It probably comes as no shock that the Queen's jewelry collection [1] is valuable beyond belief. In fact, the unique pieces in her collection [2] are, in most cases, so valuable that they are, quite literally, priceless: with a few exceptions, the precise valuations of the Queen's jewelry pieces aren't public knowledge. There are, however, a few pieces that we can trace the worth of, either through estimations by expert jewelers or by tracing the origins of the pieces when they were originally purchased.
Some of the Queen's most expensive jewelry consists of priceless crown jewels [3] that are only worn on ceremonial occasions, but among her more "ordinary" pieces, there are a few whose prices we know a little about. Keep reading for more info about what these high-value jewels are worth, and which royal ladies have borrowed them [4] from the Queen over the years.
Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara
It's one of the most recognizable tiaras for modern royal watchers. Most closely associated with Princess Diana, it began its life in 1913 when Queen Mary asked Garrard & Co. to make a copy of a tiara owned by her grandmother. After Queen Mary's death, it passed down to Queen Elizabeth, who gave it as a wedding gift to Princess Diana [5].
It returned to the royal collection following Diana's death, and it's most recently been seen being worn by her daughter-in-law [6], the Duchess of Cambridge. The exact value has never been confirmed, but estimates are typically in the $1 million to $2 million range.
Cullinan III & IV Brooch
The massive brooch [7] is made from two of the diamonds cut from the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality diamond ever found. The Cullinan III & IV brooch consists of the third- and fourth-largest diamonds cut from it: a 94.4-carat clear pear-shaped stone, and a 63.6-carat cushion-shaped stone. Although the exact value of the brooch is unknown, the original Cullinan diamond was valued at over $2 billion.
Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara
The tiara, which was never worn until the 2018 wedding of Princess Eugenie [8], originated in a bequest from Dame Margaret Greville to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. It was first created in 1919 and features diamonds and emeralds set in platinum, including a 93.7-carat oval-shaped emerald in the center. Queen Elizabeth II has never worn the tiara, but lent it to her granddaughter Eugenie for her wedding to Jack Brooksbank [9]. Jewelry experts estimate its worth to be somewhere between $6.5 million and $13 million.
Queen Mary Bandeau Tiara
Originally made for Queen Mary (Queen Elizabeth's grandmother), the bandeau tiara consists of a diamond brooch set in the middle of a detachable, eleven-section band. The brooch was originally a gift to Queen Mary, and she had the tiara made in 1932 to display it. It was most recently seen as Meghan Markle's wedding tiara in 2018 [10], which she selected from the tiaras the Queen offered to lend her. According to jewelry expert Deborah Papas, the tiara is worth an estimated $2.5 million [11].
Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara
As you might have guessed by its name, this tiara was made by Cartier and is actually a more recent addition to the royal jewel collection. Queen Elizabeth's father bought it for his wife only weeks before they became king and queen in 1936. It was gifted to Elizabeth on her 18th birthday, then lent around the royal family, including to Princess Margaret and Princess Anne. Most recently, it was the wedding tiara chosen by Kate Middleton [12] at her 2011 wedding. Papas estimates the worth of this tiara [13] to be between $936,000 and $1,560,300.
Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara
As its name suggests, this tiara has its roots in Russian royalty. During the Russian Revolution, the tiara was rescued, along with other priceless jewels, and smuggled out of the country. Eventually, the Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna (mother of Princess Marina of Greece, who later became the Duchess of Kent [14]) sold the tiara to Queen Mary in 1921. The tiara originally featured diamonds and pearls, but Queen Mary had it altered to accommodate 15 Cambridge emeralds; the original pearls can be switched in still, and Queen Elizabeth II has worn the tiara on several occasions.
In 1921, Queen Mary purchased it for £28,000; adjusted for inflation and to America dollars, that price would be $469,495. The value, of course, has increased even more than just inflation, so the current value of the piece is likely much more than that!