With the UK preparing for a historic four-day bank holiday weekend filled with Platinum Jubilee festivities in honour of Her Majesty The Queen, we are excited to share with you our own Jubilee celebrations at Garrard.
For the duration of the Jubilee celebrations, our flagship boutique on Albemarle Street is turning Royal Blue – a colour that represents our early years. Garrard was Royal Blue when Queen Victoria appointed it the first official Crown Jeweller in 1843, and visitors to our Albemarle Street boutique will experience Garrard dressed in blue once again as we commemorate 70 years on the throne for HM The Queen – a monumental moment in British history.
Guests are invited to join us in the exclusive Queen Mary Suite, by appointment only. Discover our famous jewels, sparkling tiaras and royal ledger, alongside new pieces of Jubilee jewellery created especially for the occasion.
Proclaimed Queen in February 1952, Princess Elizabeth officially ascended to the throne in June the following year. Garrard was present at the Coronation in the form of some of the magnificent regalia on display: the Imperial State Crown, the gold Armill bracelets worn by the Queen for the ceremony and the Sovereign’s Sceptre, which was reimagined by Garrard in 1910 (read Behind the Scenes at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II for a fascinating account of the days leading up to the event).
One of Garrard’s most important royal commissions, the Sovereign’s Sceptre provided the inspiration for the Sovereign motif, which features in a range of exciting, bold and colourful pieces at Garrard and is the focal point of the new Jubilee jewellery. “I wanted to celebrate our incredible royal history and design,” explains creative director Sara Prentice. “To do this, I revisited our iconic Sovereign motif, creating a selection of unexpected and limited-edition pieces.”
In 2017, Garrard unveiled the Jubilee Sapphire to celebrate the 65th anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation (read about it here). For the Platinum Jubilee, our designers have once again chosen to mark the occasion with a one-of-a-kind jewel: a celebratory pin that bursts with fresh colours and intricate detail. Drawing the eye to the heart-shape Sovereign motif, outlined in blue enamel, a 4.90 carat London Blue topaz is framed by vibrant sprays of blue topazes, pink sapphires and green tsavorites. Designed with versatility in mind, it can be worn as a collectable lapel pin, hair jewel or hat accessory.
Although this piece has now been sold, if you are interested in commissioning a similar jewel, our designers can create a variation of the Platinum Jubilee pin, set with a different combination of coloured gems.
A second jewel has also been created that brings a playful elegance to the Sovereign motif. The limited-edition Platinum Jubilee Aloria pendant traces the motif’s silhouette in Royal Blue enamel, with the reverse of the pendant set with diamonds.
To coincide with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, we are also delighted to announce our latest charitable initiative, “Give Her Wings”. In-conversation events with trailblazing women, in honour of one of the greatest trailblazers of them all, Her Majesty The Queen, will both inspire and raise funds to support the next generation of trailblazers through our charity partner, RugbyWorks.
Explore more from the house
Behind the Scenes at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
The days leading up to HM Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation were a whirlwind of planning, preparation and last-minute adjustments, with Crown Jeweller Garrard at the heart of it all.
