticflickr.com/2908/14544170269_fc0d2da041_b.jpg

I cannot find the turquoise set I have seen worn by Queen Sophia which resembles the one I believe is worn by Queen Isabella now, but I am convinced that the broadside of the jewels now in the Spanish royal house have their beginnings with Queen Isabella. What do others think.

Regards,

Dave.

Re: Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain and present jewels of the Spanish Royal House

Posted by Kongetro <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/info/user=Kongetro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on March 24, 2021, 6:26 pm, in reply to "Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain and present jewels of the Spanish Royal House"

Thank you for raising such an interesting subject!

But first just a small correction: the lady wearing the Mellerio Shell tiara is in fact Infanta Isabel, the daughter of Queen Isabel II. The tiara was bought by Queen Isabel II as a wedding gift to her daughter Isabel in 1868. So it is not very likely that the Queen ever wore that particular tiara.

Also, the first photo when talking of the many pearl necklaces and brooches, is again in fact Infanta Isabel, not Queen Isabel II. Having said that, the Infanta did leave some jewels to her nephew King Alfonso XIII. And she might of course have received them from her mother at some pont. So the pearls might have been part of the jewels King Alfonso XIII received and as such it might be possible that they have still been retained by the Spanish Royal Family.

The collet necklaces now worn by the Spanish Queen started off as a "small" collet necklace offered by King Alfonso XIII to his bride (Victoria Eugenia). In this photo one can see how short it was (it is the one worn at the top, almost like a choker):

Over the years the necklace grew in lenght as King Alfonso added to the number of diamonds by offering the Queen two diamonds each time he wanted to give her a gift, for birthdays, anniversaries etc. At some point Queen Victoria Eugenia split what has then become a very long necklace into two separate necklaces.

Again, it is possible that the diamonds came from any inheritance that Alfonso might have received but I don't think that this has been possible to establish 100%. It is known that Queen Isabel II had to sell quite a few pieces during her time in exile.

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Kongetro

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Re: Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain and present jewels of the Spanish Royal House

Posted by Dave <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/info/user=Dave' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on March 25, 2021, 6:03 am, in reply to "Re: Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain and present jewels of the Spanish Royal House"

Noted with thanks Kongetro.

Regards,

Dave.

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Thank you for raising such an interesting subject! But first just a small correction: the lady wearing the Mellerio Shell tiara is in fact Infanta Isabel, the daughter of Queen Isabel II. The tiara was bought by Queen Isabel II as a wedding gift to her daughter Isabel in 1868. So it is not very likely that the Queen ever wore that particular tiara.

Also, the first photo when talking of the many pearl necklaces and brooches, is again in fact Infanta Isabel, not Queen Isabel II. Having said that, the Infanta did leave some jewels to her nephew King Alfonso XIII. And she might of course have received them from her mother at some pont. So the pearls might have been part of the jewels King Alfonso XIII received and as such it might be possible that they have still been retained by the Spanish Royal Family.

The collet necklaces now worn by the Spanish Queen started off as a "small" collet necklace offered by King Alfonso XIII to his bride (Victoria Eugenia). In this photo one can see how short it was (it is the one worn at the top, almost like a choker):

Over the years the necklace grew in lenght as King Alfonso added to the number of diamonds by offering the Queen two diamonds each time he wanted to give her a gift, for birthdays, anniversaries etc. At some point Queen Victoria Eugenia split what has then become a very long necklace into two separate necklaces. Again, it is possible that the diamonds came from any inheritance that Alfonso might have received but I don't think that this has been possible to establish 100%. It is known that Queen Isabel II had to sell quite a few pieces during her time in exile.

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Re: Queen Sofia turquoises

Posted by Kongetro <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/info/user=Kongetro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on March 24, 2021, 10:04 pm, in reply to "Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain and present jewels of the Spanish Royal House"

The set with smaller stones is rather pretty I find (this coming from one that is not a great fan of turquoises) and it was worn at the State Banquet hosted by the Spanish Royal Couple in honour of the King and Queen of Jordan in 1985. Whether or not the set has a Jordanian connection I do not know. It is believeb that the King of Jordan gifted a turquoise demi-parure to Queen Elizabeth II for instance.

This is a particularly lovely photo of Queen Sofia wearing the set:

The earrings from this set has also been worn by the present Queen of Spain:

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Kongetro

To visit my website Regal Events use this link:
https://regalevents913271078.wordpress.com/

Re: Queen Sofia turquoises

Posted by RDavid <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/info/user=Rdavid' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on March 24, 2021, 10:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Sofia turquoises"

Indeed the smaller set was a gift from the Jordanian Monarchs. The larger one remains a mistery for me...

