Buckingham Palace to Exhibit Kate’s Wedding Ensemble and the Royal Fabergé Collection

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress along with her wedding tiara and earrings will go on display at Buckingham Palace during its annual summer opening. As big as this display is for much of the world (an estimated 3 billion saw the British royal wedding), it may be overshadowed by what is considered by many to be the world’s greatest collection of Fabergé pieces that will also be part of the same opening of the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns.

The exhibition will run from July 23 till October 3, so if you are planning to visit London during this time it’s a good idea to book your tickets now as this double-dose of British royal artifacts will no doubt draw huge crowds from around the world.

The former Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, is made from ivory and white satin-gazar (stiffened organza). The shape of the skirt, with arches and pleats, echoes an opening flower, and the ivory satin bodice, which is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry—a hallmark of Alexander McQueen’s designs. The back of the dress is finished with 58 gazar- and organza-covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops. The underskirt is made of silk tulle trimmed with Cluny lace. The train is nearly nine feet in length.

The lace appliqué for the bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework, founded in 1872. The lace was produced using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. Individual flowers were hand-cut from lace and hand-engineered on to ivory silk-tulle to create a design that incorporates the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock. Each lace motif was applied with tiny stitches every two to three millimeters. The bride’s veil, made of layers of soft, ivory silk-tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers, was also embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework.

Photo credit: Ben StansallGetty Images

The veil was held in place by the Cartier ‘Halo’ tiara, which was lent to The Duchess by the queen. The tiara is formed as a band of 16 graduated scrolls set with 739 brilliants and 149 baton diamonds, each scroll being divided by a graduated brilliant with a large brilliant at the center. The tiara was made in 1936 and purchased by The Duke of York (later King George VI) for The Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) three weeks before he succeeded his brother as King. The tiara was presented to Princess Elizabeth (now The Queen) by her mother for her 18th birthday.

The duchess’s earrings were commissioned by the Middleton family as a personal gift to the bride from her parents. They were created by the London-based jewelers Robinson Pelham. The design, stylized oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond-set drop and a pavé-set diamond acorn suspended in the center, was inspired by the Middleton family's new coat of arms.

The duchess’s wedding shoes, also part of the display, were hand-made by the team at Alexander McQueen, of ivory duchesse satin and lace embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework.

In addition, the duke and duchess’s wedding cake created by Leicestershire-based cake designer Fiona Cairns will be shown in the State Dining Room. The multi-tiered traditional fruit cake was hand-made using British ingredients and decorated with sugar flowers.

Colonnade Egg

Royal Fabergé
More than 100 pieces from what many consider to be the finest collection of Fabergé in the world will be the other big draw of Buckingham Palace’s public opening. The display will chart the Royal Family’s passion for the work of the great Russian jeweler and goldsmith, Peter Carl Fabergé, over six generations—from Queen Victoria, to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.




A number of works will go on display for the first time, including a complete miniature tea set (above) originally belonging to Queen Alexandra is made of gold and enamel to give the impression of porcelain. Each lid is decorated with a tiny ruby.

Other highlights include an Imperial Easter Egg (left), the Basket of Flowers Egg, commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II for Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna in 1901. It was kept in the Tsarina’s study at the Winter Palace before being confiscated during the Russian Revolution in 1917. It is decorated with gold and rose diamonds and moss made of green gold and was acquired by Queen Mary in 1933. 

In addition, the only known Fabergé figure of a Chelsea Pensioner (left), acquired by King Edward VII on his last visit to Fabergé’s London branch, will also go on display.

All Fabergé photos courtesy of The Royal Collection © 2011

Princess Catherine’s Bridal Jewelry

Photo by Ben Stansall/Getty Images

Upon her marriage this morning to Prince William, the former Catherine Middleton now has the title of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.

The new Princess’ veil was held in place by a Cartier “halo” tiara, which was lent by The Queen. The tiara was made by Cartier in 1936 and was purchased by The Duke of York (later King George VI) for his Duchess (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) three weeks before he succeeded his brother as King. The tiara was presented to Princess Elizabeth (now The Queen) by her mother on her 18th birthday.

The bride’s earrings, designed and made by London boutique jeweler Robinson Pelham, are diamond-set stylized oak leaves with a pear shaped diamond set drop and a pavé set diamond acorn suspended in the center. Inspiration for the design comes from the Middleton family's new coat of arms, which includes acorns and oak leaves. The earrings were made to match the tiara. The earrings were a personal gift to the bride from her parents for her Wedding Day.

Robinson Pelham also designed and made a pair of diamond earrings for Philippa Middleton, Catherine’s sister. These earrings are more floral in nature to compliment her headpiece during the service.

A tourmaline and diamond pendant and matching earrings were designed and made for Catherine’s mother, Carole Middleton. Two gold stick pins, one with a single gold acorn at the head and the other with an oak leaf, are also worn by the father of the bride, Michael Middleton, and the Bride's brother, James Middleton.

