The Most Valuable Heirloom Jewels of the British Royal Family

No one has to be an expert for the British Royal Family to understand that they’ve got many expensive possessions. While palaces and cars always make a statement, the jewels they wear and save are highly fascinating for many people.

There are tiaras that Tiffany’s couldn’t replicate and stunning 11-tier necklaces, making the Royal collection the best ever. Everyone in the family, including Kate Middleton and Queen Mary, have worn these iconic pieces, and they’re now ingrained into history forever.

These jewels aren’t likely for sale. Instead, they’ve become heirlooms that were passed down from one monarch to the other. Everyone has a favorite piece in the Royal Family, and here are some of the most expensive options:

Tiara – Girls of Great Britain and Ireland

Royal weddings are a very big deal in Britain. When Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947, Queen Mary, her grandmother, offered the Girls of Great Britain tiara. It’s one of the Queen’s prized possessions and is valued at about $207,000!

Wedding Necklace for Queen Alexandra

Prince Albert was a hard-working man and thought hard about what to give Princess Alexandra for their 1863 wedding. He spent roughly $18,522 on a set with a pair of earrings, a diamond necklace, and a brooch. It’s valued at about $1.6 million now!

Tiara – Queen Mary Fringe

This jewelry piece has a wonderful and rich backstory, but most people fawn over the fact that it’s valued at $5 million! It started off as a necklace and was worn by Queen Mary and Queen Victoria. Mary reworked it into a tiara and gave it to Princess Anne!

Duchess of Cornwall – Pink Topaz Choker

Pink topaz is a luxury item and is only available to the rich. Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, saw a set on sale at Sotheby’s and had to have them. This huge stone has many rows of pearls, making it worth roughly $30,000!

Burmese Ruby Tiara

This piece is unique, but it’s more modern and was created in the 1970s. There are 96 rubies, and the Burmese people gave it to Queen Elizabeth II. It’s valued at roughly $9 million because of its gem count and historical importance.

Kate Middleton – Acorn and Oak Leaf Earrings

When Kate was set to get married to a future king, her parents put a lot of thought into her wedding day. They ensured that custom-made earrings looked like oak leaves and acorns to represent their child’s siblings. It’s worth roughly $18,000 and was crafted in 2011.

The Festoon Tiara

Princess Anne worked hard on her royal duties by opening hospitals and christening ships. When she was unveiling a vessel in 1973, she was gifted the Festoon Tiara. In 2008, she allowed her daughter-in-law to wear it, even though it’s valued at about $500,000!

Amethyst Heart (Camilla)

Camilla is the Duchess of Cornwall and has enjoyed wearing the Amethyst Heart necklace during her many outings. The Royal Family has had possession since 1923, and it’s worth roughly $200,000. There are diamonds and pearls alongside the large amethyst stone.

Saudi Sapphire Set

Princess Diana was the favorite of them all and received many gifts when she married Prince Charles in 1981. One of her top choices was the Saudi Sapphire Set, presented by a Saudi prince. It’s worth about $1 million, and she wore it multiple times.

11-Strand Pearl Choker

Prince Di loved wearing choker necklaces, especially when they contained pearls. No one complained because they matched her beauty. However, the 11-strand pearl choker also featured diamond and ruby spaces and was valued at $200,000!

Prince Albert Brooch

Queen Victoria was a blushing and young bride back in 1840, though she turned stern and stoic as the years went by. Prince Albert presented her with a sapphire brooch during the wedding festivities. With all the diamonds, it’s valued at about $4 million!

Engagement Ring – Princess Di

Prince Charles proposed in the 1980s and ended up letting Diana choose her engagement ring, which was unheard of. The infamous diamond and blue sapphire ring cost $36,000 then. Then, Prince William popped the question to Kate Middleton with it (now worth about $100,000!)

Lotus Flower Tiara

The Queen Mother originally owned the Lotus Flower Tiara in 1923, but it was a necklace. It was remodeled to give to Princess Margaret. The band of singular pearls and diamond arches was finally presented to Kate Middleton. You don’t see it much, but it’s also worth about $4 million!

Delhi Durbar Tiara

The Delhi Durbar Tiara is the boldest piece of jewelry a woman can own. Queen Mary had it crafted for Delhi Durbar in 1911. Then, it got passed on to many others, and Camilla borrowed it for a short period. It’s worth roughly $2 million!

