Posted by Singa on August 1, 2014, 7:03 am, in reply to "Re: The originals"
I expect Queen Alexandra to have swaped the moonstones for the rubies when her husband was king. So it must have happened more than 100 years ago. I think with the funds she had at her disposal she might have found rubies big enough.
Does someone know if the moonstones are still in the Royal Collection?
--Previous Message-- : 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, 7:03 am, in reply to "