Princess Margaret’s Diamond Earrings

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The late Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, the Queen’s vivacious younger sister, was born on this day in 1930. To mark the day, we are taking a look at her antique Diamond Earrings which were sold at auction.

 

Each composed of a an old-cut diamond cluster surmount suspending a foliate diamond link and pear-shaped diamond cluster drop, these Diamond Earrings were acquired by Princess Margaret around the same time as her Poltimore Tiara in the late 1950s.

Each old-cut diamond cluster surmount suspending a foliate diamond link and pear-shaped diamond cluster drop, mounted in silver and gold, in fitted green leather Garrard & Co. Ltd., 112 Regent Street, case

The Diamond Earrings were debuted along with the Poltimore Necklace for a Gala Performance at Covent Garden right after the announcement of her Engagement to Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960.

Princess Margaret notably wore the Diamond Earrings with the Poltimore Tiara at the Wedding Ball of King Baudouin and Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón at the Royal Palace of Brussles and it was also worn for the Belgian State Visit in 1963, in Denmark in 1964, and in America in 1965, in addition to numerous official and less formal portraits.

The Diamond Earrings became a classic pairing with the Poltimore Tiara as well as the Teck Diamond Hoop Necklace or her Diamond Rivières by the 1970s and 80s, when they were worn for the Japanese State Visit in 1971, Swedish State Visit in 1975, the Silver Jubilee Gala at Covent Garden in 1977, in the Philippines in 1980, Oman State Visit in 1982, Dutch State Visit in 1982, the American State Visit in 1982, and the Spanish State Visit in 1986, among many other occasions.

Princess Margaret continued to wear the Diamond Earrings regularly into the 1990s, with the Polish State Visit to Britain in 1991, Brunei State Visit to Britain in 1992, and Heads of State Banquet at Guildhall in 1995 among numerous State Openings of Parliament and other gala occasions into her final years.

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 famous 2006 Christie’s Auction, with the Diamond Earrings being sold for GBP 148,000, well above the GBP 8,000 – GBP 12,000 estimate. They haven’t been seen since.

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

Snowdon Diamond Flower Tiara

Greville Pearl Earrings

Diamond Star Earrings

Queen Mary’s Diamond and Pearl Riviere

Princess Margaret’s Diamond Rivière

Sapphire Earrings

Emerald Earrings

Ear-of-Wheat Brooch

Star Brooch

Floral Spray Brooch

Each featuring an old-cut diamond cluster surmount suspending a foliate diamond link and pear-shaped diamond cluster drop, mounted in silver and gold, these diamond earrings were acquired by Princess Margaret around the same time as her Poltimore Tiara in the late 1950s.

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The Diamond earrings were first publicly worn on the 1st of March, 1960, when Princess Margaret accompanied the Queen Mother and Antony Armstrong-Jones to the Royal Opera House in London.

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The earrings soon became a favourite of Princess Margaret, who wore them for gala occasions, often with her diamond flower brooches, and for more formal occasions, when they were paired with the Poltimore Tiara and the .

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Unlike some other jewels, these diamond earrings continued to be worn by Princess Margaret well into her old age and up until her death.

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After her death in 2002, the diamond earrings were inherited by her children, Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto, who had to sell some of her jewels in order to pay the inheritance taxes on her estate. The earrings were included in the sale, and were auctioned for GBP 148,000, well above the GBP 8,000 – GBP 12,000 estimate. They haven’t been seen since.

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