Today marks the Anniversary of the Birth of the late Queen Fabiola of Belgium, who was born Doña Fabiola Fernanda Maria de las Victorias Antonia Adelaïda de Mora y Aragón on this day in 1928. While she did not possess the massive jewellery of her counterparts, she did assemble a decent collection of Aquamarines, at or quite soon after her wedding.
Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara
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A wedding gift from Spanish Dictator Generalissimo Franco, the Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara can be worn in two different configurations and as a necklace, with interchangeable emerald, ruby, and aquamarine centres. Queen Fabiola’s grandest Tiara, it worn throughout her tenure as Queen and the only worn worn in her widowhood. The Tiara is thought to have passed to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, but remains unworn.
Aquamarine Earrings
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Queen Fabiola wore two pairs of Aquamarine Earrings, one featuring a round-cut aquamarine on a long diamond frame, while the other features a pear-shaped drop in a aquamarine and diamond frame, which were often paired with her other aquamarine jewels or with diamonds and pearls.
Aquamarine Necklace
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The necklace featured five graduating pear-shaped aquamarines suspended from a small diamond tennis necklace, which was worn from the mid-1960s onward, often with the aquamarine version of the Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara. While Queen Fabiola’s Aquamarine Necklace has not been seen since the 1990s, I believe that two of the pear-shaped aquamarines are featured in the new earrings for by Queen Mathilde for a couple of occasions this year, most notably, the debut in South Korea. It is unknown how much of the necklace remains intact.
Aquamarine Pendant
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Queen Fabiola also owned a huge pear-shaped Aquamarine pendant, suspended from a adjustable Art Deco diamond chain, as a sautoir, a or a shorter necklace. While it’s not really Queen Mathilde’s style, we may get to see Queen Fabiola’s Aquamarines worn at some upcoming gala event, like the Luxembourg State Visit in the fall!
