The Danish Emerald Parure is among most important Jewels at the use of the Danish Queen. This magnificent set of jewels includes a tiara, necklace, earrings and brooch, all of which can still be seen at grand occasions today.
The Emerald Parure has a rich history within the Danish royal family. While the complete set was assembled in 1840 by C.M. Weisshaupt as a gift for Queen Caroline Amalie’s silver wedding anniversary, the some of gemstones themselves are in fact much older.
26 of the emeralds date back to 1723 and were a gift from King Christian VI to his wife Queen Sophie Magdalene celebrating the birth of their son. The additional emeralds belonged to Princess Charlotte, the king’s sister. Weisshaupt incorporated these historic gems with diamonds from the royal collection, crafting a magnificent parure featuring a tiara, necklace, earrings, and a devant de corsage (brooch) that could be separated into smaller pieces.
Queen Caroline Amalie left the jewels to the Danish Crown upon her death in 1881, which meant that the suite cannot be taken outside of Denmark or be worn by anyone other than the Queen Regnant or Queen Consort.
The entire parure features 67 emeralds and over 2,650 diamonds. Mounted on a gold frame, the diamonds are set in closed-back silver mounts, while the large emeralds are set in open mounts to allow the light to strike the stones from both sides. The design features bows, foliage and scrolls typical of the Empire style of the time. The brooch can be disassembled, and the individual parts worn separately.
During World War I, Queen Alexandrine had the Danish Crown Jewels, including the Parure, moved for safekeeping to Rosenborg Castle, where they remain on public display but still accessible to the Queen.
Queen Ingrid ushered in a new era for the Emerald Parure, following her husband King Frederik IX’s ascension in 1947. The set became a regular fixture for grand occasions such as state visits and royal banquets.
Following her own coronation in 1972, Ingrid’s daughter, Queen Margrethe debuted the Emeralds in a groundbreaking documentary ‘Margrethe, Queen of Denmark’. Margrethe continued the tradition of wearing the Parure for her royal duties, often pair the set with green fabrics to enhance their colour.
Queen Margrethe abdicated on 14th January 2024 and it was eagerly awaited to see when the new Queen Mary of Denmark would first wear the Emeralds. She did not disappoint and wore them for her official portraits. No doubt we will see these historic gems for many more years to come
