John - I do think we have a bit of a puzzle here, and Field might not have got it right. Young, in 1968, identified the earrings Field discussed as "Crown Jewellery, passing from sovereign to soverign" and part of Princess Elizabeth's parents' wedding gift to her along with this ruby necklace. So not Queen Mary's earrings.
--Previous Message-- : Then King George V gave Queen Mary almost the : exact same pair of earrings, albeit bigger, : she already owned or at least wore in the : picture. : : --Previous Message-- : : I found some information on ruby earrings in : Field but believe it cannot be about the : earrings worn in the pic. : Queen Mary does not look fifty-nine. : : Field 1997 on page 140 says - : : "For her fifty-ninth birthday, on 26 : May 1926, King George V presented Queen Mary : with these earrings - large oval rubies each : set in a cluster of nine brilliant-cut : diamonds. Later that year, the Queen : officially added them to the other pieces of : ruby jewellery left to the Crown by Queen : Victoria and King Edward VII. Many of these : pieces are presently worn by Queen Elizabeth : the Queen Mother. Queen Mary's earrings : were given to the Queen by her parents in : 1947. " : : : : : : --Previous Message-- : Doesn't QEII have a pair of ruby earrings : inherited from her grandmother? Could this : be the same pair? Then rubies in the : aigrette would make sense. : : Just when you thought it was safe to go in : the water, *another* Queen Mary mystery : comes up!!! : : : : : :