QUEEN MARY’S GEMS

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 12

QUEEN MARY’S GEMS

A PRICELESS COLLECTION Xh* exquisite pearl pendant with diamond drops that was .King George’s present to Queen* Mary to mark the thirty-eighth anniversary of their wedding, is a notable addition to the Queen’s collection of jewellery—one of the finest in the world. The Queen collects jewels as enthusiastically as her Royal husband collects stamps, and has been gathering them almost as long. One of her favourite pastimes is visiting antique shops in her hunt for rare gems and settings, and she_ is recognised as an expert at valuation and selection. She delights, too, in learning the histories of the precious stones she buys. . Queen Mary's jewellery always seems appropriate to her dress, her ceremonial gowns are chosen, in fact, to “go with ” the Crown jewels. And she never appears twice in succession with the same jewel scheme. She has the choice of seven tiaras, which are kept in the safe disguised as a Chinese cabinet, and favours a diamond and turquoise one with a “ lace work ” .that was a wedding gift from Queen Victoria. QUEEN’S FAMOUS EMERALDS. Emeralds aro the Queen’s favourite stones, and it is a fact of some interest, in view of the • governmental attitude toward sweepstakes and similar hazards, that the Royal set of emeralds was won in a lottery. They were acquired thus by the Queen’s grandmother, the Duchess of Cambridge, who bequeathed them to the Duchess of Teck, the Queen’s mother, who, in turn, left them to Prince Francis of Teck. Since they came into the possession of Queen Mary she has added several pieces, and now has one of the finest collection of emeralds in existence. Her favourite piece in the set is an exquisitely carved pendant. She wears it on many State occasions. Diamonds come next in the Queen’s favour, and she has line ones in her private collection. Some of the finest are set in a magnificent bracelet and drop pendant, both given by the King. The Crown jewels include, of course, that _ most famous _of diamonds, the Koh-i-ntoor, and it is often asked why this gem of gems was put into the Queen’s crown and not into the King’s. The reason is that attached to this J’ewel of ancient India is a strange Castern tradition. If ever the Koh-i----noor were worn by a male ruler the result would be the loss of India, runs the legend. Though not given to superstitions, the Royal family yielded to this one. The biggest diamond in the (World, the Culliman, is also among the Crown jewels, but it is rarely worn. WORLD-WIDE SELECTION. After the Crown jewels came into her possession Queen Mary examined them carefully and found some handsome specimens which had not been worn in public for many years. Among them was a diamond coronet usually worn by Queen Victoria in her younger days. It is composed entirely of beautiful Indian diamonds, the design consisting of alternate fleur-dc-lys and Maltese crosses. The' Queen is also extremely fond of pearls, and her Scotch pearl necklaces are probably unequalled. On unofficial occasions she often wears a double row of pearls and single pearl earrings. Some of her sets have been assembled during many years from many parts of the world. Jade and amber particularly interest her. She lias recently bought some fine specimens and placed them together on black satin beds in her special jewel case, a Chippendale cabinet—worthy setting. It is kept in the Royal blue drawing room of Buckingham Palace, and favoured guests aye taken to see it. The finest pieces are those of the rare “ cleanly ” jade, several of which have been presents from personal friends.