Focus on... Camilla's Jewels: Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara

The Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara used to be one of the Queen Mother’s signature jewels and has become an equally signature piece of the Duchess of Cornwall.

Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara in its current form

The tiara consists of diamonds set in platinum in a contemporary honeycomb and lozenge design. Originally a strictly symmetrical piece, it was remodelled to add several brilliant-cut diamonds and a single marquise-cut one. 

Boucheron created the original diadem for Mrs Greville in 1901 using diamonds from her own collection. By 1920s, that design of the tiara grew out of fashion and so Mrs Greville commissioned the same firm to make a more contemporary piece using the stone from the old tiara. The work was done by Lucien Hirtz, chief designer of Boucheron in Paris. The new tiara was executed in strict geometrical honeycomb style.

British Royal Jewels: The Queen's Boucheron Aquamarine Clips

The Boucheron Aquamarine Brooches are some of the Queen's favourite and most-worn pieces. 

Boucheron Aquamarine Clips

The idea of clip brooches came to French jeweller Louis Cartier as he once observed a woman hanging out her washing with wooden clothes pegs. He popularized his idea in the 1930s by designing brooches so that they could be worn as a single brooch or as matching clips.

These Art Deco brooches were an 18th birthday present to Princess Elizabeth from her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) in 1944. They are made of aquamarine and diamonds, and in a typical 1940s design combine baguette, oval and round stones.