I was fortunate enough to see this brooch in person when the exhibition "Pearls: A Natural History" came to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.
Here is some information about it from Geoffrey Munn's book The Triumph of Love: Jewelry 1530-1930.
The brooch was part of the jewels distributed to family and friends, according to the Queen's instructions, by Princess Beatrice. It was given to Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll. It is "an openwork gold brooch, in Elizabethan taste, a stylized crowned heart decorated with Gothic foliage and surmounted by four freshwater pearls from Scotland, the jewel is set with amethysts, a garnet and two chrysoberyls."
It was a gift from Prince Albert on their third wedding anniversary and is engraved on the back 'From Albert Feby 10th 1843'. The Queen wrote in her journal "My beloved Albert gave me a lovely brooch which is so original in design & which I am delighted with."
Laura
--Previous Message-- : Googled Queen Victoria's Brooches Images and a : few things came up and I'm asking for help : on there provences? : : Something about an auction and BBC on the : above brooch. : : : Mentioned that above brooch now belongs to : Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Munn, : London : : : :