Politmore Tiara

The Politmore Tiara was created by Garrard for Florence Bampfylde, though it was auctioned off in 1959. Princess Margaret had the winning bid. You could break the piece into 11 brooches, and it’s worth roughly $1.3 million!

Bar Choker Bracelet

Queen Mary used to wear this beautiful band of diamonds as a choker. However, it was redesigned to become a bracelet that Kate Middleton and Camilla like to wear. This piece has been with the Royal Family since the 1900s and is likely worth around $500,000!

Lover’s Knot Tiara

The Royal Family has owned the Lover’s Knot Tiara from 1914 onward. Originally, Princess Diana wore it, but Kate Middleton fancies it too, donning it often. It’s a good thing she didn’t lose it because it’s worth roughly $4 million!

Four-row Pearl Choker

Queen Elizabeth II liked pearls, and that might be the reason Diana fell for them, too. The Queen designed this four-row choker in the 1970s. It’s not the most expensive piece she owns, but it’s still valued at about $200,000!

Diamond Bandeau (Queen Mary)

Most Royal Family brides borrow a tiara for their beautiful outfits, and Meghan Markle was no different. Queen Elizabeth loaned her the Diamond Bandeau. Plus, the Duchess of Sussex wears it sometimes. It’s worth roughly $2.5 million!

Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara

Young royals tend to like more sedate headpieces. However, the Duchess of Cornwall was different. She loved the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara, which has been owned by the Royal Family since 1942. The many gems and diamonds make it worth about $2 million.

Granny’s Chips Brooch

Queen Elizabeth II doesn’t mind spending money on jewelry, but the Granny’s Chips Brooch cost about $50 million at the time. It features Cullinan Diamonds, which are highly rare because they were found back in 1905.

Strathmore Rose Tiara

Before Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon became the Queen Mother, her parents presented her with the Strathmore Rose Tiara. Catchpole and Williams crafted it in 1923 for the occasion. It has diamond flowers and two frames and is now worth about $500,000!

Brazilian Aquamarine Set

The Queen generally liked clear diamonds, but she had to have the colorful Brazilian Aquamarine Set. It had earrings, a necklace, and a tiara. Though she received it in 1953, it’s worth about $1 million now!

Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara

This tiara is part of the Windsor collection and might be the finest-crafted piece ever. The Queen Mother had it made in 1936, but she loaned it to Kate Middleton for her wedding. Now, it’s worth about $1.6 million!

Bleeding Heart Earrings

The Royal Family is known for its expensive jewelry pieces, but they aren’t all lavish. These earrings were commissioned in 2018 for Lady Amelia Windsor. She’s the Queen’s first cousin’s daughter. They’re stunning, even though they’re worth roughly $285.

Emerald-cut Aquamarine Ring

All the Royals love bling, but Princess Diana didn’t have to do much more than be present to sparkle. When she separated from the Prince in the 1990s, she requested the Emerald-cut Aquamarine Ring from a jeweler. Meghan Markle wore it to a wedding reception, and it’s worth roughly $75,000.

Burmese Ruby Engagement Ring

When it was time to get married, Prince Andrew didn’t want to ask for a loan from his mom. Therefore, he took Prince Charles’ idea and broke with tradition, purchasing this ring in 1986 to present to Sarah Ferguson. It’s worth roughly $78,000!

Maple Leaf Brooch

On a trip to Canada in 1939, King George VI presented Queen Elizabeth with the Maple Leaf Brooch. Princess Elizabeth then wore it 10 years later at the same place. Many have enjoyed the piece, and it’s worth about $75,000!

Diamond & South Sea Pearl Earrings

Everyone knows Princess Diana loved diamonds and pearls. She wore them everywhere before she had these crafted in 1990. They were a favorite of Kate Middleton, as well. However, they’re worth about $100,000, so they need to be careful!

Brooch – Cullinan III and IV

This brooch is a more expensive jewelry piece valued at about $1.5 million. Someone gave it to King Edward VIII in 1907, and there is one large 3,106-carat diamond. It’s a precious addition to the Royal Collection!

Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara

This tiara has been with the Royal Family since 1919. Finally, it was given to Princess Eugenie on her wedding day in 2018. There’s one 93.7-carat emerald worth between $5 and $10 million!

Cartier Earrings (Reflection Collection)

The House of Winsor has many centuries-old jewelry pieces, but modern can also be expensive and pretty. Meghan chose to change after her wedding ceremony in 2018, donning these earrings when she did. They’re worth about $68,000.

