Princess Diana And Her Amazing Signature Pearl Choker
Princess Diana's unique style has received a lot of attention, but her jewelry was just as noteworthy as her outfits.
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle inherited the princess's vast collection, which includes two unique timepieces, an original necklace from long before they were fashionable, and an enormous amount of diamonds.
It was rumored that Princess Diana adored sapphires as well, and the gemstone was present in many of her favorite items.
She always wore one of her favorite necklaces, a triple-strand pearl choker with a big sapphire surrounded by diamonds at its center.
Photo: Princess Diana wearing her sapphire and pearl choker (Source: Youtube Screenshot)
Princess Diana And The Queen Mother’s Gift
Diana's new grandmother-in-law gave her the enormous sapphire and diamond cluster, which was one of her most spectacular wedding presents.
Diana made one of her earliest public appearances wearing the jewels in February 1982, when she attended a banquet at 11 Downing Street honoring the British Film Institute, wearing the sapphire and diamond cluster as a brooch fastened to the lace trim of her Belleville Sassoon dress.
Princess Diana fastened the huge sapphire and diamond cluster into a seven-strand pearl choker, even though she wore it as a brooch a few times.
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Princess Diana was pictured wearing the pearl choker to numerous occasions, such as a ball in Vienna, a performance at the Royal Albert Hall, the Met Gala, and—most notably—the Serpentine Gallery event where she made her revenge dress debut.
Princess Diana wore the sapphire and diamond cluster as a brooch at a dinner honoring Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands at Hampton Court Palace a few months later. During the state visit, she obtained the Order of the Crown sash from Queen Beatrix, which she secured with the diamond and sapphire cluster. She also wore the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings, the Queen's Japanese Pearl Choker Necklace, and the Lover's Knot Tiara to the dinner, according to The Court Jeweller.
In November 1985, Princess Diana made a well-known visit to the White House in Washington, D.C., and she wore the piece's new necklace setting. A star-studded affair from the 1980s, the dinner was hosted by President and Mrs. Reagan.
Princess Diana's ability to transcend style and fashion "rules" is clearly highlighted by her choice to wear such a statement garment at the age of 24. Although pearls are frequently worn as a symbol of subtle elegance, on this particular occasion, they were combined with the exquisite sapphire to create an outstanding jewelry piece.
The Necklace Setting
Diana made one of her earliest public appearances wearing the jewels in February 1982, when she attended a banquet at 11 Downing Street honoring the British Film Institute, wearing the sapphire and diamond cluster as a brooch fastened to the lace trim of her Belleville Sassoon dress.
Princess Diana fastened the huge sapphire and diamond cluster into a seven-strand pearl choker, even though she wore it as a brooch a few times.
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Princess Diana was pictured wearing the pearl choker to numerous occasions, such as a ball in Vienna, a performance at the Royal Albert Hall, the Met Gala, and—most notably—the Serpentine Gallery event where she made her revenge dress debut.
Princess Diana wore the sapphire and diamond cluster as a brooch at a dinner honoring Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands at Hampton Court Palace a few months later. During the state visit, she obtained the Order of the Crown sash from Queen Beatrix, which she secured with the diamond and sapphire cluster. She also wore the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings, the Queen's Japanese Pearl Choker Necklace, and the Lover's Knot Tiara to the dinner, according to The Court Jeweller.
In November 1985, Princess Diana made a well-known visit to the White House in Washington, D.C., and she wore the piece's new necklace setting. A star-studded affair from the 1980s, the dinner was hosted by President and Mrs. Reagan.
Princess Diana's ability to transcend style and fashion "rules" is clearly highlighted by her choice to wear such a statement garment at the age of 24. Although pearls are frequently worn as a symbol of subtle elegance, on this particular occasion, they were combined with the exquisite sapphire to create an outstanding jewelry piece.
The Necklace Setting
The sapphire cluster was modified so that it could be worn as a component of the pearl choker necklace, but the modification was not permanent.
But for the most part, Diana wore the cluster in the necklace setting, and she continued to do so frequently for the remainder of her marriage and beyond.
Typically, Princess Diana wore the necklace with one of her two pairs of cluster and drop earrings set with sapphires and diamonds.
Princess Diana wore the necklace for the last time in December 1996 when she went to the Met Gala in New York City with her friend, Harper's Bazaar editor Liz Tilberis.
The sapphire cluster was among Diana's personal belongings, thus her sons most likely acquired it after her 1997 passing. For 24 years, the piece has not been performed in public.
Interesting fact: the times this extraordinary woman wore the choker seemed to be some of the most significant events in her life.
This could be one of the reasons this amazing item has been recognized for so long as Princess Diana's distinctive pearl choker.
But for the most part, Diana wore the cluster in the necklace setting, and she continued to do so frequently for the remainder of her marriage and beyond.
Typically, Princess Diana wore the necklace with one of her two pairs of cluster and drop earrings set with sapphires and diamonds.
Princess Diana wore the necklace for the last time in December 1996 when she went to the Met Gala in New York City with her friend, Harper's Bazaar editor Liz Tilberis.
The sapphire cluster was among Diana's personal belongings, thus her sons most likely acquired it after her 1997 passing. For 24 years, the piece has not been performed in public.
Interesting fact: the times this extraordinary woman wore the choker seemed to be some of the most significant events in her life.
This could be one of the reasons this amazing item has been recognized for so long as Princess Diana's distinctive pearl choker.
