Posted by Beth1 on August 1, 2014, 5:29 am, in reply to "Re: The originals"
Thank you Nellie. I agree. It seems to me that it would not be very easy for the shape and size of the stones to be easily replicated. So, I wonder if the setting was changed. Various accounts, including Twining's, say that Queen Alexandra substituted rubies for the opals, and the inference is that the setting was not changed. To me that does not seem something which could have been done easily.--Not impossible, I agree, but it seems unlikely, as it would be very difficult to find rubies of high quality of the same size and shape to fit into a setting done during the time of Queen Victoria. That is one of the reasons why I asked some time ago if the stones were spinels. Even so, I still wonder if the setting is precisely the same as that of the necklace and earrings of Queen Victoria.
--Previous Message-- : : I really have no idea what the answer would : be, but, if the question was raised : seriously within the royal family, I think : that experts working for and within the : Royal Collection would be consulted. : There would probably be a great deal of : research and discussion take place. : Just what the resulting advice might be we : cannot guess, I suggest. : : : --Previous Message-- : Can jewels that are part of the Crown Jewels : be altered by the monarch today? Let's say : swap the rubies for other stones or do they : have to be kept the way they are (except : maybe altering a ring's width)? What if QEII : wanted to change back to moonstones in order : to restore it to its original appearance? : Could she do it? : : --Previous Message-- : I believe this image has been posted on the : board before, but I don't recall by who. It : shows the Oriental tiara with the original : opals and you can also see what are now the : Crown ruby earrings with their original : opals. : : : : : : :
on August 1, 2014, 5:29 am, in reply to "