Four-string Pearl Choker

Garrard made Queen Elizabeth II this choker after she visited Japan in the 1970s. The Japanese government presented her with them. From there, she loaned it to Princess Di but took it back when she got divorced. It’s worth roughly $325,000!

The York Tiara

Queen Elizabeth II presented beautiful wedding gifts, and the York Tiara was one of them. Sarah Ferguson wore it in 1986 to marry Prince Andrew. It’s valued at about $800,000, and Sarah still owns it, even after the divorce!

George IV State Diadem

Kings also have to look good for their coronations, and King George IV chose this headpiece in 1821. It has two strings of pearls and about 1,333 diamonds, so it’s worth more than $600,000 now and is very heavy. Then, Queen Elizabeth II borrowed it for her coronation!

Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara

The English didn’t create this tiara, and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna owned it originally. However, she sold it in 1921 to Queen Mary after sneaking it from Russia during the revolution. It’s worth roughly $470,000 now!

Mouawad Ruby Diamond Necklace

No one knows much about this beautiful necklace of rubies and diamonds. However, Kate Middleton took a fancy to it in 2016. It was reported that she received this and some matching earrings and bracelets for her 2011 wedding gift. Now, it’s worth about $300,000!

Cartier Diamond Bracelet (Reflection Collection)

Everyone stared at the beautiful diamond bracelet on Meghan’s hand during her wedding to Harry. It’s from the same Cartier collection as the earrings she wore at the reception. On its own, it’s worth roughly $155,000!

Meander Tiara

Queen Elizabeth II’s mother-in-law presented her with this tiara as a gift. Then, it was given to Princess Anne once she was old enough, and she announced her engagement to Captain Mark Philips while wearing it. It’s valued at $2 or $4 million.

Cubitt-Shand Tiara

The Cubitt-Shand piece isn’t a Royal piece because it belongs to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. Her grandmother, Sonia Keppel, presented it to her, though she owned it from the 1900s until then. It’s worth roughly $250,000!

Gold Signet Pinky Ring

King Charles was first seen wearing the gold signet pinky ring in the 1970’s. It is quite rare to see him without the ring. It is not exactly clear where he got it and where it is from, but since he is rarely seen without it, it is essentially priceless. He was wearing it when he got engaged to Princess Diana as well as on his wedding day with Camilla.

St. Edward’s Crown

St. Edward’s Crown is perhaps one of the more important items in the Royal Collection. Dating back to 1694, the crown was actually destroyed during the English Civil War but was recreated in 1661. The crown is made with 444 precious and semi-precious gems in a solid gold setting. The heavy crown is worth $39 million. It has been worn during coronations for centuries, including Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1952.

The Belgium Sapphire Tiara, Earrings and Necklace

Queen Elizabeth’s father gifted her the necklace and earrings of thing set and she has owned the set since her wedding day back in 1947. The pieces date back to the Victorian era. In 1963, the tiara was added to the collection when the Queen purchased it from Princess Louise of Belgium in 1963, leading to its name.

Diamond Monogram Brooch

Although Elizabeth II is the more well known of the two sisters, Princess Margaret was the one who was known for being the fashionable sister, since she was not as held back by royal constraints. This brooch dates back to 1951 and features a diamond “M” with a small crown on it. It has been sold for $200,000, so it surpassed Christie’s initial estimate was for $195,000.

Tabbah Infinite Cascade Necklace

Princess Charlene of Monaco married Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2011, and she wanted a special piece of jewelry to be made as part of the celebrations. She collaborated with Tabbah in order to created the Infinite Cascade necklace, which is made of 1237 diamonds of different shapes and sizes and features six white pearls. While the exact price of the necklace is unknown, it is estimated to have cost between $300,000 and $500,000.

The Imperial State Crown

The Imperial State Crown looks similar to St. Edward’s Crown, but they are different. This crown was made in 1937 for the reigning monarch to wear at important events post-coronation. It features the Cullinan II diamond, Stuart Sapphire, St. Edward’s Sapphire, and the Black Prince’s Ruby, along with more decorative diamonds and gold. It is a part of the Crown Jewels collection, which are collectively said to be worth about $5 billion, so it’s safe to assume that this crown is quite valuable.

Parmigiani Watch

King Charles doesn’t sport diamond necklaces or brooches, but his accessories of choice include this Parmigiani watch, which he first acquired in 2015. The Swiss watch company only released a few pieces each year, and this 18-carat piece was said to be purchased by Charles in a village named Klosters in Switzerland while he was vacationing in the area.

