181. Crown of Louis XV
Worn By: Louis XV
Owned Since: 1722
Estimated Value: $58.16 milion* (Before Glass Replacement)
Created for France’s King Louis VI in 1722, this stunning piece was used at the King’s Coronation. It was heavily embellished with diamonds from France’s Royal Collection. The Crown of Louis XV was made by Laurent Ronde using Mazarin Diamonds, the Regent Diamond, and the Sancy Diamond.
Crown of Louis XV ©CSvBibra/Wikimedia Commons
Other stones included hundreds of sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and diamonds. France’s twenty crowns from its “Ancient Regime” are kept in Saint-Denis until their destruction in 1793’s French Revolution. Louis XV’s Crown was the only one to survive, and there are just six remaining in France now. Even when, in 1885, the French Republic sold off its Royal Crowns, Louis XV’s was kept, though its precious stones got replaced by colored glass.
182. The Dutch East Indies Bracelet
Worn By: Queen Juliana
Owned Since: 1937
Estimated Value: $1-$3 million*
In the 1930s, the people of Indonesia then called the Dutch East Indies, presented to Crown Princess Julianna of the Netherlands this exquisite diamond bracelet. The Dutch East Indies Bracelet is among one of the most famous bracelets in Europe. The bracelet consists of 1,700 diamonds.
The Dutch East Indies Bracelet @anagavino | @thomasghysdael/Pinterest
One of these diamonds features a garuda, a mythical bird that remains one of the symbols of Indonesia. The bracelet was Julianna’s wedding gift before she married Prince Bernhard. After Queen Julianna abdicated the throne, the Dutch East Indies Bracelet was broken down into smaller, less-flashy bracelets.
183. Holy Crown of Charlemagne
Worn By: Holy Roman Emperor
Owned Since: 962
Estimated Value: Priceless
This Crown, made in 962, is priceless. The Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire belonged to Charlemagne, along with many other rulers of the Empire. The Crown lasted until 1806 when the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved. It was used to crown the King of the Romans, a title that the Emperor-Elect assumed right after he was crowned.
Holy Crown of Charlemagne ©mbell1975/flickr
The crown is made from 22-carat gold, iron, and 144 precious stones that include emeralds, amethysts, and sapphires. Blue, purple, and green stones were chosen, as they were considered the colors of the Imperial leaders of that time. You can see this gem design on other ancient pieces from the Middle Ages, too.
184. Princess Benedikte’s Diamond Stars
Worn By: Queen Ingrid
Owned Since: Early 1900s
Estimated Value: $500,000-$1 million*
Princess Benedikte has often been spotted wearing her Diamond Stars to Royal events, galas, and charity balls. The Princess of Denmark inherited these Diamond Stars from Queen Ingrid, and she has worn them in many different creative ways, including as a necklace or paired with other tiaras.
Princess Benedikte’s Diamond Stars @courtjeweller/Pinterest
The Diamond Stars have also been worn by other current Royals, including Princess Alexandra, who wore them to her father’s funeral and to her wedding. The Diamond Stars are a legendary, iconic piece of jewelry that has been with the Demark Royal Family for over a century.
185. Manx Sword of State
Worn By: Sovereign of the Isle of Man
Owned Since: 1400s
Estimated Value: $800,000*
The Manx Sword of State is a two-edged, 29” steel blade with a steel pommel. This ceremonial sword is a symbol of Tynwald, which is the oldest parliament in the world. The Sword of State is used monthly in Tynwald on the Isle of Man, as it represents the duties of the Isle of Man’s Sovereign.
Manx Sword of State @bbciplayerofficial/Pinterest
The Sword dates back to the mid-1300s (or mid-1500s, depending on who you ask), and there are actually three Swords of State. One was lost in the 1700s and the other is housed in a museum. The Sword most people see is the one used for Tynwald Parliamentary functions every month.
186. The Steel Crown
Worn By: Carol I
Owned Since: 1877
Estimated Value: Unknown
The Steel Crown, worn by Romania’s King Carol I, is made from the steel of a cannon that the Romanian Army captured from the Ottomans during the 1877 War of Independence. Though most crowns are made from silver and gold, Carol I chose steel, as it symbolized the bravery and strength of Romania’s soldiers.
