A Stone Prized By Royalties: The Most Famous Crown Amethyst Jewelry
Considered a stone with many virtues, amethyst has been a favorite of royalties throughout the ages. Discover the most famous crown amethyst jewelry in the world.
Amethyst jewelry was treasured by famous figures such as Cleopatra, Catherine the Great, and Empress Josephine of France. In our times, amethyst adorns some of the most exquisite jewels of Britain’s crown.
This gem is not only beautiful but is also used to combat stress, chase away anxiety and calm down, as people think it has healing properties, especially when it comes to "emotional wounds".
Amethyst is also said to have several physical healing properties, including enhancing the immune system, improving endocrine function, improving the skin’s appearance, promoting digestive health, reducing headaches, and regulating hormones.
While some of these benefits may be real, these are all scientifically unproven claims, however.
This gem is not only beautiful but is also used to combat stress, chase away anxiety and calm down, as people think it has healing properties, especially when it comes to "emotional wounds".
Amethyst is also said to have several physical healing properties, including enhancing the immune system, improving endocrine function, improving the skin’s appearance, promoting digestive health, reducing headaches, and regulating hormones.
While some of these benefits may be real, these are all scientifically unproven claims, however.
The Legend of Amethyst Jewelry
Amethyst has been used since ancient times. For example, the pharaohs wore it as a pendant. The name of this gemstone - Amethyst - comes from the Greek "amethystos" (‘not drunken’), for the stone was believed to prevent intoxication with alcohol.
It probably comes from a Greek legend that tells that the god of wine and pleasure, Dionysus, angered by an insult, decided to revenge on mortals who refused to partake in his gifts, which were wine and intoxication. A maiden named Amethyst crossed his path and refused to partake since she was on her way to honor the goddess of the hunt, Artemis.
In a rage, Dionysus summoned a pair of tigers to kill young Amethyst. However, Artemis turned Amethyst into a crystal statue so that the tigers can't harm her.
Dionysus understood he was wrong and overcome with remorse, he wept into his wine which splashed on the statue and turned it purple. The Greeks used to use amethyst cups to drink their wine.
Its color is traditionally associated with royalty. This is why it was used to decorate royal jewels.
This gem was also prized by members of the clergy in the Middle Ages for they thought that amethyst's color represented the purity of spirit. Its purplish and reddish hues represented the chastening and purifying effects of suffering. Some believed the colors alluded to the wounds and suffering of Christ.
It probably comes from a Greek legend that tells that the god of wine and pleasure, Dionysus, angered by an insult, decided to revenge on mortals who refused to partake in his gifts, which were wine and intoxication. A maiden named Amethyst crossed his path and refused to partake since she was on her way to honor the goddess of the hunt, Artemis.
In a rage, Dionysus summoned a pair of tigers to kill young Amethyst. However, Artemis turned Amethyst into a crystal statue so that the tigers can't harm her.
Dionysus understood he was wrong and overcome with remorse, he wept into his wine which splashed on the statue and turned it purple. The Greeks used to use amethyst cups to drink their wine.
Its color is traditionally associated with royalty. This is why it was used to decorate royal jewels.
This gem was also prized by members of the clergy in the Middle Ages for they thought that amethyst's color represented the purity of spirit. Its purplish and reddish hues represented the chastening and purifying effects of suffering. Some believed the colors alluded to the wounds and suffering of Christ.
The Most Famous Royal Amethyst Jewelry
1. The Flora Danica Tiara
Made by Copenhagen jeweler Flora Danica, especially for Princess Marie of Denmark, this exquisite tiara includes three lilies (French influence, for the French-born princess) to represent Marie, her husband Joachim, and their first child, Prince Henrik.
According to orderofsplendor.com, the lilies are made of silver and their centers are topped by tiny diamonds, more than 50 in all. Amethysts are Princess Marie's favorite stone, and so a line of 25 cabochon amethyst balls sits at the base of the tiara.
The tiara was completed and shown to Marie in 2011, while she was pregnant with her second child, but she waited until March 2014 to wear it in public.
2. The Norwegian Amethyst Parure
The Norwegian Amethyst Parure Tiara is among the gifts from King Harald to his wife Queen Sonja. According to scmp.com, this tiara has a classic design with amethyst and diamonds.
This particular amethyst and diamond parure also consists of earrings, bracelets, and a brooch of matching design. Queen Sonja has worn it both as a tiara and a necklace.
