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Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? Posted by Dave on December 20, 2021, 6:34 am I believe after having asked the question a while ago as to what were the large colored stones Queen Alexandra wore on her skirt, I've noticed that a poster'Alyend'on Royal jewels of the world message board has confirmed that the large colored oval stones are indeed the Kent amethysts stones from the necklace and other pieces of the set. Regards, Dave.

Congratulations to British Royal Jewels Posted by Beth on December 20, 2021, 1:04 pm, in reply to "Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " Congratulations to British Royal Jewels on a momentous find: Queen Alexandra wearing the Kent amethyst necklace and brooch on her gown in 1902! Many thanks for alerting the board Dave! The photographic session that British Royal Jewels referred to included the photo below. Alice Hughes, the photographer, registered her copyright on 27 January 1902. I believe that the photos were taken on 16 January 1902, the day of the Opening of Parliament. The press described Alexandra as wearing a sparkling black dress. Strangely, there was no mention of the jewels adorning her skirt. For whatever reason (in the photo above) the photographer has blacked out the section where the jewels would have shown. Perhaps it was a desire to make the Queen look slimmer. The area where the Koh-i-noor is has also been heavily re-touched. I find that perplexing. Also why Queen Alexandra was wearing the Koh-i-noor on an angle (in the image found by British Royal Jewels) is intriguing me.

Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? Posted by Beth on December 20, 2021, 1:13 pm, in reply to "Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " Dave are you referring to this discussion? https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/thread/1618189880.html Which involves what jewels Queen Alexandra, as Princess of Wales, wore to the Waverley Ball in July 1871. If so, then I am still of the same opinion I had earlier https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/msg/1618219537.html I cannot see any similarities between the 1871 jewels and those worn in 1902. In the photo below I have superimposed the relevant section of 1902 photo on to the 1871 so that others can judge more easily whether they think the jewels are the same. (They might be. I have a notoriously bad eye for things, and am often found to be wrong)

Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? Posted by Dave on December 20, 2021, 1:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " Ahh yes Beth, this is what I'm referring too. If they are not the Kent amethysts, then what could they be? The other poster on the RJoTWMB seems to think they are, and I would have also made this assertion some time ago if one goes by the heading of this particular post I had also made. Regards, Dave. Previous Message Dave are you referring to this discussion? https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/thread/1618189880.html Which involves what jewels Queen Alexandra, as Princess of Wales, wore to the Waverley Ball in July 1871. If so, then I am still of the same opinion I had earlier https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/msg/1618219537.html I cannot see any similarities between the 1871 jewels and those worn in 1902. In the photo below I have superimposed the relevant section of 1902 photo on to the 1871 so that others can judge more easily whether they think the jewels are the same. (They might be. I have a notoriously bad eye for things, and am often found to be wrong)

Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? Posted by Beth on December 20, 2021, 6:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " I have absolutely no idea which jewels Queen Alexandra was wearing on her skirt at the Waverly Ball in 1871. Perhaps I am wrong and she was wearing elements from the Kent necklace -- but I don't think so. She definitely wasn't wearing any part of the so called "crown rubies". That necklace didn't exist at the time. At the time Queen Victoria was still using it as her opal necklace. Nor is Queen Alexandra wearing any of the sapphires later given to Princess Mary, Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood. All of her sapphires can be identified and traced to other sources. Hopefully, Knightship will enter the discussion here. Both you and he may be correct!

Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales 1871 Posted by Knightship on December 20, 2021, 11:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " I noticed that some of Alexandra’s amethysts look bright in the black and white photo published by @britishroyaljewels. My question on RJWMB was if the "bright stones" Alexandra wore on her skirt to the Waverly ball also could be amethysts? (I have previously been confused about the stones in a diamond sautoir worn by Queen Maud. I thought a black and white photo showed aquamarine, but I later found a colour photo of Queen Sonja wearing the same sautoir confirming it was amethyst. These amethysts are smaller and not related to what Alexandra wore in 1871). Queen Sonja has worn a large amethyst surrounded by diamonds as a pendant and a brooch (I think it is the same) since the 1970s, but I don’t know the provenance. It is not part of the Norwegian amethyst parure. Previous Message I have absolutely no idea which jewels Queen Alexandra was wearing on her skirt at the Waverly Ball in 1871. Perhaps I am wrong and she was wearing elements from the Kent necklace -- but I don't think so. She definitely wasn't wearing any part of the so called "crown rubies". That necklace didn't exist at the time. At the time Queen Victoria was still using it as her opal necklace. Nor is Queen Alexandra wearing any of the sapphires later given to Princess Mary, Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood. All of her sapphires can be identified and traced to other sources. Hopefully, Knightship will enter the discussion here. Both you and he may be correct!

Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? Posted by Bryce on December 21, 2021, 7:08 am, in reply to "Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " Firstly - Well spotted Alyend As I see it, the "1902" row looks to be (from the top) Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Brooch (with swag) 2 of Queen Victoria's Diamond Bow Brooches 1 Kent Amethyst Brooches Then a bit of a gap Then the Kent Amethyst Necklace (7 elements) and finally, the third of QV's Bow Brooches at the bottom (cut-off on Beth's overlay) The Waverley Ball ornamentation is completely different and unfamiliar to me.

Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? Posted by J-F on December 21, 2021, 11:54 am, in reply to "Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " What a FA-BU-LOUS find Dave !!!! Its making my year !!! Oh My God... A photographic evidence of 2 rarely seen Queen Victoria's jewels worn by Queen Alexandra !! Before Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Kent amethyst parure, no photographic evidence of it being worn. Same think for the swag pearl and diamond brooch, no photographic evidence before Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother wore it !!! I think we can hope that more photos like that still exist. I would like to see: -Photo of Queen Victoria's opal parure (now the Crown ruby parure being worn by Queen Alexandra or Queen Mary... -Photo of Queen Victoria's sapphire parure worn between the death of the Queen and the wedding of Mary, The Princess Royal. -Photo of Queen Victoria's mother, in gala dress with jewels For the jeweled belt worn at The Waverley Ball by Queen Alexandra, I think its simply paste. Thanks again ! J-F

Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? Posted by Dave on December 21, 2021, 12:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " Hi J-F, if you check on RJoTWMB, (Royal Jewels of the World Message board) you will see the link posted by Aleynd where the link shows a picture of QV wearing the Amethyst necklace and its other peices at the Wedding of either one of her daughters or granddaughters. Some time ago I had brooched this topic on this board with the same heading but no one apart from Knightship hinted that they were the Amethyst set. I had placed the options of the stones being sapphires, the Crown Rubies or Amethyst as I could not have been sure myself, but now that you have mentioned the discarded opals I wonder if same could have been the ones on the skirt of Queen Alexandra. I am leaning to the stones being the Amethyst though especially if one looks at the first colored stone after the bow brooch you can depict that it is shaped as the Amethyst brooch. I'll post a picture of the brooch when I get around to it. Regards, Dave. Previous Message What a FA-BU-LOUS find Dave !!!! Its making my year !!! Oh My God... A photographic evidence of 2 rarely seen Queen Victoria's jewels worn by Queen Alexandra !! Before Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Kent amethyst parure, no photographic evidence of it being worn. Same think for the swag pearl and diamond brooch, no photographic evidence before Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother wore it !!! I think we can hope that more photos like that still exist. I would like to see: -Photo of Queen Victoria's opal parure (now the Crown ruby parure being worn by Queen Alexandra or Queen Mary... -Photo of Queen Victoria's sapphire parure worn between the death of the Queen and the wedding of Mary, The Princess Royal. -Photo of Queen Victoria's mother, in gala dress with jewels For the jeweled belt worn at The Waverley Ball by Queen Alexandra, I think its simply paste. Thanks again ! J-F

