Today marks the 105th Anniversary of the Death of Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden, who passed away on this day in 1920. The Bristish-born Princess who married the Swedish heir to the throne, Daisy, as she was affectionately called by family and friends, possessed a legendary collection of jewels, including a lesser-known Sapphire and Tourmaline Necklace, which we are featuring today!
Connaught Diamond Tiara | Khedive of Egypt Tiara | Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara | King Edward VII Ruby Tiara | Laurel Wreath Tiara | Egyptian Necklace | Sapphire and Tourmaline Necklace | Connaught Sapphire Brooch | Aquamarine Pendant | Amethyst Brooch
This chain necklace, composed of approximately fifteen floral-inspired clusters adorned with pale pink and bluish gemstones, is listed in the late Crown Princess Margaret’s jewel inventory as a “Halsband med safirer och turmalinrosetter”—a necklace with sapphires and tourmaline rosettes. The piece also includes a detachable pendant featuring a drop-shaped pink tourmaline, designed to be suspended from the necklace’s central cluster.
Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden was photographed wearing her Sapphire and Tourmaline Necklace on at least one occasion, though it never became one of her trademark pieces such as the Connaught Tiara, the Scarab Necklace, or the Khedive of Egypt Tiara.
Upon the Princess’ premature death, at the early age of 38, the Sapphire and Tourmaline Necklace seems to have been inherited by her eldest son, Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, together with the aforementioned Connaught Diamond Tiara and the Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara.
The Necklace stayed unworn for decades, not seen adorning the neck of the Prince’s wife, Princess Sybilla of Saxe Coburg, neither by the couple’s four daughters, Princesses Margaretha, Birgitta, Desiree, and Christina.
Around twenty-five years ago, the Sapphire and Tourmaline Necklace made a notable comeback when a very young Crown Princess Victoria started attending her first gala events. The piece was probably given to her as gift by her parents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
Crown Princess Victoria wore the Necklace for several Nobel Prize Galas, frequently pairing it with the Four Button Diamond Tiara.
The Princess also wore the Sapphire and Tourmaline Necklace while attending several State Banquets, remarkably during a Russian State Visit in 1997, the Centenary of the Independence of the Kingdom of Norway in 2005, and a Japanese Official Visit in 2007.
In more recent years, the Crown Princess has preferred other necklaces from the Swedish Royal Vault. Despite that, the Sapphire and Tourmaline Necklace made some notable appearances, such as at the 2017 King’s Dinner for the Nobel Laureates (paired with the Boucheron Laurel Wreath Tiara and the Swedish Floral Earrings) and at the 2022 Nobel Prize Ceremony (paired with the Six Button Tiara). There is no doubt we’ll continue seeing it for years to come!
Connaught Diamond Tiara | Khedive of Egypt Tiara | Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara | King Edward VII Ruby Tiara | Laurel Wreath Tiara | Egyptian Necklace | Sapphire and Tourmaline Necklace | Connaught Sapphire Brooch | Aquamarine Pendant | Amethyst Brooch
This article was written by assistant editor, David Rato, who runs the Spanish Royal Jewels account on Instagram!