3. The Duchess of Cornwall’s Amethysts
3. The Duchess of Cornwall’s Amethysts
One of the most beautiful jewels Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, was seen with is a gorgeous heart-shaped amethyst and pearl necklace.
A wedding present from Queen Alexandra to the Queen Mother in 1923, the amethyst heart necklace was gifted to Camilla by the Queen.
The Duchess has worn in on multiple occasions, paired with her oval-cut amethyst drop earrings, including the premiere of Skyfall at Royal Albert Hall in 2012.
4. The Napoleonic Amethyst Parure
Dated to the Napoleonic era, this fabulous parure features enormous purple gemstones. The Amethyst Demi-Parure originally belonged to Empress Josephine who gave the set as a wedding gift to Princess Augusta Amalia of Bavaria upon her marriage to Eugene de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg.
According to royalwatching.com, when Princess Josephine, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Leuchtenberg, married Crown Prince Oscar of Sweden (future Oscar I), she brought with her a true treasure trove of jewels, which comprises the core of today’s Swedish and Norwegian jewelry collections. Among the treasures were the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure, the Cameo Parure, and this amethyst parure.
The original demi-parure consisted of a necklace, pendant earrings, two bracelets, a brooch, and a corsage ornament. The stones are set in gold, surrounded by diamonds set in silver. The amethysts are outstanding in both their deep purple color and size.
5. The Nassau Amethysts
According to thecourJewller.com, the vast Luxembourg jewel vaults contain two amethyst tiaras. One is a bandeau with oval-cut stones, while the other includes rectangular gems. Both are regularly worn by the ladies of the grand ducal family, often with a beautiful amethyst necklace and earrings.
6. Queen Mary’s Amethyst Tiara and Necklace
A splendid Parure composed of a tiara, a necklace, and a pair of earrings, dating from around 1815 and a ring from the 19th century, was likely among Queen Mary’s wedding gifts in 1893. The tiara and parure were notably worn for a portrait taken in the 1890s when she was the Duchess of York, and in the 1900s, when she was the Princess of Wales.
Queen Mary of Great Britain gave the tiara to her daughter-in-law, Queen Elizabeth. The Queen Mother was never photographed wearing the tiara. Supposedly, when she offered it to her own daughter, Elizabeth II, to be included in the royal collection, the queen refused, according to thecourtjeweller.com.
Instead, the tiara was put up for auction same as the matching pieces, including earrings and a brooch. The amethyst tiara and parure appeared on view at the London Grosvenor House Antiques Fair for sale at £150,000. While the current owner is unknown, the necklace of the parure was worn by Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, at the Golden Age Of Couture Party at the V&A Museum in 2007, though it was likely on loan. The current location of the amethyst parure is unknown, according to royalwatcherblog.com.
7. The Duchess of Windsor’s Cartier Bib Necklace
A wedding present from Queen Alexandra to the Queen Mother in 1923, the amethyst heart necklace was gifted to Camilla by the Queen.
The Duchess has worn in on multiple occasions, paired with her oval-cut amethyst drop earrings, including the premiere of Skyfall at Royal Albert Hall in 2012.
4. The Napoleonic Amethyst Parure
Dated to the Napoleonic era, this fabulous parure features enormous purple gemstones. The Amethyst Demi-Parure originally belonged to Empress Josephine who gave the set as a wedding gift to Princess Augusta Amalia of Bavaria upon her marriage to Eugene de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg.
According to royalwatching.com, when Princess Josephine, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Leuchtenberg, married Crown Prince Oscar of Sweden (future Oscar I), she brought with her a true treasure trove of jewels, which comprises the core of today’s Swedish and Norwegian jewelry collections. Among the treasures were the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure, the Cameo Parure, and this amethyst parure.
The original demi-parure consisted of a necklace, pendant earrings, two bracelets, a brooch, and a corsage ornament. The stones are set in gold, surrounded by diamonds set in silver. The amethysts are outstanding in both their deep purple color and size.
5. The Nassau Amethysts
According to thecourJewller.com, the vast Luxembourg jewel vaults contain two amethyst tiaras. One is a bandeau with oval-cut stones, while the other includes rectangular gems. Both are regularly worn by the ladies of the grand ducal family, often with a beautiful amethyst necklace and earrings.
