With the recent birth of His Royal Highness Prince George
Alexander Louis of Cambridge, it made us start thinking about the Crown Jewels.
It may be impossible to put a price on these jewels kept safe in the Tower of
London since 1303 A.D., but our friends “over the pond” do have one impressive
collection. So what can one find when visiting London and the famously guarded
Tower?
Queen Victoria’s Crown
Surprisingly simple, Queen Victoria (reign 1837-1901) wore
this crown quite often—almost every day. It may appear simple compared to the
Imperial Crown; however, it does contain over 1300 diamonds and was made in
1870.
The Imperial State Crown
This is the official crown and is 12.5-inches high and
weighs approximately two pounds. It contains over 3,000 precious stones and
includes the 317-carat Cullinan II diamond.
St. Edward’s Crown
Refurbished for Charles II’s coronation (reign 1630-1685),
it is believed the gold in this crown came from Edward the Confessor’s (reign
1042-1066) crown.
The Royal Orb
The Royal Orb is made from unmarked gold and includes over
600 precious stones and pearls. Only the sovereign is allowed hold the orb,
usually in the lap. The Royal Orb weighs in at almost three pounds. It was made
in 1661 for the coronation of Charles II.
The Sovereign’s Scepter
Also known in English tongue as the Sovereign’s Sceptre,
this crown jewel dates back to 1661 and signifies temporal power. The scepter
is 32.3 inches in length and it is graced with the 530-carat Cullinan I
diamond.
The Cullinan I Diamond
Contained within the Sovereign’s Scepter is the 530-carat
Cullinan Diamond and it’s something to see. It is the largest to-quality cut
diamond in the world.
The Koh-i-Noor Diamond
This is the largest stone in the crown and was worn by Queen
Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Koh-i-Noor means Mountain of Light. Below the
diamond is a picture of the Queen Mother’s Crown.
Who Guards the Crown Jewels?
According to the Official Website of the British Monarchy,
the Crown Jewels are held in trust by the Queen as Sovereign for her successors
and the Nation.
The collection is the responsibility of the Royal Collection
Department established in 1987. Beyond the pieces you see here, the Crown
Jewels Collection includes many items including paintings, drawings, furniture,
ceramics, clocks, silver sculpture, jewelry, books and manuscripts, prints and
maps, arms and armor, and textiles. The restoration project of these items
began in 1660 and continues today.
The Collection is also guarded outdoors by the Tower of
London’s Yeomen Warders aka Beefeaters. Quite the feat since the Collection has
approximately 15,000 visitors per day!
Some items one can see in the Tower of London include items
belonging to Henry VIII, Charles I, George III, George IV, Queen Victoria,
Price Albert, and Queen Mary. The entire collection contains over 3,000 pieces
and exhibits are rearranged seasonally.
Peter Suchy Jewelers is located on 1137 High Ridge Road in
Stamford Connecticut and although we don’t have any “crown jewels” we do carry
many estate and vintage pieces so we hope you’ll stop by our showroom.
Or, if you love shopping for jewelry online, head on over to
our eBay store. We invite you to like us on Facebook and check out our amazing
Pinterest Boards.
Cheerio!
No comments:
Post a Comment