Crown Jewels of the Netherlands
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Crown Jewels of the Netherlands is the jewellery used by the
The Houses of Orange and Nassau have a collection of jewels, including diamonds and pearls. The famous Small
Amongst these "crown jewels" are large and old fashioned tiaras, devants the corsage and necklaces set with large emeralds, sapphires, diamonds and rubies. They are sometimes worn during state-banquettes.[3]
The most impressive solitaire in the collection is a light blue drop shape rose-cut Indian diamond that once belonged to Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange. It is as "large as the egg of a dove and as clear as water". It has now been worn again by queen Maxima after spending decades in the royal vaults. The diamond has no official name but it has been referred to as the "Stuart" or "Holland" diamond in the past.[4] It was set in a tiara in 1897 by Jeweller Eduard Schürmann & Co. in Frankfurt. The diamond weights about 40 crt, the entire tiara weights 2400 gr.
The sets of diamonds, rubies and sapphires given to Queen Wilhelmina and Queen Juliana were not legally part of these collection. The set of jewels containing 800 diamonds and the famous "Garuda" bracelet from the Dutch East Indies that were given to the then Princess Juliana were broken up after their deaths. The stones are now part of several earrings, brooches and other jewels.[5]
During World War II the Dutch Crown Jewels were flown for safekeeping from The Hague to the UK and were kept in the vaults of Wolverhampton Town Hall. The Princess Irene Brigade who were members of the Dutch Army were stationed at Wrottesley Park, Wolverhampton during the war.
References
Bibliography
- René Brus; De juwelen van het Huis Oranje-Nassau, Haarlem 1996.