FX.co ★ Top 5 unique jewelry pieces of all time

Crown of Russian Empire

The Crown of the Russian Empire is the main dynastic regalia and an attribute of the power of Russian monarchs. This is a unique piece of jewelry. It appeared for the first time at the solemn coronation of Catherine II. From then until the fall of the monarchy, the imperial crown witnessed the most auspicious state ceremonies. The fabulous crown is decorated with a rare gemstone – a bright red spinel of 398.72 carats. The frame of the crown is made of silver and the two hemispheres are studded with precious stones. In 1865, it was estimated at 823,000 rubles. However, it is practically impossible to determine its price today. Currently, the crown is on display in the Diamond Fund in the Moscow Kremlin.

St Edward's Crown

The symbol of the modern British monarchy was made in 1937. The exclusive jewelry was designed for Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the wife of King George VI. It was created on the occasion of the coronation. After the death of her husband, the queen mother handed over the crown to her daughter, Elizabeth II, who ascended the throne. Currently, the crown of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is in London, in the Jewel House.

Marie-Louise Diadem

This diadem with emeralds and diamonds set in both silver and gold was commissioned by Napoleon for his second wife, Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria. Initially, it was adorned with emeralds but in the 50s of the 19th century, they were extracted for the manufacture of other jewelry. Later, the diadem was decorated with 79 turquoise stones brought from Persia. Currently, it is stored in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington.

Cartier Halo Tiara

On her wedding day, Kate Middleton wore Cartier's Halo Scroll Tiara. It was lent to her by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The diadem was made in 1936 when George VI commissioned Cartier to design the tiara for his wife Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Later, the Queen Mother gifted it to Elizabeth II but she never wore the Cartier Halo tiara publicly. However, Elizabeth II's younger sister, Princess Margaret, loved this tiara. The next borrower of the tiara was the queen’s daughter, Princess Anne. Yet, it was Kate Middleton who made it shine brigthly. She arrived at Westminster Abbey for her royal wedding in 2011 wearing this tiara. The tiara is made from platinum, featuring 888 brilliant-cut diamonds, along with 149 baguette-cut diamonds.

Princess Diana's Engagement Ring

This amazing piece of jewelry belonging to Princess Diana features a 12-karat oval Ceylon sapphire set in 18-karat white gold and is surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds. Charles chose this ring from jeweler Garrard's catalog. The rumor goes that Princess Diana picked the sapphire ring because it matched her blue eyes. Nowadays, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, owns this ring. Earlier, there were disagreements about this ring in the royal family because it is not a bespoke piece. It was bought in a store and this did not sit well with the royal family.