Discover The Regal Legacy Of Heritage Maison Garrard

During the coronation of King Charles III upon the world stage, the Imperial State Crown is presented to formally signify his assumption of the throne, a powerful symbol of the monarch’s sovereignty. Crafted by British jewelry-making behemoth Garrard, the Imperial State Crown is one of the world’s most priceless jeweled creations and is a testament to the brand’s remarkable legacy. Set with an astonishing 2,868 diamonds alone, the crown features the priceless 317-carat Cullinan II diamond – the second largest stone cut from the largest rough diamond ever discovered. One of the most high-profile triumphs of the maison’s 164-year tenure as Crown Jeweler, the Imperial State Crown is one of the most recognizable jewels in the world, but it is not the only famous jewel that Garrard has crafted for the British Royal Family.

One Garrard design that rivals its fame is the maison’s signature ‘Cluster’ motif. When Charles and Diana announced their engagement in 1981, her 12-carat oval-shape Ceylon sapphire and diamond ‘Cluster’ ring shot to fame. When Catherine, Princess of Wales, inherited the jewel upon her engagement to Prince William in 2010, the design became internationally renowned. The ‘Cluster’ motif was originally inspired by a brooch commissioned in 1840 by Prince Albert, given as a wedding gift to Queen Victoria, which she wore on her wedding day as her ‘something blue’. Today, the motif has become an icon of timeless jewelry design – celebrated by Garrard’s 1735 collection, with pendants, studs and rings that offer a little regal indulgence to all.

Once you are well versed in the maison’s iconic motifs, it becomes easier to spot the subtly scintillating clues that hint at its extraordinary history. While the principal inspiration for the maison’s ‘Fanfare’ and ‘Fanfare Symphony’ collections was the dramatic masquerade balls that captivated London in the early 18th century, look a little closer and you will discover the ‘Windsor’ motif – a pattern of round and geometric stones that echoes the diamonds found upon the ‘Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara’. Crafted by Garrard in 1893 as a wedding gift for Queen Mary, then worn by the late Queen Elizabeth II on her wedding day in 1947, this tiara remains omnipresent on British banknotes and stamps used all over the world.

Tiaras are, of course, an important part of Garrard’s royal legacy, and today’s designs continue to reference important brand motifs of the maison. The ‘Catherine Tiara’, crafted in white gold and aquamarines, celebrates the ‘Sovereign’ motif – an artfully rounded design that draws upon another jeweled artifact integral to the King’s coronation – the Sovereign’s Sceptre. The elegantly enameled motif appears at the peak of the sceptre, embracing the Cullinan I – the 530-carat diamond that remains the largest cut and colorless diamond in the world.

Look a little closer at the ‘Fanfare’ collection designs, and you will see miniature ‘Sovereign’ motifs at the heart of every jewel – weaving the maison’s royal pedigree into elegant earrings and pendants that are the perfect companion for after-dark dressing. Spend long enough deciphering Garrard’s designs, and there is a world of royal heritage to discover – at every twist and turn, you will find a little bit of history, brought forward into a sparkling future.