Britain’s longest-reigning monarch was rarely pictured without a brooch, and the Queen’s collection featured several classic pieces. The monarch was thought to be particularly fond of the Williamson Diamond Brooch, a wedding gift which she wore on key occasions throughout her reign.
The Queen wore the Williamson Diamond Brooch during her Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977, and again to the wedding of her eldest child Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.
In her later years, the Queen also wore the brooch to welcome former US president Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to the UK.
This jewel is instantly recognisable due to its sparkling centrepiece, a rare pink diamond.
Originally a 55-carat stone, the Williamson Pink Diamond has been valued at a staggering sum.
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This year another pink diamond from the Williamson mine was sold by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong for a huge sum.
Most pink diamonds found fall into the Faint Pink to Fancy Pink colour grades.
But the Williamson Pink Star attained a Fancy Vivid Pink colour grade with an Internally Flawless clarity.
Weighing in at 11.15 carats, the Williamson Pink Star fetched £52million ($57.7million, including the auction premium), a world record price according to Forbes.
Tobias Kormind, the managing director of London jewellery shop 77 Diamonds, told the Guardian: “This is an astounding result, proving the resilience of top diamonds in a shaky economy.
“When you consider an alluring link to Queen Elizabeth, the rising prices for pink diamonds thanks to their increasing rarity, and the backdrop of an unstable global economy.”
Another famous pink diamond is the Winston Pink Legacy, an 18.96-carat Fancy Vivid Pink diamond.
Renowned jewellery brand Harry Winston purchased the diamond in 2018 at a Christie’s auction for $50million (£38.5million).
The diamond is mounted in rose gold and platinum and is flanked by colourless diamonds on either side.
