141. The Prince of Wales’s Feathers Diamond Brooch
Worn By: Princess Diana
Owned Since: 1981
Estimated Value: $1.31 million*
When she got married to Prince Charles, Diana received a wedding gift from the Queen Mother. The Feathers diamond brooch has the Prince of Wales’ feathers engraved onto it, and Diana often wore the brooch as part of a diamond tennis necklace accentuated with a cabochon emerald drop. She got the necklace from a suite of Saudi Arabian jewelry, which she also received as a wedding gift.
The Prince of Wales’s Feathers Diamond Brooch – Princess Diana @dailymail/@ahill2110/Pinterest
The Prince of Wales’ feathers trace back to the 1330s, when they were first donned by Edward the Black prince. The three white ostrich feathers are inscribed with Ich dien, a German phrase meaning, “I serve.”
142. The Swiss Federal Republic’s Watch
Worn By: Princess Diana
Owned Since: 1981
Estimated Value: $50,000-$100,000*
The Swiss are known for their talent in making watches, and some of the most beautiful timepieces in the world come from Switzerland. In 1947, Queen Elizabeth II received a unique, expensive wedding gift from the Swiss Federal Republic. The SFR gave her a platinum, custom-designed watch that was made by Vacheron & Constantin, the oldest watch factory in the world.
The Swiss Federal Republic’s Watch – Princess Diana @markdrstern/Pinterest
In 1981, Queen Elizabeth II gave her wedding gift to Princess Diana on her wedding day. Watches from Vacheron & Constantin are some of the most expensive in the world—after all, the company has 150 years of experience over Rolex.
143. Gold Cable Link Bracelet
Worn By: Princess Diana
Owned Since: 1981
Estimated Value: $1,000-$5,000*
Princess Diana was a huge fan of understated jewelry, and it often wasn’t revealed that she was wearing a certain piece until the press caught wind. On February 27, 1981, before Diana married Prince Charles, she was asked by Nicholas Hardy, a schoolboy, if he could kiss “the hand of [his] future Queen.”
Gold Cable Link Bracelet Princess Diana ©Fox Photos/Getty Images
Of course, Diana obliged. He gave her a kiss and a daffodil, and photos of that sweet encounter were plastered all over the world. He was the first person to kiss Diana’s hand in public, and the hand, along with its golden, cable-link bracelet, became a symbol of the Princess’ caring nature.
144. Gold Overlap Bangle
Worn By: Princess Diana
Owned Since: 1991
Estimated Value: Unknown
Another delicate golden piece of jewelry Diana owned was the gold overlap bangle. In the late spring of 1991, Princess Di went to a hostel for children with AIDS. There, she was photographed wearing a lot of jewelry. In addition to the Caring Cross Necklace, Diana also wore multiple golden, overlapping bangles.
Gold Overlap Bangle – Princess Diana ©Tim Graham/Getty Images
While Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle may wear hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of Diana’s jewelry, you won’t find them wearing this bangle, as it was sold at auction. The results of the private auction saw the bangle go into the possession of a young Australian jewelry collector.
145. Black and White Star Bracelet from Butler & Wilson
Worn By: Princess Diana
Owned Since: 1990s
Estimated Value: Unknown
Another piece from Butler & Wilson that Princess Diana adored was this bracelet. As mentioned, she loved the costume designers and their eclectic jewelry offerings, and the Princess had a vast suite of B&W costume jewels from which to choose. And she did choose, as she was spotted wearing their pieces all the time.
Black and White Star Bracelet from Butler & Wilson – Princess Diana ©Tim Graham/Getty Images
The Princess was photographed in the early 1990s at a Supertramp concert, and on her wrist was a bracelet full of white and black stones, along with silver diamante stars. Immediately, hawk-eyed jewelry-watchers knew that Diana was wearing a unique piece from her favorite, Butler & Wilson.
