Kate Middleton‘s Alexander McQueen wedding dress may be the talk of the town but the thing we were dying to see at her wedding in London this morning were the Crown Jewels, some of the most important and beautiful creations that make up the Royal Family and Britain’s jewelry collection.
The collection, stored in the Tower of London since 1303, is valued in the hundreds of millions and are sometimes used ceremoniously at coronations and state functions. Only two pieces survived the destruction wrought by Oliver Cromwell after he defeated and executed Charles the 11 ― a scepter and a spoon survived.
On a day as important as today, we were hoping for some serious bling. After the break, check out some stunning craftsmanship and design!
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One of the most famous diamonds in the world, weighing around 186 carats, the Kohinoor, is an oval cut white diamond. The diamond passed through the hands of various Indian and Persian rulers before finally becoming part of the Crown Jewels of England at the time that Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India. The Kohinoor was re-cut at the time and now weighs 108.93 carats. It is kept in the Tower of London.
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On January 25th 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond was discovered during a routine inspection by the mine’s superintendent.
Weighing 1 1/3 pounds, and christened the ‘Cullinan’, it was the largest diamond ever found. Until 1985.
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Dating from 1661, the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross signifies temporal power. The sceptre is 92.2cm long. Precious stones include the 530 carat Cullinan I diamond.
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The ampulla, dated 1661, is a golden eagle flask which holds the holy oil used in the anointing of the Sovereign during a coronation.
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St. Edward’s Crown was refurbished for Charles II’s coronation from an old crown. The gold may have come from Edward the Confessor’s crown.
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Made from unmarked gold and set with over 600 precious stones and pearls, the Sovereign’s Orb weighs 1.32kg. It was made for Charles II’s coronation in 1661.
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The Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. She wore it with the arches removed at her daughter’s coronation in 1953.
