Diamonds were much coveted but exceptionally rare, at that time coming only from the legendary Golconda mine of India. Saint Edward’s crown was simply carried in the procession. When George II was crowned in 1727, he used a new State Crown with a pavé of over 12,000 brilliant cut diamonds and one large rose cut replacing the coloured gems previously in the crown. A curious 444 gems bedeck the crown.ĭespite its historical and symbolic significance, the crown is worn only for a brief moment of coronation then switched out for the State Imperial Crown. Arches meet in the centre of the crown under a ‘monde’ or round orb symbolizing the world and topped by another cross pattée. The crown is a weighty 2.23 kg adorned with the distinctive flared arms of crosses pattée alternating with fleurs de lys. Not unlike the borrowed bling of today’s Academy Awards.
Vyner provided the stones, and six days after the coronation, they were stripped from the crown and returned.
In order to create a breathtaking display of gems, Charles II had no option but to ‘rent’ the gems at a price of £550. This was an exceptionally expensive undertaking: rebuilding the regalia was said to cost the monarchy the equivalent of three fully fitted warships. Following the Restoration and in preparation for his own coronation, Charles II commissioned new coronation regalia, including a crown bearing the name of the saint king.Įleven new pieces were entrusted to Robert Vyner, who oversaw the workmanship of various jewellers and goldsmiths. Edward’s Crown, together with almost all other regalia (the spoon to be used in the anointment of King Charles III, one of the few exceptions), was destroyed in 1649 during the Civil War. The relative ‘modesty’ is befitting: the crown is a replica of the one assumed to have been worn by the 11th-century King Edward the Confessor, later known as Saint Edward. True, it is a solid gold frame that includes rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnets, topazes, peridots, zircons, and tourmalines, but while colourful, they pale in rarity and importance to those of the Imperial State Crown, the Sceptre and even the crown the Queen Consort will wear. In fact, even those stones were hired as needed until 1911, when King George V had the crown permanently set with modestly precious gems. The oldest of the crowns and the most modest in gem adornment. Get out your binocs, here’s a field guide to the most important ones: St. They include, without question, some of the rarest gems ever to be discovered. On May 6 th, for the second time in a year, the world will be privy to a rare viewing of the most important gems and regalia of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
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