Princess Diana’s Butterfly Earrings

Princess Diana’s butterfly earrings are actually some of the least expensive pieces from her collection, but that’s not to say that these are affordable. The earrings are worth $15,000 and are made of gold and diamonds. Now, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has worn them on the Royal Tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga.

Aquamarine Pine Flower Tiara

This aquamarine pine flower tiara was made by Cartier for Elizabeth the Queen Mother in the 1940’s. It was a gift to her from her husband King George VI, but she gave it to her granddaughter, Princess Anne, in honor of her 1973 wedding. Princess Anne made some changes to it, including making the tiara shorter. It is estimated to be worth about $2 million.

Bleu Ballon Cartier Watch

Kate Middleton is known for wearing lots of glamorous jewelry, but even her more casual looks are very smart. This Cartier watch is worth $5200 and was purchased for her by husband William around their first wedding anniversary. The 33 mm Blue Ballon watch is very sleek.

The Cartier Indian Tiara

The Cartier Indian Tiara is comprised of diamonds, pearls, and sapphires, which is why it is worth about $1 million. It is now owned by Brigitte, Duchess of Gloucester but it dates back to the early 1900s. Originally created for Princess Marie Louise, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, it was purchased sometime between 1906 and 1921 after her wedding was annulled.

Crown Amethyst Suite of Jewels

This suite of jewels first became a part of the royal family during the 1800’s in honor to commemorate Princess Charlotte of Wales’ untimely death. The suite includes the necklace, three brooches, earrings, and hair combs. It has been passed down the generations and has been favored by Queen Elizabeth, who could be seen wearing the shell shaped diamond brooch on several special occasions.

Tanzanite Necklace & Earrings

Kate Middleton enlisted the help of royal jewelers G Collins and Sons in order to create this stunning set. The $22,000 set of earrings and necklace are similar in design to Princess Diana’s emerald pieces. The dazzlingly blue tanzanite set has been worn by Kate several times, including in 2011 around her marriage and in 2018 on a visit to Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The Crown Orb

The Crown Jewels are some of the most prized possessions of the royal family. They include The Orb, which is not a piece that is worn, but it is still an important symbol on the monarchy ever since it was originally made for King Charles II in 1661. It is made of gold and 365 diamonds, 9 emeralds, 18 rubies, and 9 sapphires. The cross is held together by an amethyst and is topped with 368 pearls. Every monarch holds it during their coronation.

Swan Lake Set

One of Princess Diana’s most valuable sets is the Swan Lake set, which was commissioned by the Princess herself. Garrard made the suite in 1977. She wore the finished necklace to the Swan Lake ballet in London in one of her final public appearances. The earrings were not finished yet, and she was tragically killed before they were done. The whole set was auctioned off, most recently in 2018 for about $13 million.

The Crown Ruby Necklace and Queen Victoria’s Crown Ruby Brooch

This brooch was originally purchased from Garrard in 1854 and actually featured opals instead of rubies. When it was inherited by Queen Alexandra, she switched out the opals with the rubies to more reflect her taste. It was then inherited by the Queen Mother and in 2002, after her passing, was handed down to Queen Elizabeth II.

Emerald Necklace, Earrings, & Bracelet Set

Kate Middleton attended the 71st BAFTAs alongside her husband. She wore an emerald green gown that perfectly complemented this emerald necklace, earrings, and bracelet set. These were a private gift to the Duchess, although she did not mention who they were from. The set is said to be worth about $2.5 million.

Scarab Brooch

This scarab brooch that is made of yellow gold, rubies, and diamonds is an unual piece but was still one of the Queen’s most favorite pieces to wear. The Duke of Edinburgh gave the brooch to her in 1966. The brooch is worth about $50,000.

Emerald Floral Brooch

The Queen Mother was known for wearing many brooches throughout her life. One of her favorites was this emerald floral brooch. It was believed to have been given to her by Mrs. Greville in 1942 according to author Leslie Field. However, the brooch’s origin has been debated. Recently it has been worn by Camilla. The brooch is estimated to be worth $75,000.

Blue Topaz Earrings

Kate Middleton frequently matches her jewels to her dress, just as she did at the James Bond Spectre premiere in 2015. She matched her pale blue Jenny Packham dress to these chandelier blue topaz earrings. It is believed that she borrowed these earrings from her mother Carole, who was seen wearing them at Kate’s wedding reception in 2011.