6. Queen Mary’s Amethyst Tiara and Necklace
A splendid Parure composed of a tiara, a necklace, and a pair of earrings, dating from around 1815 and a ring from the 19th century, was likely among Queen Mary’s wedding gifts in 1893. The tiara and parure were notably worn for a portrait taken in the 1890s when she was the Duchess of York, and in the 1900s, when she was the Princess of Wales.
Queen Mary of Great Britain gave the tiara to her daughter-in-law, Queen Elizabeth. The Queen Mother was never photographed wearing the tiara. Supposedly, when she offered it to her own daughter, Elizabeth II, to be included in the royal collection, the queen refused, according to thecourtjeweller.com.
Instead, the tiara was put up for auction same as the matching pieces, including earrings and a brooch. The amethyst tiara and parure appeared on view at the London Grosvenor House Antiques Fair for sale at £150,000. While the current owner is unknown, the necklace of the parure was worn by Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, at the Golden Age Of Couture Party at the V&A Museum in 2007, though it was likely on loan. The current location of the amethyst parure is unknown, according to royalwatcherblog.com.
7. The Duchess of Windsor’s Cartier Bib Necklace
This stupendous amethyst, turquoise, and diamond necklace was made for the Duchess of Windsor by Cartier in 1947. Given to the Duchess of Windsor by the Duke, it was one of many royal pieces that he had commissioned for his bride. Such exquisite jewelry pieces were made by the great houses of the day - Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Harry Winston.
That neckpiece was designed around stones that had once been in other pieces.
Both the Duke and Duchess worked closely with these famous jewelry houses to create an astounding collection.
8. The Bavarian Amethyst Demi-Parure
The first recorded owner of this amethyst jewelry was Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, a German princess who married Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria in 1810. They became King Ludwig I and Queen Therese of Bavaria on the death of King Maximilian I Joseph, in 1825.
In 2013, Sotheby’s auctioned this amethyst and diamond demi-parure. The nineteenth-century set was sold by members of the former royal family of Bavaria.
Description, according to Sotheby's: A necklace designed as a graduated series of oval amethysts each set within a frame of cushion-shaped and circular-cut diamonds, suspending a detachable amethyst and diamond pendant, length approximately 430mm, two later links to the back of the necklace, central jewel, and pendant detachable and may be worn on later necklace composed of four rows of cultured pearls, length of shortest row approximately 355mm; and a pair of earrings similarly set, post fittings, originally part of the necklace, later set as earrings.
9. The Kent Amethysts Demi-Parure
One of the oldest sets of jewels in the Windsor collection, the Kent amethyst demi-parure belonged to Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent. The Queen rarely wears the complete set, but she does occasionally sport one of the brooches.
The amethyst demi-parure consists of a necklace, a pair of hair combs, a pair of earrings, and three brooches. However, we see that the Queen generally wears only one brooch: a shell-shaped diamond brooch with a central amethyst, worn either with or without three pendant pieces.
That neckpiece was designed around stones that had once been in other pieces.
Both the Duke and Duchess worked closely with these famous jewelry houses to create an astounding collection.
8. The Bavarian Amethyst Demi-Parure
The first recorded owner of this amethyst jewelry was Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, a German princess who married Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria in 1810. They became King Ludwig I and Queen Therese of Bavaria on the death of King Maximilian I Joseph, in 1825.
In 2013, Sotheby’s auctioned this amethyst and diamond demi-parure. The nineteenth-century set was sold by members of the former royal family of Bavaria.
Description, according to Sotheby's: A necklace designed as a graduated series of oval amethysts each set within a frame of cushion-shaped and circular-cut diamonds, suspending a detachable amethyst and diamond pendant, length approximately 430mm, two later links to the back of the necklace, central jewel, and pendant detachable and may be worn on later necklace composed of four rows of cultured pearls, length of shortest row approximately 355mm; and a pair of earrings similarly set, post fittings, originally part of the necklace, later set as earrings.
9. The Kent Amethysts Demi-Parure
One of the oldest sets of jewels in the Windsor collection, the Kent amethyst demi-parure belonged to Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent. The Queen rarely wears the complete set, but she does occasionally sport one of the brooches.
The amethyst demi-parure consists of a necklace, a pair of hair combs, a pair of earrings, and three brooches. However, we see that the Queen generally wears only one brooch: a shell-shaped diamond brooch with a central amethyst, worn either with or without three pendant pieces.
