Today marks the Anniversary of the birth of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who was born on this day in 1961. The Earl’s daughter who became the Princess of Wales and one of the most iconic (and tragic) women of the last century, the Princess passed a spectacular jewellery collection, which included her Modern Sapphire Choker!
While it was originally thought of as having been created from a Ring and Watch given to the Princess as a Wedding Gift from the Saudi Crown Prince, Franck from RJWMB discovered that it was instead made from a ‘Lady Kalla from Vacheron Constantin’ watch given from a Sheikha of the United Arab Emirates, paired with a pear shaped Sapphire to create a Choker.
The Princess of Wales first wore the modern Sapphire Choker for the final of the Newport International Competition for Young Pianists in Newport in October 1985.
The following month, the Princess of Wales wore the modern Sapphire Choker with the Spencer Tiara for a Gala Dinner at Government House in Melbourne, during a Tour of Australia.
The most iconic appearance of the modern Sapphire Choker was when the Princess of Wales wore the piece as a Bandeau at a Gala Dinner hosted by Emperor Hirohito of Japan at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo in 1986.
In 1987, the Princess of Wales, wore the modern Sapphire Choker with her Sapphire Earrings, a navy blue Murray Arbeid gown and shocking pink long gloves for a Performance of the Phantom of the Opera.
By the 1990s, the modern Sapphire Choker had gotten transformed with the velvet band replaced with small sapphire beads, and the central sapphire replace with a ring from the Saudi Sapphire Suite, which was worn by Diana, Princess of Wales for ‘A Concert of Hope’ at the Cardiff International Arena in 1995.
Following the Princess’ death in 1997, the modern Sapphire Choker was among the jewels inherited by Prince William and Prince Harry, but has lain in the vaults, having not been worn by either the Princess of Wales or the Duchess of Sussex. But since Queen Mary’s Art Deco Emerald Choker made a reappearance, maybe this will be worn again soon?
Tiara Mania | The Beau Monde
