Warren
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Amethyst v Sapphire
The caption states "A new necklace using the sapphire watch and ring clusters" which were part of the very impressive and very valuable wedding gift from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Some photographs of the sapphires from this parure show them to be quite blue, as one would expect, but the published photos of this necklace, including the one in "The Royal Jewels" give both the clusters and her earrings (from the same suite) a brownish tinge. Maybe this is why some think they are amethysts, including Debretts.
I have gone through the whole chapter on Diana's jewels and there is nothing about amethyst jewellery apart from a cross she borrowed from Garrards in 1987 for a gala dinner.
Hope this helps!
W
.
To add to the confusion I have just checked "The Royal Jewels" by Suzy Menkes, third edition 1988. On page 166 there is a photo of Diana wearing much the same dress, but with black gloves and no tiara, but the same necklace and same (I think) earrings.tiaraprin said:We need an expert on these matters, perhaps a moderator might know the answer!!Thank you for confirming it is Amethysts, which is what I thought all along!
The caption states "A new necklace using the sapphire watch and ring clusters" which were part of the very impressive and very valuable wedding gift from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Some photographs of the sapphires from this parure show them to be quite blue, as one would expect, but the published photos of this necklace, including the one in "The Royal Jewels" give both the clusters and her earrings (from the same suite) a brownish tinge. Maybe this is why some think they are amethysts, including Debretts.
I have gone through the whole chapter on Diana's jewels and there is nothing about amethyst jewellery apart from a cross she borrowed from Garrards in 1987 for a gala dinner.
Suzy Menkes, who is considered an expert in this area, and branchg (see above) are agreed they are sapphires. However, like much about the Windsor jewels, some things cannot be absolutely certain because Buckingham Palace does not comment on such matters, or as Menkes states in the introduction to her book "a subject that is totally taboo."branchg said:The parure utilized sapphires reset from a bracelet from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia with black Tahitian pearls.
Hope this helps!
W
.
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