The Royal Watcher - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Today marks the Anniversary of the Birth of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who was born on this day in 1909! The popular Dutch Queen, whose Reign saw the decolonisation of the Dutch Empire and the formation of a ‘Bicycle Monarchy’, Queen Juliana also inherited the entire Dutch Royal Jewellery Collection, which included the striking Dutch East Indies Bracelet!
Stuart Diamond Tiara | Dutch Sapphire Tiara | Dutch Mellerio Ruby Tiara | Dutch Diamond Bandeau | Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara | Dutch Aquamarine Tiara | Dutch Emerald Parure | Antique Pearl Tiara | Queen Emma’s Diamond Aigrette | Dutch Pearl and Diamond Stomacher | Dutch East Indies Bracelet
When the then Crown Princess Julianna of the Netherlands married Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld in 1937, she received this massive Diamond Bracelet composed of 1700 diamonds in a massive garuda bird, a mythical bird that is a symbol of Indonesia, that was set by Bouman in The Hague. The Diamond Bracelet was a Wedding Gift from the people of the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia.
The Diamond Bracelet was worn quite often by Queen Juliana over the next few decades, beginning with her Wedding Day and later for numerous Gala and Portraits, often paired with the Stuart Diamond Tiara and the Dutch Diamond Bandeau.
After Queen Juliana’s abdication in 1980, the Dutch East Indies Bracelet was broken up to create several smaller Diamond Bracelets which were worn by Queen Beatrix quite often during her reign.
Queen Máxima also regularly wears one or two of the Diamond Bracelets, though we have yet to see some of the more striking elements, like the garuda, repurposed so let’s hope they make an appearance soon!
The Diamond Bracelets have also been worn by the Princess of Orange, who will no doubt continue to wear them for decades to come.
Stuart Diamond Tiara | Dutch Sapphire Tiara | Dutch Mellerio Ruby Tiara | Dutch Diamond Bandeau | Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara | Dutch Aquamarine Tiara | Dutch Emerald Parure | Antique Pearl Tiara | Queen Emma’s Diamond Aigrette | Dutch Pearl and Diamond Stomacher | Dutch East Indies Bracelet