Today marks the Anniversary of the Death of Princess Margaret, the Queen’s late sister, who died on this day in 2002. As one of the leading members of the Royal Century for her entire life, the late Princess had a huge jewelry collection, including today’s Ruby Girandole Earrings-
Poltimore Tiara | Turquoise Parure | Cartier Halo Tiara | Lotus Flower Tiara | Snowdon Floral Tiara | Teck Diamond Hoop Necklace | Diamond Earrings | Ruby Earrings | Emerald Earrings | Pearl Earrings | Sapphire Earrings | Diamond Star Earrings | Diamond Fleur-de-Lys Brooch | Princess Margaret’s Tiaras
Composed of large pearl shaped rubies in an ornate diamond setting, hanging from a ruby and diamond cluster, it is unknown how the Girandole Earrings came into Princess Margaret’s procession, but they may have been a gift from a Shipping Company.
Of girandole design, the ruby and diamond cluster surmounts to the triangular motif diamond pendants supporting ruby and diamond drops, mounted in silver and gold.
Princess Margaret began wearing the Ruby Girandole Earrings in the mid-1950s, most notably in her 26th Birthday Portraits and often paired them with the Halo Scroll Tiara and also her Cartier Ruby Flower Brooch.
The Ruby Girandole Earrings continued to be worn by Princess Margaret though the 1960s and 1970s, usually pairing them with the Lotus Flower Tiara and the Poltimore Tiara.
Princess Margaret continued to wear the Ruby Girandole Earrings in the later years of her life, paired with both the Poltimore Tiara and the Cartier Ruby Flower Brooch, with a notable appearance at a Dinner with former American First Lady Nancy Reagan.
After Princess Margaret’s death in 2002, while some of her jewels remained with her children; the 2nd Earl of Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto, many of them were sold at the at the famous 2006 Christie’s Auction, with the Ruby Girandole Earrings fetching GBP 54,000, many times over the estimated GBP 5,000 – GBP 7,000. Their current location is unknown.
Poltimore Tiara | Turquoise Parure | Cartier Halo Tiara | Lotus Flower Tiara | Snowdon Floral Tiara | Teck Diamond Hoop Necklace | Diamond Earrings | Ruby Earrings | Emerald Earrings | Pearl Earrings | Sapphire Earrings | Diamond Star Earrings | Diamond Fleur-de-Lys Brooch | Princess Margaret’s Tiaras
Poltimore Tiara
Turquoise Parure
Cartier Halo Tiara
Lotus Flower Tiara
Snowdon Floral Tiara
Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Bandeau
Teck Diamond Hoop Necklace
Diamond Earrings
Ruby Girandole Earrings
Emerald Earrings
Greville Pearl Earrings
Sapphire Earrings
Diamond Star Earrings
Diamond and Pearl Riviere
Star Brooch
Cartier Rose Brooch
Ear-of-Wheat Brooch
Floral Spray Brooch
Diamond Fleur-de-Lys Brooch
Cartier Ruby Flower Brooch
Princess Margaret's Ruby Girandole Earrings https://t.co/wGROf0Ng4O pic.twitter.com/2O6DiLfDrM
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) October 11, 2019
Princess Margaret's Ruby Girandole Earrings https://t.co/wGROf0Ng4O pic.twitter.com/2O6DiLfDrM
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) October 11, 2019Featuring large pearl shaped rubies in an ornate diamond setting, hanging from a ruby and diamond cluster, it is unknown how the Girandole Earrings came into Princess Margaret’s procession, though they might be from the famous Greville Collection.
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Princess Margaret started wearing her Ruby Girandole Earrings in the mid-1950s, often pairing them with the Halo Scroll Tiara, and even wearing them in her 26th Birthday Portraits.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images
Princess Margaret continued to wear the Ruby Girandole Earrings after her wedding in 1960s, pairing them with the Lotus Flower Tiara and the Poltimore Tiara, though they were often worn for non-tiara events as well. She had relatively few ruby pieces in her jewellery box, so these Earrings were frequently paired with pink and red gowns, and were among her favourites.
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She also wore the earrings at events in the last few years of her life, most notably at a Dinner with former American First Lady Nancy Reagan. After Princess Margaret’s death in 2002, the Ruby Girandole Earrings were sold by her children at the famous 2006 Christie’s Auction of her Jewels, where they fetched GBP 54,000, many times over the estimated GBP 5,000 – GBP 7,000. They have not been publicly seen again.
It’s a shame that the taxman causes so many beautiful jewels to disappear. They were lovely indeed!
It is interesting to look closely at the earrings and observe the subtle (and not so subtle) differences between them. The diamonds are often not the same size or shape as their counterparts on the other earring. This leads me to believe they are very old. And yet, it all works. They are lovely.