I am truly grateful and extremely happy to be able to work from a proper and new computer. It is awful to have your files in contingency places and not being able to organize as you see fit because you know its only temporary. So we are off to a bit of a slow start today as things are still settling into what will become a new routine.
We have discussed sapphires for three weeks and we also had a series focusing on rubies a bit before that. It is tradtionally accepted that there are 5 "major"gemstones in the making of jewellery. They are prized for their beauty and rarity and are also considered the most expensive common stones available. These are the ruby, sapphire, emerald, diamond and pearl. We will embark today on a three week series on some of the emerald jewellery in the Royal collections. Perhaps it would be interesting to begin with a "new" aquisition in the Von Bismarck Collection.
We discussed the entire Von Bismarck Collection and the Crown Jewels of Syldavia in the weeks preceding the Syldavian restoration. Yet at the Annual Knights Meeting two weeks ago, Queen Maxima wore a tiara and earings that has never been documented in the context of her family or the Von Bismarcks or the Syldavian historical jewels.
We can see the new emeralds worn here at the Knights Meeting.
The set is not modern and we speculate its age by virtue of its design to be at least late 19th Century. The rather large pear cut emeralds are set in a tiara and earrings that match in an Imperial Ruskian style. The office of King Nikolas III has confirmed that the set was given to Queen Maxima by her family as a personal gift celebrating the Syldavian Restoration. The King's office added that the set seen at the Knights Meeting was completed by an additional purchase by the King, of a necklace. Thus for future reference we have decided to name this the Hanoverian Gift Parure.
Queen Maxima wears the full set for the State Visit of Lady Arcwhite last week.
It is clear from the design of the necklace that it is not part of the original set. The styles are at least of a similar era and as such do match when worn together. The origin of the set remains unknown. Considering Queen Maxima's Family connections through her grandmother's Ruskian origins one could speculate that the tiara's Ruskian style might belie it coming from a distant cousin through purchase or inheritance. The gift however remains poingnant in that the green emeralds compliment the national colours of Syldavia. The story of this tiara and its sudden appearance on the public stage shows that one never knows what lay hidden in the Royal vaults. For generations one can attempt to catalogue a collection, thinking you know its entirety and then a sudden surprise makes you wonder in amazement. We look forward to seeing these emeralds shine at many more events to come, so look out for it and other jewellery discussed in previous posts.
Hello from Spain: I'm glad you already have the right equipment to work. you're right that sapphires are very rare and expensive stones. Keep in touch
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