A Platinum Jubilee Brooch has gone on display at the Goldsmiths’ Fair in London, which opened to the public today for a two-week exhibit.
Commissioned by Goldsmiths’, the wreath-life piece is a replica of the brooch that was worn by the Queen to light the Principal Platinum Jubilee Beacon at Windsor Castle in June, igniting the first night of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Believed to be the last jewel gifted to Queen Elizabeth II, the piece is one of the late monarch’s most symbolic brooches as it pays homage to the four nations of the UK.
Fine jewellery and engagement ring experts at UK retailer Steven Stone couldn’t wait to take a close look – revealing everything you need to know about the sparkling piece.
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The brooch looks to be 18 carat white gold – though given the occasion, it could be made of platinum. The likelihood that it’s white gold is due to platinum being softer than white gold jewellery. Because of this, it’s important than unique platinum jewellery shouldn’t be too thin and this is quite a delicate piece.
Set with princess cut and round brilliant diamonds, it’s one of the late monarch’s most symbolic brooches as it pays homage to the four nations of the UK, which are represented by four diamond swirls and their national flowers – the rose, the thistle, the daffodil and the shamrock. It also features the touching addition of her favourite flower, Lily of the Valley, which was featured in her Coronation Bouquet.
According to a statement from Goldsmiths, the platinum pin was personally chosen by the Queen as a gift from The Goldsmiths’ Company for her Jubilee celebrations. The seven diamond set bands represent the seven decades of The Queen’s reign.
This brooch isn’t the first that the Queen wore to pay tribute to the four nations of the UK. The Sultan Quaboos Bin Said of Oman gifted her four diamond brooches that represent the national emblems of the UK for her diamond jubilee in 2012 – boasting delicately beautiful craftmanship and fine detail, they have a combined value of £187,000.
“Commissioned by the Goldsmiths’ Company for her Platinum Jubilee, the Queen’s wreath-like brooch is incredibly poignant as it’s likely to be the last jewel that was gifted to the Queen.
It looks to be 18 carat white gold – though given the occasion, the intricate piece could be made of platinum. It’s worth noting that it’s incredibly difficult to make this kind of piece with platinum, though not impossible.
Set with princess cut and round brilliant diamonds, it’s one of the late monarch’s most symbolic brooches as it pays homage to the four nations of the UK, which are represented by four diamond swirls and their national flowers – the rose, the thistle, the daffodil and the shamrock. It also features the touching addition of her favourite plant – Lily of the Valley.
I’d estimate the Goldsmiths’ Platinum Jubilee Brooch to be worth approximately £40k.”
zack stone, managing director, steven stone
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