Focus on... Kent Jewels: More Random Pieces

It will appear that we have covered most of the important or well-known pieces in the Kent collection. This post is dedicated to some of the jewels that didn't warrant a separate article.

Most jewels belong to Princess Michael of Kent because although it was the Duchess of Kent who inherited the bulk of jewels from Princess Marina's collection, Marie Christine is the only one among Kent ladies who wears her jewels fairly regularly.

Jewellery Sets

Princess Michael has some really interesting sets in her collection. One of them is the beautiful aquamarine set that consists of a necklace of pearls and aquamarines, a pair of earrings and a brooch. Sometimes, the Princess wears the brooch (made of three large square aquamarines) in a necklace setting. 

Princess Michael wearing her Aquamarine Set

Another beauty is a citrine set consisting of a pendant and a pair of earrings. The pendant can be worn with a detachable pearl drop. Marie Cristine often dons it both on its own (as a brooch), or incorporated into a necklace.

Focus on... Kent Jewels: The Argyll Daisy Brooch

These lovely daisy brooches come from the collection of Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll.

There are three brooches, one large and two smaller ones. They were made by Garrard and are encrusted by diamonds set in white and yellow gold.

Princess Louise was the second youngest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The diamond daisy brooches were a present to Princess Louise from three of her siblings – Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice – on the occasion of her marriage to the Marquess of Lorne (then heir to the Dukedom of Argyll).

Focus on... Kent Jewels: Other Hair Pieces

We have already discussed all the tiaras and bandeaus in the possession of the Kent family. Those pieces are The Kent Festoon Tiara, The Kent Aquamarine Tiara, The Cambridge Sapphire Parure, The Kent Diamond and Pearl Tiara, The Kent Diamond Circles Bandeau, The Kent City of London Fringe Tiara, and Princess Alexandra’s Tiara and Parure. Now it's time to discuss a couple of other hair pieces in the Kent collection.

Princess Marina had several star pendants (they are also referred to as "orange blossom hair ornaments" but they look more like stars to me) which she occasional wore in her hair. They were almost certainly a gift from her mother, Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark. 

Princess Marina (left) and Princess Alexandra (right) wearing the star pendants, also known as orange blossom hair ornaments

Princess Alexandra wore the pendants in her youth in the same way as her mother - as hair pieces. It isn't known whether she inherited the pendants because Marina left very little jewellery to her daughter. It may also be that the pendants are no longer in the family because they hadn't been seen for ages. 

Focus on... Kent Jewels: Diamond and Pearl Festoon Tiara

My personal favourite tiara in the Kent collection is the Festoon Tiara. It is also probably the most recognisable one among the Kent jewels.

The Kent Pearl and Diamond Festoon Tiara

The Kent Festoon Tiara was created in 1900s by unidentified jewellers. Although it comes in a Cartier case, no records exist in the firm to confirm the connection. 

It is also not known how the tiara made its way into the Kent collection although in all probability, it was purchased by the Duke of Kent for his wife, Princess Marina.

Focus on... Kent Jewels: The Diamond and Pearl Tiara

The Kent Diamond and Pearl Tiara is currently the only known major tiara in the possession of the Duchess of Kent. Its origins are a bit difficult to trace because there is no definite, confirmed information on it. Nevertheless, the data that is available is sufficient for a pretty sound guesswork.

The Kent Diamond and Pearl Tiara (current form)

Queen Mary purchased a small diamond bandeau from Gerrard’s in 1925. She made minor adjustments to it so that her famous Cambridge emeralds could be mounted on the top. She didn't wear it very often though and it largely remained in obscurity for the next couple of decades.

Focus on... Kent Jewels: Princess Alexandra’s Tiara & Parure

Princess Marina was apparently of the belief that a woman’s jewellery collection must be formed by gifts from the family she is marrying into, meaning she left very few jewels to her daughter. And so it happens there is only one tiara in Princess Alexandra’s personal possession – but it’s versatile and beautiful enough to count for two.

Princess Alexandra's Tiara (pearl setting)

Before her marriage, the Princess occasionally used tiaras from her mother’s collection, including the Festoon Tiara, City of London Fringe Tiara, and Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara. Indeed, for her marriage to Honourable Angus Ogilvy in 1963 she wore the lovely City of London Fringe Tiara. 

Focus on... Kent Jewels: Diamond Circles Bandeau

Another jewel to have now departed the Kent collection is this lovely bandeau.

The Diamond "Snake" Bandeau in necklace form with matching earrings

The modern appearance of the bandeau is very deceiving; it's in fact an old family heirloom. The jewel was commissioned in 1890s by Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia who was renown for her fabulous jewellery collection.