The wedding ring for princess Middleton was designed and made by Wartski, a family owned firm of antique dealers. The ring was fashioned from a piece of Welsh gold that was given to Prince William by The Queen shortly after the engagement was announced.

There will be only one ring, in accordance with the Couple’s wishes.

Wartski is a family jewelry business founded in 1865. Its first establishment was in Bangor and later the business moved to the seaside resort of Llandudno.

Wartski has a history with the Royal Family. It supplied the engagement and wedding rings to Queen Elizabeth’s grandson Viscount Linley when he married The Hon. Serena Stanhope in 1993. They also made the wedding rings (also of Welsh gold) for The Prince of Wales and Mrs. Camilla Parker-Bowles for their wedding in 2005.

Wartski is long-established grantees of the warrants of The Queen and The Prince of Wales.

Photos of the Royal jewelry to come when available.

London Restaurant to Serve a Royal Wedding Piaget Jewelry Giveaway with Champagne

The exterior of Cafe Luc in London.

No, this isn’t a restaurant review. But jewelry loving readers of this website who are in London to attend the British Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton may want to make a special pilgrimage to this London eatery.

As a way to celebrate the Royal Wedding, Café Luc in the city’s Marylebone district is offering champagne lovers the chance to win Piaget jewelry worth up to 9,000 pounds ($14,850).

Beginning Wednesday (today) through Saturday, customers who order a glass of Louis Roederer champagne will receive a jewelry box containing a barcode. Scan the barcode in the Piaget boutique on New Bond Street before April 6 and you could be the winner of a 9,000 pound watch, or a 3,250 pound ($5,363) necklace.the restaurant did not specify the jewelry being given away.

Café Luc is a new all-day, brasserie-style restaurant that offers French/Belgian cuisine. Belgian restaurateur Luc Van Oostende and his daughter, Julie, own the restaurant, which opened in June 2010. Below is a video promoting the contest.

A Tiara Fit for a Princess

The Royal Asscher tiara superimposed onto Kate Middleton.

Royal Asscher Diamonds has created a sparking tiara for Catherine Middleton to celebrate her royal wedding.

The Amsterdam-based diamond company said the tiara was designed to highlight Middleton’s beauty. Created by Toronto-based jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia for Royal Asscher, the bejeweled headpiece, currently in production, is set with 36 Royal Asscher Cut diamonds, as well as pear and round shaped white diamonds. The vintage inspired piece is placed on the forehead, inspired by the Strathmore Tiara placement.

"Flowers and buds represent nature's most beautiful creations and here they symbolize the blossomed love between Catherine and Prince William. Royal Asscher wishes the couple all the best and a happy marriage,” Ahluwalia said, adding that she “imbued the tiara with romance and wishes for love that is long-lasting.”

Lita Asscher, president of Royal Asscher Diamond Company, said the tiara's design is an homage to the upcoming Royal Wedding and to the Royal Asscher diamonds that grace Great Britain's Crown Jewels.

The idea, she said, is to, "Bring back the love for royal pieces and show that the tiara does not have to be old fashioned, but can be beautiful and romantic and modern all in one."

Lita Asscher, also said that this tiara will not be duplicated. "It is so unique that we would only make one."

If Middleton does choose to wear a crown on her wedding day, she will no doubt select one from the royal collection. However, it is not out-of-the-question that the Royal Asscher tiara would be worn by Middleton in some capacity, particularly when taking into account the Asscher family dynasty’s influence on the diamond industry and on Great Britain’s Crown Jewels since establishing the family owned company business in 1854.

In 1902, The Asscher Diamond Company cut the Excelsior diamond, found in 1893 and weighing 971¾ carats, into ten stones. It was the largest known diamond in the world until 1907, when the larger Cullinan diamond was found.

The Cullinan diamond is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found, at 3,106 carats. The diamond was presented to Great Britain’s King Edward VII who asked the Asscher brothers, Joseph and Abraham, to cleave it. Joseph cut the stone into 9 large gems and 42 small gems. The largest polished gem from the stone is named the Cullinan I, also known as the Great Star of Africa, at 530.4 carats. The second largest gem from the Cullinan stone is called the Cullinan II, or the Lesser Star of Africa, weighing 317.4 carats. Both stones can be found on Great Britain’s Crown Jewels.

The Imperial State Crown (pictured above), one of the Crown Jewels, contains the Cullinan II, the Black Prince’s Ruby and the Stuart Sapphire. It has a total 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 5 rubies. The Crown Jewels are worn by Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of Parliament and at the conclusion of the Coronation service. As the most frequently worn royal crown, the Imperial State Crown has constantly been replaced. Due to its constant usage, it is also the crown that requires the most outside repairs and recasting. 

The Crown Jewels also include the Sovereign’s Sceptre (pictured above), atop which the Great Star of Africa, or Cullinan I is mounted. The Sceptre was especially redesigned after the discovery of the Cullinan diamond. The Great Star of Africa can be removed from the Sceptre to be worn as a brooch.