--Previous Message-- : : As for the three brooches, I have the : feeling that the solution is just under our : eyes... i.e. on the pictures of the Queen’s : State visit to Portugal in 1984. : : If you look closely at the necklace, you can : see that most of the elements of the : necklace are large oval-shaped amethysts : surrounded by a thin line of round brilliant : diamonds and separated by small diamond : stars. But if you look more closely, you can : see that the two amethysts on the left and : on the right of the central amethyst are : smaller and hexagonal, with a wider diamond : surround in a sunray design... like the : brooch! : : So my guess is that the three brooches are : identical, and that two of them have been : integrated into the necklace, probably to : increase its length. : : As it was frequently the case with jewels in : the 19th century, I guess that all the : elements of the necklace are detachable and : can be hitched and unhitched at will, thanks : to small hooks and loops cleverly hidden in : the metal frame (it is the same, for : instance, with the Cambridge sapphire and : diamond parure, whose necklace and brooches : were worn in several shapes and lengths by : Queen Mary and by Marina and Katherine, : Duchesses of Kent). The three pendants on : the necklace and the three ones on the : brooch are probably removable too.
Arthur - your theory about two brooches included in the neckleace to lengthen it sounds interesting and highly plausible IMO! Thank you for these clear pictures and for explaining your ideas .
It's true, that nowadays HM isn't too experimental with her jewels, but I second mauritz that there were 'shy tries' in the past - though in the case of the sapphire tiara not the most successful one, but that's not the topic .
It actually would be a great support to see a portrait of a former wearer of the parure so we could check the 'original setting'. Alas I don't have the time to browse the Royal Collection's website (or the NPG's website) now, but somehow I have the idea, that there one or more 'helpful' portraits could be found...