‘The Crown’ is back with its sixth season – and it certainly has everybody talking.
The final season of the Emmy award winning Netflix series is being launched in two parts. Set in the late 90s, the new episodes pick up from season fives abrupt ending, charting Princess Diana’s final days – heavily focusing on her relationship with Dodi Fayed, son of Egyptian billionaire and Harrods owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed.
Having watched with a close eye, fine jewellery and engagement ring experts at Steven Stone have revealed everything you need to know about some of the royal jewels that the show has recreated in the first half of season six.
Pearl Button Earrings
Estimated value: £10,000 ($12,600)
Pearl button earrings were an absolute staple in Princess Diana’s jewellery collection and she wore various timeless variations of classic pearl button earrings during her time as a Royal – from pearls surrounded by diamonds, to pearls surrounded by blue petals that are likely to be sapphires.
Gold plated with a pearl in the centre, the earrings shown in ‘The Crown’ boast a plain rim. The majority of Diana’s pearl button earrings feature a textured yellow gold or diamond studded rim, which makes these a likely match for the pair that she wore in Moscow in 1995.
Our experts estimate them to be worth around £10,000.
Cartier Tank Louis Cartier
Estimated value: £12,500 ($15,800)
Princess Diana was a lover of watches and she was first seen wearing Cartier’s Tank Louis Cartier watch during the 1980s – it was a gift from her father, Earl Edward John Spencer on her 21st birthday. It had a yellow gold case and was fitted with a black alligator strap.
When her marriage to the then Prince Charles began to unravel, she stopped wearing the Patek Philippe gold watch that he had given to her on her 20th birthday. In its place, she frequently wore her classic Cartier Tank Louis.
The iconic timepiece retails at £12,500.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Engagement Ring
Estimated value: £207,000 ($245,000)
Queen Elizabeth II’s engagement ring from Prince Philip has a special story, as the diamonds used to create the ring came from a tiara belonging to his mother – Princess Alice of Battenberg. Prince Philip designed the square-cut diamond engagement ring with jewellers, Philip Antrobus Ltd.
The ring is set with eleven diamonds, including five smaller stones set on each shoulder.
Using diamonds from his mother’s tiara may have been a way to save money, as well being as a sentimental gesture, as whilst Prince Philip was born a Greek prince, it seems his family were not extremely wealthy.
Diamond Daisy Necklace
Estimated value: £80,000 ($100,000)
The then Princess Charles hosted a 50th birthday party for Camilla Parker Bowles at Highgrove Estate, which we see recreated in the series.
Camilla was wearing a dazzling necklace that’s thought to have been a gift from Charles. It features diamond daisy shapes on a yellow gold link chain.
Our experts estimate it to be worth £80,000.
Dis-moi Oui Engagement Ring
Estimated value: £20,000 ($25,000)
In episode 3, we see Dodi purchase an engagement ring for the late Princess of Wales. Though parts of the series are fabricated, an engagement ring was reportedly recovered at the Dodi’s apartment in Paris after their tragic deaths – alongside a receipt for the Repossi jewellery store.
An emerald cut diamond sits at the centre of the dazzling ring, accented with four trillion cut diamonds on each side that are bordered by a yellow gold trim. Further accentuating the rings sparkle, it has a wide pave band that boasts at least 40 round cut diamonds. The ring is reportedly inscribed with “Dis-moi Oui,” which means “Tell me yes” in French – a particularly romantic touch.
The sparkler reportedly cost Dodi £11,600 – though our experts estimate it to be worth around £20,000 today.
Panthère de Cartier
Estimated value: £17,000 ($21,000)
The first episode of season 6 comes to a close with a shot of Diana opening one of Cartier’s famous red boxes – revealing a Tank Française that had been sent by Dodi.
According to royal biographer Judy Wade – writer of ‘Diana: the Intimate Portrait’ – Dodi did in fact gift Diana a Cartier timepiece. Though it wasn’t a Tank Française , it was a Panthère de Cartier.
Yellow gold Panthere de Cartier watches retail at $21,000 upwards.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Pearl Necklace
Estimated Value: £600,000 to £1,000,000
Pearls have always had a connection with royalty, however Queen Elizabeth was especially known for her love of this radiant gemstone, wearing a pearl necklace for countless events and occasions. The Queen had an extensive collection of pearl necklaces, some with just one strand and others with three or four, however on most occasions, she wore a three-strand pearl necklace – and there’s a reason why.
Thanks to a tradition started by Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth is reported to have fallen in love with pearl jewellery when she was a child – Royal experts report that Queen Victoria gave each of her daughters and granddaughters a single pearl on their birthday as they grew up, so that by the time they reached the age of 18, they would have enough pearls for a necklace.
Queen Elizabeth’s parents continued the royal tradition, giving her a chain onto which they added two pearls per birthday. The Queen also received a complete pearl necklace from her father, King George VI for her coronation in 1937.
One of our leading jewellery experts, Zack Stone commented: “One single natural pearl is worth around £3,000, and as the Queen has a three-strand necklace, this could be worth anywhere from £600,000 to £1,000,000.”
Pearl Triangle Brooch
Estimated Value: £125,000 ($160,000)
Queen Elizabeth II chose her Pearl Triangle Brooch for one of the most crucial moments of her reign – her televised speech following the tragic passing of Princess Diana in 1997.
The origin of the brooch is unknown, but it’s easy to see that it’s quite an impressive piece. It features a narrow diamond triangle with two pearls and a canary yellow diamond set in the middle.
Our experts estimate the piece to be worth around £125,000.
Ribbed Earrings
Estimated value: £15,000 ($19,000)
The poster that was released ahead of the launch of the new series features a photo of Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Princess Diana, sporting a pair of yellow gold ribbed earrings.
Chunky gold earrings were part of Princess Diana’s signature look and she wore an array of them over the years. These particular earrings are incredibly similar to two pairs pair of yellow gold earrings that the late Princess of Wales wore to visit Angola in January 1997 – a triple ribbed hooped pair and a pair with horizon and vertical ribs.
Our experts estimate each of them to be worth approximately £15,000.
If you’re looking for jewellery to rival royalty, our team can design bespoke creations, tailored to you. From engagement rings and wedding rings to necklaces and diamond earrings, your options are endless.
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