Jewels for July: Sweden’s rubies

Surprisingly, Sweden has few rubies in its very vast arsenal of royal jewels. They have a beautiful ruby tiara that Queen Silvia has stunned in and a diamond and ruby brooch worn by several women in the Royal Family.

The King Edward VII Ruby Tiara

This tiara arrived in Sweden in 1905 when Princess Margaret of Connaught married the future King Gustaf VI Adolf; she was given the tiara as a wedding gift by her aunt and uncle, the UK’s King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. When she died in 1920, this tiara passed down to her second son, Prince Sigvard.

Prince Sigvard lost his titles when he married a commoner and eventually sold the tiara to his father. Drama ensued because Sigvard claimed he only loaned the tiara to his father while his father vowed he bought it. King Gustaf VI Adolf ended up leaving the tiara in his will to his grandson, Michael (Sigvard’s son). Michael later sold it to King Carl XVI Gustaf, and it is now worn exclusively by Queen Silvia.

The tiara was made by E. Wolff & Co. and has a scrolling diamond design with rubies spread out on the tiara’s base and the three upright motifs. It can also be worn as necklace by removing it from its base. Queen Silvia has worn it as both a necklace and tiara.

The Leuchtenberg Pearl and Ruby Brooch

Like many Swedish jewels, this jewellery can be traced back to Josephine of Leuchtenberg who came to Sweden when she married King Oscar I, and the King later gave her this piece as a gift. This brooch features diamonds, pearls and rubies in a floral design. There are five pearls on the pin which represent the couple’s five children.

The brooch is now worn by Queen Silvia and her daughter, Crown Princess Victoria. They’ve each used it as a hair piece on different occasions.

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