How wonderful Barbara that you could visit this exhibition, it truly must have been fabulous to see all these jewels.
I also have mixed feelings about The Rosebery Tiara. It somehow looks to me as if the top elements are upside down, but seeing it live must make a diference I think. The top tear shape elements can be removed and placed on a chain to form a necklace.
And here is Raine Spencer wearing the pearl tiara. It can also be worn as a necklace, I've seen a picture of her wearing it as necklace for King Constantine 50th birthaday party in London in late 1980's I think.
--Previous Message-- : Last week I spent some days in London and also : went to the V&A museum to see the exhibition : "Pearls". And I wasn't : dissappointed! : : Beside a lot of information about how and : why pearls grow and how they are harvested, : a huge amount of lovely pearl jewellery was : on display - both historic and contemporary. : : My personal highlight were the tiaras. Among : them The Rosebery Tiara (sold at Christie's : in 2011, and I guess, bought by the Qatar : Museum Authority) and Lady Raine Spencer's : pearl tiara. At the time of the Rosebery : Tiara's auction, I wasn't so impressed by : the jewel from the pictures, but it has : grown on me when seeing it in real...a truly : lovely gem . : : Rosebery Pearl Tiara : : : http://tiarasandtrianon.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/rosebery-tiara1.jpg?w=584 : : : Raine Spencer Pearl Tiara : : : http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/8POrpDfcla7tnOvmDTBhtA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTQyMTtweG9mZj01MDtweW9mZj0wO3E9ODU7dz03NDk-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/photo_1379526287861-1-HD.jpg : : : The exhibition is definitely worth a visit : and it still goes on until 19 january 2014. :