6 Pieces of Jewelry That Have a Fascinating Story to Tell Us

For many of us, jewelry pieces are much more than accessories, and we cherish and pass on the fascinating stories that our family heirloom jewels hide. Today, we want to dive into the breathtaking stories that world-famous pieces of jewelry can tell us. From an emerald necklace once worn by Princess Diana to a gorgeous Tiffany yellow diamond, these stones have gone through a lot before they joined the collection of the world’s most valuable jewelry pieces. So let’s learn more about them.

1. Queen Mary’s emerald choker

On December 2, 2022, Catherine, Princess of Wales, was sparkling in a gorgeous green gown that she complemented with an emerald and diamond choker at an official event in Boston, USA. This is the choker that Princess Diana used to wear, and the stunning piece of jewelry originally belonged to Queen Mary, who obtained it from India in 1911.

In 1985, Princess Diana surprised the world when, instead of clasping the choker around her neck, she chose to wear it as a headband across her forehead. This unusual style choice, once again, proved that Princess Diana was a real fashion rebel who was not afraid to take little fashion risks despite her title.

2. The Tiffany yellow diamond

This is one of the largest and finest yellow diamonds in the world. The 287.42-carat rough stone was discovered in 1877 in South Africa and was later acquired by the jewelry company’s founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany. In order to enhance its unusual color, the stone was cut, and today, it measures 128.54 carats.

The diamond is known to have been worn by only 4 women, including Audrey Hepburn, who wore a necklace with the diamond in publicity photographs for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Lady Gaga, who wore it during the 91st Academy Awards ceremony in 2019. By the way, which type of necklace do you like the most: the one worn by Audrey Hepburn or the one Lady Gaga donned?

3. Wallis Simpson’s panther bracelet

The love affair between American socialite Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII, who later became the Duke of Windsor, led to Edward’s throne abdication. Simpson was divorced from her first husband and still married, pursuing her second divorce. For a member of the royal family, to marry a twice-divorced woman was not acceptable at those times, so Edward signed his written abdication notices and married Wallis, who became the Duchess of Windsor in 1937.

The Cartier-designed onyx-and-diamond panther bracelet, once owned by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for a world record-breaking $7 million. At that time, it became the most expensive item by Cartier sold at an auction.

4. The Hope Diamond

Just imagine — this large, 45.52-carat, deep-blue diamond was formed deep in the earth approximately 1.1 billion years ago! According to experts, its history starts in India in the seventeenth century. Throughout its long life, the stone changed owners and was even stolen at one point while traveling from India to France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, where it is on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

The diamond has long been surrounded by myths and superstitions. In particular, some people believed that it brought misfortune to anyone who owned it. In fact, such myths only enhanced the stone’s appeal, raising its value.

5. L’Incomparable diamond necklace

The Mouawad L’Incomparable diamond necklace is considered to be one of the world’s most valuable necklaces, worth $55 million, which was a world record-breaking value in 2013, according to Guinness World Records.

This incredible 229.52-carat white diamond necklace features the gorgeous suspended 407.48-carat yellow diamond. The golden branches of the necklace hold diamonds of various shapes and sizes, which makes the design look so natural and graceful.

6. Marie Antoinette’s pearl pendant

This eighteenth-century pendant featuring pearls and diamonds once belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette. It is believed that this pendant could’ve been part of the jewelry collection that Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI packed when they attempted to flee from the palace. The carefully packed jewels were then sent to Vienna to be kept by Marie Antoinette’s nephew.

In 2018, the pendant was sold at an auction for $36 million, which is considered to be a world record for a pearl.

Do you have a favorite piece in your jewelry collection? What’s the story behind it?