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The Queen’s Diamonds
£83.80£118.80 (-29%)
This book is the first authorised account of the history of the finest diamond jewellery in the world. It tells the story of the magnificent royal inheritance of diamonds from the time of Queen Adelaide in the 1830s to the present day. Illustrated with a wide range of archive material as well as extensive new photography of the jewels, this fully researched publication includes stones of international importance as well as pieces of great historic significance, and will be a standard work of reference on diamond jewellery for many years to come.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Royal Collection Trust, 1st edition (7 May 2012) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 324 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1905686382 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1905686384 |
| Dimensions | 25.4 x 3.3 x 31.75 cm |
by Stephen Bentley
A whopping price and a whopping size. Unless you have either a very large bed or a very large bedside table I wouldn’t purchase this with a view to bedtime browsing. That said, the pictures are eye popping and the catalogue entries are very thorough. You wouldn’t want to get between Queen Mary and a piece of jewellery. The Queen Mum was clearly no slouch either. This tome has made me take more of an interest in the jewellery that emerges from HMQ’s vaults and though there’s a lot of diamonds in here I suspect there’s more than a few tiaras still under the mattress in case of a non reigning day.
by Angela Gibson
This mammoth book is the most beautifully researched book in my entire collection. It’s printed on heavy, glossy paper, and it features photographs that are so clear and detailed, including pull out pages that provide exception close ups of some of the most famous jewellery items in the Royal collection.
With 320 pages and weighing more than five pounds it has dimensions of a large coffee table book. But it’s not just a pretty package with lovely pictures. Roberts who was the Director of the Royal collection until 2010, was granted unprecedented access to these jewels and to the people who own them, including the Queen herself. His archival research is especially wonderful, and every entry includes extensive footnotes that cite documents like original purchase orders, jewellery inventories, and notes from jewellers who created and maintained each piece. A fascinating insight into a world we only get a glimpse off.
by Librarian 9
The condition of the book was excellent. The book was extremely well package. It arrived on time
by S. Ramsey-Hardy
This is a beautifully-produced, authoritative, and very enjoyable picture book. It includes hundreds of fascinating photographs (many from the Royal Archives, some not seen before) of Royals over the last 150 years, wearing some of the famous and historically important diamonds at present in the Queen’s Collection. There are also striking new photographs of every item selected for this book, which include the incredible “Cullinan III & IV” brooch worn by the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee.
Among the photographs there are several outstanding images of the Queen when young. Continuity is noticeable, for example in a photograph of the Queen during the recent State Visit by the Turkish President, wearing a wonderful diamond presented by the Sultan of Turkey to Queen Victoria over 150 years ago. The book includes a picture of Queen Victoria herself wearing the jewel in Winterhalter’s marvellous portrait of 1859.
The book is divided into chapters by reigns, and Sir Hugh Roberts has written summaries of the significant aspects of each Sovereign as a collector. He also gives introductions to each of these stunning jewels in turn, with a factual outline of the story of each piece, how it may have been altered and adapted over the years, and accurate information on exactly who has worn it.
There are important new close-up photographs of these celebrated gems, specially taken for this book. For the crisp clarity of their detail, these new photographs are superb. Unless stated otherwise, the jewels are shown actual size; some of the photographs depict them enlarged on fold-out pages so the reader is able to examine their construction; there are also reverse-views of some pieces, revealing the extraordinary workmanship hidden behind the designs.
These photographs are remarkable but they have a slight drawback. As Sir Hugh Roberts reminds us in the Preface, the chief beauty of marvellous diamonds is their fiery sparkle, the glittering effects of coloured light reflected by their facets. It is disappointing for the reader that these new close-up photographs don’t often convey these captivating flashes which give life and colour to these amazing gems when being worn.
Still-photography of precious stones is tricky -but it is certainly possible for the sparkle of refracted colour to be caught for a moment in photographs. Here these spectacular diamonds are photographed floating in anonymous space, and there is a slightly grey, clinical aspect to the light (e.g. the cover photo). These magical and romantic royal jewels possibly look less sparkling and exciting than they could look – despite the outstanding detail.
(The book is printed on fine-quality paper, but without too much use the inside of the spine has cracked and some pages have become uneven.)
by Mr. K. P. Rogers
A beautiful book. The photography is stunning throughout. The descriptions are wonderful, but it is the photographs that are great.
The jewels are shown real size and also often enlarged, with a few pieces given fold-open to twice the open size of the book. The detail is stunning.
One can really admire the quality of the workmanship. And knowing the history of some of these jewels is lovely.
You won’t see in here anything that belongs to The Crown Jewels. These are The Queen’s personal diamonds.
This is a really fab talking point of a book. It gets the thumbs up from all the friends that have seen and pursued it.
I hope that you have found this review helpful.
by HcK
Bought a copy as a gift to take to a friend in the USA for her birthday – had not realised what a substantial book this is, and this book, plus another on castles – the same size/weight – I had to pack in my hand luggage to take on BA. It was well received as this book is packed with fabulous rocks: minerals, metals and magnitutde. It includes the provenance, current ownership and use – for State or personal. Dream book. A girl’s best friend. I’ve put a copy on my Christmas list.
by Florence
Big and bulky this is a magnificent book,on a splendid subject.
Better and more detailed photos than ever seen before and excellent information on the history of diamond jewellery belonging to the British Queen. It is arranged chronologically so you can follow the development of styles. There is also reliable information on various versions of the same piece of jewellery. The emphasis is on diamonds and pearls (and the most impressive emeralds) so jewels also set with sapphires or rubies or other colour stones are not included. Nor is the majority of minor items, such as rings and most brooches.
A sequel, of the same first-class quality, would be highly welcome. After all the jewels at the Queen’s disposal – whether state-owned or private – would be the most extensive collection in the world.
Indispensable for anybody interested in the art and craftmanship of high jewellery.
by David Moore
First-rate highlights of the Royal Collection combine splendid photography with text that provides the backstory to the pieces.