August 31st will mark the 20th Anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, one of the most iconic women of the last century. In honour of her death anniversary, we are featuring 20 of her most iconic jewels. Today’s feature is her signature Seven-strand Pearl and Sapphire Choker-

When the Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, the bride received several Sapphire Jewels, including this magnificent antique Sapphire and Diamond Brooch given as a wedding gift by the Queen Mother, of unknown provenance.

In the early years of her marriage, the Princess of Wales notably wore the Sapphire and Diamond Brooch on a handful of rare occasions, among them a British Film Institute Dinner at 11 Downing Street and a Banquet during the Dutch State Visit to the United Kingdom in 1982.

A few years later, the Princess of Wales converted the antique Sapphire and Diamond Brooch into the centre of a magnificent seven-strand Pearl Choker, making one of its earliest appearances during a State Dinner at the White House in late 1985.

However, it seems the piece could still be worn as a Brooch, like when the  Prince and Princess attended a charity Beethoven Gala Concert at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in February 1986.

Over the next several years, the seven-strand Pearl and Sapphire Choker became one of the most iconic jewels of the Princess of Wales, being worn for a visit to Vienna and the Greek Royal Family’s Ball in London in 1986 among numerous occasions at home and abroad.

Probably one of the most notably appearances of the Sapphire and Pearl Choker was when it was paired with the ‘revenge dress’ for the Vanity Fair Gala at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994.

Diana, Princess of Wales continued to wear the seven-strand Pearl and Sapphire Choker after her divorce, including when she received the Humanitarian of the Year Award in New York in 1995.

The seven-strand Pearl and Sapphire Choker was worn by Diana, Princess of Wales for the final time at the Met Gala in New York in December 1996, with it also being worn for a portrait by Lord Snowdon the following year. Unlike several other jewels, the Choker has not been seen on either of her daughters-in-law, but lets hope it makes an appearance soon!

Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara

Spencer Tiara

Sapphire Engagement Ring

Princess Diana’s Collingwood Pearl Earrings

Princess Diana’s Sapphire Choker

Princess Diana’s Spencer Choker

Princess Diana’s Wedding Earrings

Prince of Wales Feathers Pendant

Princess Diana’s Saudi Sapphire Suite

Queen Mary’s Art Deco Emerald Choker

Princess Diana’s Pearl Bracelet

Princess Diana’s Saudi Sapphire Choker

Collingwood Diamond Suite

Princess Diana’s South-Sea Pearl Earrings

Princess Diana’s Emerald Earrings

Princess Diana’s Heart-Shaped Diamond Necklace

Princess Diana’s Pendant Earrings

Princess Diana’s Swan Lake Suite

Queen’s Pear-Drop Diamond Earrings

Princess Diana’s Oman Sapphire Suite

Princess Diana’s Amethyst Suite

Princess Diana’s Aquamarine Earrings

Princess Diana’s Diamond and Pearl Earrings

Princess Diana’s Sapphire Earrings

Princess Diana’s Aquamarine Ring

Princess Diana’s Qatar Pearl Earrings

Princess Diana’s Butterfly Suite

 

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As a wedding gift, the Queen Mother gave a large oval sapphire and diamond brooch her new granddaughter-in-law. In the early years of her marriage, Princess of Wales wore the piece as a brooch, including the famous appearance above, during the Dutch State Visit to the Netherlands in 1982, when the Princess had to find a new gown and jewels after Queen Beatrix gave her the orange Sash of the Order of the Crown.

However, soon after the wedding, the Princess had the sapphire brooch converted into the clasp for a magnificent seven-strand pearl choker. One of the earliest famous appearances was in 1985, when she wore the choker to dance with John Travolta at the White House.

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A favourite piece of jewelry, the Princess wore this seven-strand pearl and sapphire choker for occasions at home and abroad.

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Another famous appearance of the sapphire choker was in 1994, when the Princess wore the piece (with the daring ‘revenge’ dress) on the night the Prince of Wales confessed to adultery with Camilla Parker-Bowles.

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The seven-strand pearl and sapphire choker was one of the rare ‘big’ jewels from her marriage that Diana, Princess of Wales continued to wear after her divorce, including when she received the Humanitarian of the Year Award in New York.

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The last time the choker was publicly seen was when Diana, Princess of Wales attended the Met Gala in New York in December 1996. It hasn’t been seen or exhibited since, and now belongs to Prince William and Prince Harry.