Fit for a Duchess – The Gems & Jewels at the Royal Wedding 2018

Fit for a Duchess – The Gems & Jewels at the Royal Wedding 2018

The second most anticipated wedding of the year (in the opinion of Biddle & Webb – our auctioneer Ellie is also getting married this year!) took place on Saturday, and what a jewellery feast it was. As I love everything jewellery, I thought I would take you through a few of the highlights and how you could emulate the looks through buying at auction (at a fraction of the cost!).

The Engagement Ring

Since the royal engagement, the sale of trilogy rings has soared. Three stones are widely thought to symbolise ‘past, present and future’ and they can also have religious connotations. Typically set with graduated diamonds, Meghan’s principal diamond is from Princess Diana’s collection. The three stone ring is also popularly given as an anniversary gift.

The Wedding Rings

Unlike many men in the royal family, Prince Harry has taken the decision to wear a platinum wedding band. While Meghan is wearing a wedding band traditionally made from Welsh gold (a gift from the Queen). The wearing of a wedding ring for brides dates back to ancient Egypt, whereas for grooms, the tradition became popular during WWII. Wedding bands still remain a personal preference, with the never-ending circle of gold (or platinum) symbolising everlasting love.

The Tiara

The pièce de résistance of the whole day was Queen Mary’s diamond tiara. It sat atop Meghan’s veil, embroidered with the national flowers of the 53 Commonwealth countries. The whole combination beautifully complemented the classic wedding dress, designed by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller.

The Bracelet & Earrings

Both Cartier, they added modern glamour. Being diamond they added a hint of sparkle for the ears and wrist, but allowed the tiara to take centre stage.

That AQUAMARINE!

What a stunner! A real party piece, again from Princess Diana’s collection. Meghan paired the ring with an elegant floor length Stella McCartney halter dress for their evening reception. A dress ring adds a pop of colour and is an easy way to make a statement with just one piece of jewellery.

The jewellery chosen for this special occasion complemented the modern approach to the whole wedding. The jewellery held a lot of symbolism with a mixture of family heirlooms alongside contemporary pieces.

Here at Biddle & Webb, we also see a mixture of modern alongside antique and vintage pieces. Auction gives you the opportunity to purchase something a little different, which is not always available on the high street. Here are a few pieces Biddle & Webb have sold, inspired by the royal wedding:

Realised £1150.