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I hope you don't mind me separating the issue of the turquoise jewels as mentioned in your original post.

Queen Sofia has been seen wearing (at least) two different turquoise sets; one is set with larger stones:

The set with smaller stones is rather pretty I find (this coming from one that is not a great fan of turquoises) and it was worn at the State Banquet hosted by the Spanish Royal Couple in honour of the King and Queen of Jordan in 1985. Whether or not the set has a Jordanian connection I do not know. It is believeb that the King of Jordan gifted a turquoise demi-parure to Queen Elizabeth II for instance.

This is a particularly lovely photo of Queen Sofia wearing the set:

The earrings from this set has also been worn by the present Queen of Spain:

Previous Message

Re: Queen Sofia turquoises

I am sure I saw another photo with Queen Sophia in another grand turquoise necklace but I do get the niggling feeling the necklace QS is wearing could have been reworked or it could be definitely the other one I saw her wearing but I cant find the photo now, but the resemblance is close. The collection of QI2nd seem to have been quite extraordinary and I wonder what remains in the SRF vault as Im sure as like the BRF, the SPR's would have stuff in their vault they would not wear and remains a secret for many years.

Regards,

Dave.

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Re: Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain and present jewels of the Spanish Royal House

Hi!
There is one rivière that could come from the collection of Queen Isabel II, although it is not seen in years/decades. I am not sure it is with the main line but it is highly likely.
That rivière is the one King Alfonso XIII gave to the Countess of Barcelona as a wedding gift in 1935. That necklace was reportedly part of the inheritance he received from his aunt, Infanta Isabel, who in turn had inherited a rivière from her mother (this is not confirmed... just a thought I have).

Regarding Queen Ena’s diamonds, Kongetro is right. The King bought 2 or 4 diamonds per year and offered it to Ena on her birthday and Christmas (or in only one of those...depending on the year). However those diamonds were always bought from Ansorena so I doubt there was any family connection.

In the pearl field you have a point! The necklace (and the accompanying large pearl drop) that is part of the Joyas de Pasar (37 large pearls and a diamond fermoir) was part of the collection of Queen Isabel II. In fact it was one of her favourite pieces... one that she tried to retain until the end of her life. It was given to her as a wedding gift from her husband, who had inherited it from his own mother. This piece appears on the auction catalogue of the Queen’s jewels but it was bought by someone with the purpose of returning it to the Queen (this we know thanks to the amazing work of a Spanish historian who delved in the royal archives). Although some people still want to believe in the “Perlas Rusas” theory we can now admit that this version is not correct at all.

Unfortunately, the massive collection of Queen Isabel was sold and spread all around... I wonder how the Spanish Royal Collection would be if all those amazing pieces were still there...

The late Infanta Pilar had in her collection some pieces that come from the possessions of Queen Isabel II: a pair of large button pearl earrings and a rectangular emerald brooch. The Infanta inherited this pieces from her mother, who received them as a wedding gift (earrings) and as a souvenir from the birth of King Juan Carlos (emerald brooch with earrings and ring) from King Alfonso XIII. The King in turn inherited them from his mother, Queen Maria Cristina, who had bought them from the testament of her late mother-in-law, Isabel II.

Regarding the turquoises....I doubt... It was all auctioned off in Paris or sold in exile. On the inventory made on her death there are no such pieces.

I hope this helps!

Best regards.

https://www.instagram.com/spanishroyaljewels/

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Re: Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain and present jewels of the Spanish Royal House

Posted by Dave <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/info/user=Dave' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on March 25, 2021, 5:59 am, in reply to "Re: Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain and present jewels of the Spanish Royal House"

Hi and thanks for your responses RDavid. I take your points.

Regards,

Dave.

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Facts, archives and Russian pearls

Posted by Vincent <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/info/user=Vincent' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on March 25, 2021, 4:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Isabella 2nd of Spain and present jewels of the Spanish Royal House"

Sorry, but I don’t agree on the topic of pearls. The documents found in the royal palace archives and published by Fernando Rayon in his book Las joyas de las Reinas de Espana, are related to : “a necklace of 41 pearls weighing 2105 grains” bought for 215 000 francs from Jean Vaillant who apparently was à french jeweller established in Saint Petersburg. The date of the invoice is 25th of October 1877. The auction of queen Isabelle’s jewels was one year later in Paris and the pearl necklace sold is described in the catalogue as : “a necklace of 37 pearls weighing 1570 grains” it was much smaller than the Russian one and sold AFTER il the Russian one was bought. I know there is a rumour insisting on the fact that some of queen Isabel’s jewels were “saved” at one point for the royal family. And there would have been a “private” auction of some of her jewels organised for her family after her death in Paris, but so far I have never seen any documents proving this.