The Steel Crown @alexiswn/Pinterest
The Steel Crown of Romania was worn during the proclamation of the country as a kingdom in the late 1800s, and it was the same Crown used during King Ferdinand I’s and Queen Maria’s coronations. When King Michael I was laid to rest in 2017, the Steel Crown was laid on his coffin.
187. Scepter of Ferdinand I
Worn By: King Ferdinand I
Owned Since: 1920
Estimated Value: Unknown
The Scepter of King Ferdinand I is an important part of Romanian regalia. In 1920, the Scepter was made in Alba-Iulia in Transylvania for the King’s coronation two years later. The Scepter was presented to Ferdinand I by six girls from Radu Voga, a Romanian orphanage.
Sceptor of Ferdinand I ©Gabriel/Flickr
The top of the Scepter features four peasants in national costumes that represent Bukovina, Bessarabia, Transylvania, and Ancient Romania. Atop the scepter sits an eagle, which symbolizes Romania’s Latin origins. Portraits of King Ferdinand I almost invariably feature him holding the Scepter, as well as at least one other piece of Romanian regalia.
188. The Joyas de Pasar Bracelets
Worn By: Queen Letizia of Spain
Owned Since: Late 1800s
Estimated Value: $7.2 million*
Joyas de Pasar, in English, means “Diamond That Are Handed Down.” The Joyas de Pasar jewels have passed down the line from monarch to monarch in Spain, and they have most recently been worn by the lovely Queen Letizia.
The Joyas de Pasar Bracelets @GTRES/Pinterest
The Joyas originally belonged to Queen Ena, who, when she made her will in the sixties, included a requirement that the diamonds would be passed from queen to queen. The two diamond bracelets are matching, and they are usually worn together. It is estimated that these diamonds are worth around $7.2 million, a fraction of Letizia’s $42 million jewelry collection.
189. The Crown of Scotland
Worn By: Charles III, in the Right of the Crown
Owned Since: 1540 (Remake)
Estimated Value: $5-$10 million*
The Crown of Scotland is the oldest surviving crown in existence in the British Isles, and its value to the history of Scotland is incalculable. The Crown dates back to 1503, and it has been used in the coronation of Scottish monarch after Scottish monarch. The circlet at the base of the Crown dates back to 1306, as that piece was originally worn by Robert the Bruce.
The Crown of Scotland @chicocromartie/Pinterest
The Crown was remade in 1540, constructed of solid silver and gold. Its other adornments include forty-three gemstones and 69 Scottish freshwater pearls. The pearls alone could be worth around $207,000.
190. Suleyman the Magnificent’s Venetian Helmet
Worn By: Suleyman the Magnificent
Owned Since: 1532
Estimated Value: $17.12 million*
This elaborate headpiece is known as Suleyman the Magnificent’s Venetian Helmet. The Helmet was ostentatious; that way, everyone knew who the winner of the Ottoman-Habsburg Rivalry was. The Helmet was acquired by Sultan Suleyman in 1532, and it was one of the many examples of ways the Ottoman ruler tried to get a leg-up on the Habsburgs.
Suleyman the Magnificent’s Venetian Helmet @manuelsalvadorcipres0961/Pinterest
The key figures behind Suleyman’s golden, bejeweled purchase were his chief advisers, Grand Vizir, and a powerful jewelry merchant named Alvis Gritti. The total value of the Helmet was estimated at approximately 115,000 Venetian ducats. In today’s money, that’s about $17.12 million.
191. The Luxembourg Epaulette Brooch
Worn By: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa
Owned Since: 1800s
Estimated Value: Unknown
For those who aren’t up on their ceremonial jewelry, epaulets are a kind of ornamental shoulder piece used to show one’s insignia. The Diamond Epaulet Brooch, often seen on the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, has lasted through the years, despite this style going out of fashion in the early 1800s.
The Luxembourg Epaulette Brooch @desireedb/Pinterest
Part of the Luxembourg Grand Ducal Jewels, this Brooch is one of many in the Royal Family’s collection. The Nassau Diamond Rose Brooches, for example, are another commonly-seen diamond piece. This trio of diamond brooches dates back to the nineteenth century, much like the Diamond Epaulet Brooch.