Amethyst square shaped brooch Posted by Dave on December 21, 2021, 12:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " So in Beth's last picture the brooch after the first two bow brooches I believe is the same one worn in the link below by QEII. It has three attachments pendants to it. Actually they are two like shaped jewels in the said necklace so it is possible that the peice worn as a brooch could have formed an element of the said necklace making it longer and grander still. So yes the shapes are consistent with what is shown on Queen Alexandra’s skirt. What is then still a mystery are the stones making up the belt around Queen Alexandra’s waist and the elements they are entailed in. Was it the elements of a tiara made to invert on the skirt? https://images.app.goo.gl/xen8DUhTW5tS2GCr5 Regards, Dave. Previous Message Dave are you referring to this discussion? https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/thread/1618189880.html Which involves what jewels Queen Alexandra, as Princess of Wales, wore to the Waverley Ball in July 1871. If so, then I am still of the same opinion I had earlier https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/msg/1618219537.html I cannot see any similarities between the 1871 jewels and those worn in 1902. In the photo below I have superimposed the relevant section of 1902 photo on to the 1871 so that others can judge more easily whether they think the jewels are the same. (They might be. I have a notoriously bad eye for things, and am often found to be wrong)

Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? Posted by Dave on December 21, 2021, 12:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " In 1871 QV was still on the throne, she was reported to have made the amethyst set property of the Crown to be passed from Queen to Queen, so the question is, was the Princess Of Wales loaned the set in 1871 and then inherited it in 1901 after the death of QV? Regards, Dave. Previous Message Dave are you referring to this discussion? https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/thread/1618189880.html Which involves what jewels Queen Alexandra, as Princess of Wales, wore to the Waverley Ball in July 1871. If so, then I am still of the same opinion I had earlier https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/msg/1618219537.html I cannot see any similarities between the 1871 jewels and those worn in 1902. In the photo below I have superimposed the relevant section of 1902 photo on to the 1871 so that others can judge more easily whether they think the jewels are the same. (They might be. I have a notoriously bad eye for things, and am often found to be wrong)

Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? Posted by Beth on December 21, 2021, 8:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " The amethysts seen in the image below are worn by the Duchess of Kent, mother of Queen Victoria -- not by Queen Victoria. The image above is from a large painting recording the wedding of Princess Victoria, Princess Royal and later Empress of Germany. The Princess was the daughter of Queen Victoria. I have never seen an image of Queen Victoria wearing the amethyst parure, although Queen Victoria is reported to have worn it frequently after the death of her mother. When Queen Victoria died she left the amethysts to the Crown to be worn by future Queens, which means in reality that the amethysts and the other jewels left to the Crown are held in a trust. So, Queen Alexandra would not have inherited them or any of the other jewels left to the Crown -- she just had the right to wear them. It is possible that Queen Alexandra was wearing opals on her skirt in 1871, but I very much doubt if any of them would have belonged to Queen Victoria. Queen Alexandra had opal jewels of her own if she had wished to wear them.

Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? Posted by Dave on December 21, 2021, 10:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Alexandra as Princess of Wales/ Kent Amethyst /Sapphires or Crown Rubies??? " Thanks for your corrections Beth. Regards, Dave. Previous Message The amethysts seen in the image below are worn by the Duchess of Kent, mother of Queen Victoria -- not by Queen Victoria. The image above is from a large painting recording the wedding of Princess Victoria, Princess Royal and later Empress of Germany. The Princess was the daughter of Queen Victoria. I have never seen an image of Queen Victoria wearing the amethyst parure, although Queen Victoria is reported to have worn it frequently after the death of her mother. When Queen Victoria died she left the amethysts to the Crown to be worn by future Queens, which means in reality that the amethysts and the other jewels left to the Crown are held in a trust. So, Queen Alexandra would not have inherited them or any of the other jewels left to the Crown -- she just had the right to wear them. It is possible that Queen Alexandra was wearing opals on her skirt in 1871, but I very much doubt if any of them would have belonged to Queen Victoria. Queen Alexandra had opal jewels of her own if she had wished to wear them.

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