“We have the Anglesey tiara in our stock at the moment,” he added, “which was worn by the Marchioness of Anglesey to Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, and by her mother to King Edward’s coronation.” (The price is available on request.)
And while the coronation preparations are centered in London, some jewelers on the Continent — particularly those at the Place Vendôme in Paris, the center of the high jewelry world — expect to have their work at the coronation as well. Boucheron, for example, has always been a favorites of British royals, while Chaumet is famed for its tiaras.
“With the coronation of Edward VII, and the organization of court balls, the opening ceremony of Parliament, and the opera galas, our archives show an increase in demand for tiaras, as the clients wished to buy new tiaras for their new dresses,” Jean-Marc Mansvelt, the house’s chief executive, wrote in an email. “It was at this time that Joseph Chaumet presented himself as a patented supplier to the English court and, as such, affixed the arms of the crown of England on the heading of his official letterhead.”
Mr. Mansvelt noted that the house’s most recent high jewelry collection, called Liens Inséparables (in English, Inseparable Links), included what he called “a head ornament,” a slender circlet of 18-karat white gold pavéd with 236 brilliant-cut diamonds and accented with a brilliant-cut diamond ranging from 1.5 to 1.79 carats.
Beyond Tiaras
Some of the special jewelry pieces being created to mark the coronation are linked to the king’s personal interests.
A one-of-a-kind butterfly brooch designed by Hirsh London, for example, is being created as a nod to the king’s enduring commitment to environmental issues. The gold and platinum wings are designed to move slightly, and the piece features a 1.76 carat fancy intense yellow diamond as well as yellow, green and cognac diamonds. (The price is available on application.)
