Today marks the 99th Anniversary of the Death of Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, who passed away on this day in 1925! The Danish Princess who was the longest-serving Princess of Wales and then a trendsetting Queen Consort, one of Queen Alexandra’s most iconic jewels was her Cartier Collier Résille!
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara | Wedding Parure | Amethyst Tiara | Diamond Circlet | Turquoise Circlet | Cartier Collier Résille | Diamond Chandelier Earrings | Sapphire Necklace | Diamond Link Choker | Edwardian Choker | Diamond and Pearl Brooch | Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Chain
In 1904, Queen Alexandra commissioned this magnificent Diamond Collier Résille (fishnet) Choker from Cartier with detachable cabochon emerald and ruby drops, which were taken from jewels given to Queen Alexandra by Indian Maharajas.
Queen Alexandra was depicted wearing the Cartier Collier Résille with its emerald and ruby pendants for a striking portrait with her sister, Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia.
Queen Alexandra most notably wore her Cartier Collier Résille with Queen Victoria’s Small Diamond Crown and Koh-i-Noor Diamond for an iconic portrait by François Flameng, which hangs in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
Queen Alexandra retained the Cartier Collier Résille in her possession upon being widowed, wearing it with her Diamond Circlet for the Wedding of Prince Arthur of Connaught and her granddaughter, Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, in 1913.
After Queen Alexandra’s death in 1925, the Cartier Collier Résille was among the jewels inherited by her daughter-in-law, Queen Mary, who had it altered to replace the ruby and emerald pendants with diamonds, which she wore with her Crown for a Portrait in the late 1920s.
Queen Mary notably for the Cartier Collier Resille with Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara for a series of portraits taken by Hay Wrightson in 1934, when some of the Cullinan Diamonds were used as pendants.
The Collier Résille remained in Queen Mary’s possession until her passing in 1953, with another notable appearance of the Cartier Collier with the Kokoshnik Tiara in her 80th Birthday Portraits, taken in 1947.
The Cartier Collier Résille was inherited by Queen Mary’s granddaughter, the late Queen Elizabeth II, but was never publicly worn. However, it was mentioned in Sir Hugh Roberts’ ‘The Queen’s Diamonds’ in 2012 so surely remains in the vault awaiting a reappearance, hopefully on Queen Camilla, who has worn a couple of Queen Alexandra’s long-forgotten heirlooms in recent years.
Queen Alexandra’s Collier Résille remains popular in the public imagination, being recreated for ‘Mrs Russell’ in the second season of HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’.
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara | Wedding Parure | Amethyst Tiara | Diamond Circlet | Turquoise Circlet | Cartier Collier Résille | Diamond Chandelier Earrings | Sapphire Necklace | Diamond Link Choker | Edwardian Choker | Diamond and Pearl Brooch | Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Chain
HFJMB | HFJMB
Kokoshnik Tiara
Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Parure
Diamond Circlet
Amethyst Tiara
