The Romanov dynasty's legacy sparkled with luxurious jewelry passed down through generations. Discover the untold tales of these precious heirlooms that adorned the lives of the Russian Royal Family. Step into a world of opulence and grandeur as we delve into the captivating history of Romanov jewelry, cherished by Russian royalty.
Pic courtesy- thecourtjeweller.com
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia was the only surviving daughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia and his first wife, Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine. She had 6 brothers and being the only girl made her rather tomboyish. She lived her childhood in luxury at the large palaces and country estates owned by the Romanovs. Maria Alexandrovna met Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Victoria's second son at Jugenheim in August 1868, while visiting her maternal relatives.
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Prince Alfred and Maria Alexandrovna met again in Heiligenberg in 1871 and started to fall in love. The couple, after considerable objections from their respective families, finally tied the knot at the Grand Church of the Winter Palace on 23 January 1874. Maria’s father, Tsar Alexander II gave his daughter some exquisite jewelry as dowry. This included sapphires that he had inherited from his mother and a magnificent parure that had belonged to Catherine the Great.
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As a wedding present, Tsar Alexander gifted his daughter Maria a comprehensive parure of diamonds and Burmese rubies from the court jeweler Bolin. The tiara russe given to her really stood out as it was made of diamonds. The tiara could also be worn as a necklace. At the time, no one had seen such glorious pieces of jewels. When George Greville, 4th Earl of Warwick, visited Maria at the home post her marriage he said of her jewels, “One would have thought that the world had been ransacked to lay these treasures at the Duchess’s feet, and there seemed to be enough for an entire royal family rather than for one member of it.”
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Maria Alexandrovna enjoyed wearing the most lavish set of jewelry all her life. Her fringe tiara was one of the most exquisite ones and was passed on for many generations until it was auctioned off later.
The enchanting world of Romanov jewelry evokes the splendor of Russian royalty through the ages. These exquisite gems, once worn by illustrious figures like Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, continue to mesmerize us with their enduring beauty. As we rediscover these Russian royal gems lost in time, we honor their legacy and keep their allure alive in our hearts and minds.
