After reading The Queens Diamonds I have become thoroughly confused regarding The Cambridge Emeralds. Almost Everything previously published about The Cambridge Emeralds seems to be wrong.
According to The Queens Diamonds there were "approximately 30 stones altogether". 15 Cambridge emeralds in the Vladimir Tiara, 7 in the stomacher, 2 in the brooch, and 9 in The Delhi Durbar Necklace. That adds up to 33.
On the Royal Collection website in the exhibition "Dress for the Occasion" it says something different. The choker (worn by Diana, Princess of Wales) is made with 16 Cambridge Emeralds, 15 in the Vladimir Tiara, 7 in the Stomacher, 2 in the brooch, 1 in the earrings, and 3 in the bracelet. That adds up to 44. It also says The Delhi Durbar Necklace was a gift from the ladies of India (no mention of the emeralds being Cambridge Emeralds).
My question is how could the descriptions be so different. Is it possible that the choker was the gift from the ladies of India rather than the necklace? I always thought it was odd that Queen Mary started out with a choker when making the new parure, and that the necklace was an unexpected gift. It would make more sense if it was the over way around considering how much thought Queen Mary put into the parure.
Edit: I forgot about the necklace "that gets caught in the soup"
The other thing I am wondering is what happened to the 96 small brilliants cut from the Cullinan Diamond. And where did the 94 small brilliants in the Delhi Durbar Necklace come from. My theory is that they were used in the necklace.
on May 25, 2012, 2:51 pm