Wearing paste jewels or mixing real, synthetic and paste jewels has been done for ages. The synthetic versions that now are produced are so good it becomes difficult to distinguish them from the real thing. Replacing real stones by paste ones and the other way around has happened before depending on the wealth of the person in possession of the jewels. So Mathilde is in good company with grand regal consorts as Queen Alexandra and her sister Empress Maria Feodorvna when it comes to not shying away from having a few paste pieces in her collection.
--Previous Message-- : Dear Henri.... : : Why always connect the Duchess of Brabant : with paste jewels....? Paste is such an ugly : word :s : : She wore paste/fake diamond @ the 40the : birthday of the Prince of Orange but in : Monaco & London she was one of the stars : of the evening wearing real diamonds. : : : : :