In recent weeks, the second season of HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’ has become quite a sensation for its gripping storyline and sumptuous costumes, so today we are featuring the several heirloom Royal Jewels that have been replicated for the period drama, which has now been renewed for a Third Season!
Set in the 1880s, massively wealthy Betha Russell displays her ‘new money’ by wearing several period appropriate necklaces throughout the first season, though the striking Diamond Choker certainly dates from a much later time period, as does the delicate floral Tiara. However, the Victorian tiara worn for Ball during the season finale seems perfectly suitable.
Mrs Russell seems to have been based on characteristics of several of the Vanderbilt Family’s prominent women, including Alva Vanderbilt and Grace Vanderbilt, whose new money and ostentatious spending initially made them social pariahs in ‘Old Money’ New York society. The Vanderbilt covered themselves with Jewels, often of European Royal Provenance, which was much more on display in season two.
Season two begins with a magnificent Dinner, where Mrs Russell was seen wearing a large diamond Tiara and a striking Diamond Necklace, which seems to be a copy of Queen Alexandra’s Collier Résille, which was commissioned at Cartier in 1904.
In a later Dinner scene, Mrs Russell was seen wearing the same Tiara with another spectacular diamond necklace, which was possibly also commissioned by Queen Alexandra at Cartier, and includes a spectacular Cartier Belle Epoque Choker, though both necklaces were created two decades after the period depicted.
Mrs Russell wore the lower portion of the necklace for another dinner sequence, this time with a spectacular Pearl and Diamond Wreath Tiara, which seems to be rather period appropriate.
At a reception to mark the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge, Mrs Russell was seen wearing a striking Pearl and Diamond Tiara and a coordinating necklace, which is a replica of the Boucheron Pearl and Diamond Stomacher belonging to Mrs Flora Sassoon, and dated to around 1900.
For the Season Two finale, at the Opening of the Metropolitan Opera House wore a magnificent Tiara for her crowning moment, which was a recreation of a striking Fabergé Tiara created from diamonds given by the Tsar of Russia to Empress Josephine, which was acquired by the Belgian Royal Family and belonged to Queen Maria José of Italy before being auctioned in 2007.
A point of continuity we did see was Gladys Russell wearing a necklace previously worn by her mother in the previous season, but her most prominent jewels were the four large diamond stars in her hair at a crucial dinner, which were no doubt inspired by the iconic Diamond Stars of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Mrs Russell’s initial rivalry was with her neighbour across the street, Mrs van Rhijn, who lives with her sister, Ada Brook, and niece, Marian, and as part go ‘Old Money’ New York, wears conventional period jewels which are almost minimal in contrast to Mrs Russell’s ostentatious display of wealth.
Marian Brook’s jewels are rather understated but she wore a striking Diamond Necklace, which is a recreation of the spectacular Diamond Necklace of Viscountess Harcourt, an American Heiress who was the niece of JP Morgan who married into the British Aristocracy (discovered by David of SpanishRoyalJewels). The Diamonds in the necklace originated from the French Crown Jewels, and the piece itself is the product of ‘New Money’, so it is rather ironic that it is worn by an ‘Old Money’ figure on the show.
Marian also wore a striking Diamond Feather Brooch that shares similarities with the late Queen’s Carrington Feather Brooch, though the design was quite common for the period.
Mrs Russell’s main rivalry is with Mrs Astor, who is the leader of New York Society and thus wears sumptuous jewels, though they fail to compete with Mrs Russell’s spectacular collection.
There is also a significant jewel worn by Mrs Scott, the mother of Peggy Scott, which seems to be a smaller recreated of Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara, though with what seems to be emeralds instead of the opals it contained then or the rubies it contains now.
The character of Mrs Winterton starts out as Mrs Russell’s ladies maid who marries a rich man and becomes a part of society, wearing period appropriate gold and gemstone tiara on a few occasions before she debuts a large diamond tiara in the season finale, that is a recreation of the spectacular Kinsky Tiara that now belongs to the Princely Family of Liechtenstein.
In another scene, she can be seen wearing a replica of Queen Alexandra’s Dagmar Necklace, which was made in 1863 and would have thus been a very period appropriate piece.
A notable jewel to add before we end is this unique Tiara of Aurora Fane, which is obviously a faux piece but still shares similarities with Princess Ingeborg’s Boucheron Pearl Circle Tiara now in the Norwegian Royal Family.
Tiaras
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
Vladimir Tiara
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara
Belgian Sapphire Tiara
Burmese Ruby Tiara
Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara
Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara
Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara
Plunket Tiara
Five Aquamarine Tiara
Imperial State Crown
George IV State Diadem
Necklaces
Coronation Necklace and Earrings
The Cambridge Emerald Parure
Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace
King George VI Sapphire Suite
Queen’s Three-Strand Pearl Necklace
King George VI Festoon Necklace
Queen’s South African Diamonds
Queen’s City of London Fringe Necklace
Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace
Greville Ruby Necklace
Queen’s Japanese Pearl Choker
Kent Amethyst Parure
Queen’s Emerald Tassel Suite
Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Choker
Greville Emerald Necklace
Queen’s Dubai Sapphire Suite
King Khalid Diamond Necklace
Pakistani Turquoise Necklace
The Queen’s Sapphires
Earrings
Greville Diamond Chandelier Earrings
Duchess of Gloucester’s Pendant Earrings
Queen Victoria’s Pearl Earrings
Queen’s Bahrain Pearl Earrings
Antique Diamond Earrings
Queen’s Pear-Drop Diamond Earrings
Queen’s Silver Jubilee Earrings
Brooches
The Cullinan Diamond
Queen Victoria’s Bow Brooches
Queen’s Williamson Pink Diamond Brooch
Duchess of Cambridge’s Pearl Pendant Brooch
Queen Mary’s Diamond Stomacher
Prince Albert’s Sapphire Brooch
Queen Victoria’s 11 Pearl Brooch
Queen Adelaide’s Diamond Brooch
Queen Mary’s Diamond Thistle Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch
Queen Mary’s Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Wheat Ear Brooches
Queen Mary’s Celtic Knot Brooch
Teck Flower Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Brooch
Maple Leaf Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Crown Ruby Brooch
Queen’s Welsh Guards Leek Brooch
Queen’s Brigade of Guards Brooch
Sapphire Jubilee Snowflake Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bar Brooches
Bracelets
Queen’s Engagement Ring
Queen’s Wedding Gift Bracelet
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bracelet
Queen Mother’s Cartier Bracelets
Regalia and Honours
Imperial State Crown
George IV State Diadem
The Coronation Regalia
Honours of Scotland
British Royal Orders
The Commonwealth Royal Orders
Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
The British Royal Tiaras
Tiaras | Necklaces | Earrings | Brooches | Bracelets | Regalia and Honours
In marking the first anniversary of Her late Majesty’s death and my Accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us.
I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during… pic.twitter.com/NfM6LDWTA0
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 7, 2023
In marking the first anniversary of Her late Majesty’s death and my Accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us.
I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during… pic.twitter.com/NfM6LDWTA0
In loving and everlasting memory.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 21st April 1926 – 8th September 2022. pic.twitter.com/K4sbYny40v
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2023
In loving and everlasting memory.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 21st April 1926 – 8th September 2022. pic.twitter.com/K4sbYny40v
Mrs. Winterton also wears a copy of the Dagmar necklace when she first meets her former employer as the new Mrs. Winterton.
Thanks! We missed that but will add it in!