Oct

The British Crown Jewels

The British crown jewels represent the regalia and vestment of kings and queens of England. There are usually worn during the coronation ceremony and other official events. The crown jewels include: crowns, scepters, orbs, swords, rings, spurs, dalmatic, armill and other several ceremonial objects.

The Crowns

The crowns, true symbols of royalty, are extremely valuable. They were especially designed for Sovereigns or for the Queens Consort, or for both. Usually the King’s crown has a slightly pointed arched top and the Queens a slightly bowed top.

The most important are: St. Edwards’s Crown, Imperial State Crown, Imperial Crown of India, George IV State Diadem.

Saint Edwards Crown

The St. Edwards’s Crown was made in 1661. The crown has 444 precious stones and the design is made up of 4 cross pattée and 4 fleur-de-lis.

Imperial State Crown

The Imperial State Crown was made in 1937 for King George VI and resembles the one made for Queen Victoria, the Diamond Crown. It is made of gold and has a pattern made up of 4 crosses pattée and 4 fleurs-de-lis, a arches and a cross pattée on top. It also has an impressive collection of jewels: 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 5 rubies. Some of this jewels are globally renowned: Black Prince’s Ruby and Cullinan II diamond (also called Lesser Star of Africa).

Imperial Crown of India

The Imperial Crown of India has more than 6,100 diamonds, a glittering array of sapphires, rubies, emeralds and fine Indian ruby. It weighs quite a lot, 34.05 ounces or 0.97 kg. The Imperial Crown of India was made for the Coronation of George V. as Emperor of India at Delhi in 1912.