Ever since Edward VII issued a royal warrant to Cartier in 1904, it has designed many fabulous pieces for the British Royal Family. So many in fact that by 1937 the firm held 589 (!) loose diamonds on behalf of Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother).
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| The Cartier Lily Brooch |
Not knowing what to do with that quantity of loose brilliants, jewellers at Cartier decided to create a contemporary ornament. A working sketch of the jewel made in 1938 suggests their plan had attained royal approval. Cartier used 197 diamonds from the Queen’s collection and supplied further 52 stones to create the Lily Brooch.
