Today marks the 65th Anniversary of the Birth of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who was born on this day in 1961! The Earl’s daughter who became the Princess of Wales and one of the most iconic (and tragic) women of the last century, the Princess possessed a spectacular jewellery collection, which was highlighted by her seven-strand Pearl and Sapphire Choker!
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara | Spencer Tiara | Sapphire Choker | Prince of Wales Feathers Pendant | Art Deco Emerald Choker | Saudi Sapphire Suite | Diamond and Pearl Earrings | Sapphire Earrings | Modern Sapphire Choker | Butterfly Suite | Sapphire Choker | Jewels of Diana, Princess of Wales
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! The Princess of Wales often wears the late Queen’s Japanese Pearl Choker and we can see this Necklace being worn equally as often.