146. Double Crescent Bracelet
Worn By: Princess Diana
Owned Since: 1997
Estimated Value: $365,000*
Duke Fulco di Verdura founded Verdura Fine Jewelry in 1939, and, five years after the company’s inception, it designed this bracelet. Decades later, this vintage bracelet found its way onto the wrist of none other than Princess Diana. She was photographed in the double-crescent bracelet in 1997 while at an auction of her clothing in New York City.
Double Crescent Bracelet – Princess Diana ©Tim Graham/Getty Images
The bracelet is made from eighteen-carat gold and platinum, inlaid in which are 137 round diamonds. The interlocking “Cs” of the bracelet come from the cipher of the Roman goddess of the hunt, Diana, making this a fitting piece of jewelry for the Princess.
147. Gold Jaeger-Lecoultre Watch
Worn By: Princess Diana
Owned Since: 1991
Estimated Value: $2,000-$4,000*
Reportedly, this was one of Princess Diana’s favorite watches. The watch was designed by Jaeger-LeCoultre, one of the world’s most iconic Swiss luxury brands. While the brand isn’t as famous as Rolex, the makers pay meticulous detail to achieving perfection.
Gold Jaeger-Lecoultre Watch – Princess Diana ©David Levenson/Getty Images
The Jaeger-LeCoultre watch was last worn by Diana on the day of her car accident. It was one of the personal effects removed from the vehicle, and she had been wearing the watch regularly since 1991. It was one of many watches she owned, and it was far from the most expensive, but she still thought of it as her favorite.
148. Cartier Tank Française Watch
Worn By: Princess Diana
Owned Since: 1990s
Estimated Value: $6,100*
This Cartier Tank Francaise watch was in Diana’s possession starting in the 1990s. She got the watch as a gift from her father, John Spencer, who passed away in 1992. In 1996, she quit wearing the Patek Philippe that Prince Charles got her, and she started wearing her father’s gift.
Cartier Tank Française Watch – Princess Diana @abj24com/Pinterest
After her death, Prince William and Harry visited Kensington Palace, where they were asked to choose a keepsake from her possessions. Prince William picked the Tank Francaise, while Prince Harry chose an engagement ring. A few years later, the pair switched mementos. Now, the Cartier watch belongs to Kate Middleton, who first donned it for a photoshoot for Time 100 in 2020.
149. Pearl Poire Tiara
Worn By: Queen Margrethe II
Owned Since: 1825
Estimated Value: $100,000-$500,000*
Throughout the years, Denmark’s queen, Margrethe II, has worn an incredibly beautiful headpiece known as the Pearl Poire Tiara. Of all the countries in Europe, Denmark has one of the highest number of tiaras, with the Pearl Poire standing out as very historically significant.
Pearl Poire Tiara ©Danny E. Martindale/Getty Images
The tiara is constructed of eighteen poire (pear-shaped) pearls, and it was made during the first half of the 1800s. The tiara was gifted to Princess Louisa of Prussia in 1825 to celebrate her wedding to the Netherlands’ Prince Frederick. Since then, it has passed through the generations until falling into Margrethe II’s hands.
150. Diamond Floral Suite
Worn By: Queen Margrethe II
Owned Since: Early 1900s
Estimated Value: $500,000-$1 million*
This Diamond Floral Tiara is yet another prize jewel in the coffers of Copenhagen. It has been worn by Queen Margrethe II, as well as a handful of other Danish noblewomen. The tiara once belonged to Princess Dagmar, the daughter of King Frederik VIII. When it returned to the royal line, Frederick IX gave it to Margrethe, his daughter.
Diamond Floral Suite ©Ian Waldie/Getty Images
Margrethe has not worn the Tiara often. In fact, she loaned it to her mother-in-law to wear in 1992 during her Silver Wedding. It wasn’t until 2008, when Margrethe loaned it to her daughter-in-law Marie Cavallier, that the public really got a good look at this diamond-laden headpiece.