Prussia's Most Iconic Jewels; A Royal Legacy in Diamonds

Prussia was a powerful German state that played a crucial role in shaping European history, especially from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Originally a duchy in the Holy Roman Empire, Prussia evolved into a major kingdom, renowned for its disciplined military, efficient bureaucracy, and influential leadership. Prussia was the driving force behind German unification, with King Wilhelm I of Prussia becoming the first German emperor. The Prussian jewels reflect the elegance and grandeur of the era, with many pieces later incorporated into Germany's national heritage. So let's explore the most iconic jewellery of Prussia. Before we start please support my channel by clicking like and subscribe buttons, and if you wish you can support me via the super thanks button on YouTube. Princess Cecily of Prussia's Faberge tiara. Crafted around 1903 in the classic kokoschnik style, this tiara, though unsigned, is frequently attributed to the esteemed house of Faberge. The piece features three prominent circular elements, centred within a delicate lattice and quatrefoil design, with the central motif designed to be detachable. The tiara was a wedding gift to Duchess Cecily of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, on her marriage to Crown Prince Wilhelm, the son of Kaiser Wilhelm II, in June 1905. Though Crown Princess Cecily wore the tiara on occasion, it was her daughter, Princess Cecily, who made one of its most memorable appearances. After the Second World War, the younger Cecily married American designer Clyde Harris in June 1949 at the historic Hohenzollern Castle, in a ceremony attended by a unique mix of royals and Texans. In May 2019, this remarkable tiara, with its rich history and connections to European nobility and American society, was sold at Sotheby's for $433,000. Prussian Clover Cornet The original Prussian Clover Cornet was an exquisite design featuring four prominent diamond clovers, each accented by diamond swags and smaller clover motifs along the base. Commissioned by Kaiser Wilhelm II from Julerco in 1906, this cornet was a silver anniversary gift for Empress Augusta Victoria. The Empress proudly wore the cornet at official events and in portraits, including her famous painting by Laszlo. Unlike much of her jewellery, the cornet's fate was carefully documented after the monarchy's fall in 1918. When the Empress went into exile in the Netherlands, she brought the Prussian Clover Cornet with her. In the 1950s, parts of the cornet were repurposed to create two different tiaras. Recently, the Clover Cornet has been displayed at various exhibitions, yet it remains unworn by the current Princess of Prussia, awaiting a new chapter in its storied legacy. Prussian Ruby Demipauver This exquisite ruby and diamond demipauver, crafted in gold, comprises a stately necklace of ten oval ruby clusters interspersed with ten cross-shaped elements, accompanied by a pair of long earrings, two cluster brooches, a smaller choker-style necklace, and a bracelet. Tradition holds that this set was a gift from King Maximilian I of Bavaria to his daughter, Elisabeth Ludovica, upon her 1823 marriage to Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia. Another account, however, suggests that the rubies in this parier originally belonged to Empress Elisabeth Christine, who bequeathed them to her nephew, King Friedrich Wilhelm II. When Duchess Cecilia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin married Crown Prince Wilhelm in 1905, she received the ruby Demipauver in Jusufrat. Crown Princess Cecilia wore the splendid ruby suite on numerous occasions throughout her life, even after the German monarchy was dissolved in 1918, preserving its royal legacy well into the 20th century. Prussian Aquamarine Earrings These exceptional earrings feature two large, pear-shaped aquamarines, set within an intricate antique diamond frame, elegantly suspended from a delicate diamond bow crafted in silver and gold, adorned with rose-cut diamonds. Dating back to Queen Louise of Prussia, these aquamarine earrings are recorded in her 1810 inventory as part of her treasured collection. Throughout the 1890s, Empress Auguste Victoria frequently wore these heirloom earrings in official portraits. The earrings remained with the royal lineage until their auction in Switzerland in 1993. Then, in 2006, a private owner generously donated the earrings to the Stiftung Presischlosser and Garten Berlin-Brandenburg Foundation in Germany, preserving their place in Prussian heritage. Prussian Diamond Tiara The stunning diamond diadem, crafted by cocked jewelers in Berlin, was first worn by Princess Victoria, Louise of Prussia, upon her marriage to Prince Ernst August of Hanover in 1913. The tiara's design reflects a neoclassical style, with motifs like laurel leaves symbolising victory and eternal love. As it passed through generations, the tiara found its way to Greece with Princess Frederica, who later became Queen of Greece. Frederica wore it for significant events, continuing its legacy within European royalty. Eventually, the tiara transitioned to Spain when Frederica's daughter, Queen Sophia married Prince Juan Carlos. Queen Sophia's affection for the tiara helped it become a celebrated and enduring part of the Spanish royal jewellery collection. In more recent years, Queen Letizia of Spain was seen wearing the tiara, notably on her wedding day, adding a contemporary touch to this historic piece. Prussian Sapphire Parure The breathtaking sapphire and pearl parure, featuring sizeable sapphires nestled in diamond settings alongside lustrous pearls, comprised a grand tiara, necklace, earrings, two brooches, a bracelet and even a fan. It is believed that the sapphires were ancient heirlooms of the House of Hohenzollern, and the parure's design suggests it was crafted in the early 19th century, possibly for Queen Elizabeth Ludovica of Prussia, its first documented owner. This regal parure was worn by Crown Princess Cicely for few royal occasions. Upon Crown Princess Cicely's passing in 1954, her jewellery was returned to the Prince of Prussia and may have been sold by Kaiser Wilhelm II during his years in exile. Unfortunately, its current whereabouts remain unknown. Prussian Minder Tiara Crafted by the jeweller Koch in 1905, the Minder Tiara showcases an elegant caucasianic design of diamonds set in platinum. Its structure is composed of intricate panels of diamond trellis work framed by two rows of the iconic creek key, or Minder motifs. This tiara was gifted to Duchess Cicely of Mecklenburg-Schwerin by her husband-to-be, Wilhelm, as a wedding present. Remarkably, Cicely retained this precious heirloom even after her family went into exile, and she wore it with distinction at the 1935 wedding gala of her nephew, Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, to Princess Ingrid of In modern times, the Minder Tiara has continued to grace significant royal events. Princess Victoria Luz of Prussia donned it at her 2017 wedding to hereditary Prince Ferdinand of Leiningen, and more recently, she wore it to the 2023 wedding ball of Prince Ludwig and Princess Sophie of Bavaria. That's it for today. Thanks for watching. Please do not forget to support my channel by clicking like and subscribe buttons.