The Queen's Jewels: The Personal Collection of Elizabeth II
The Queen's Jewels captures the opulence and splendor of the gems of English queens from Mary Queen of Scots to Elizabeth II. Organized alphabetically by gemstones, this historical and visual documentary elegantly displays the world's most famous jewelry collection intertwined with accounts of romance, intrigue, and politics. It offers an inside look at the tastes of each monarch, from Queen Mary's Delhi Durbar emeralds to Elizabeth II's diamond engagement ring designed by Prince Philip. The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor documents the final chapter of this century's best-known love story, that of the Engish king who abdicated to marry American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson, and the sale of the historic collection of jewels he gave her. Rayner, however, curiously focuses on a biography of the Duke and the events leading to the fabled marriage. Beautifully illustrated, the catalog portion meticulously describes and displays each of the 214 pieces, ranging from memorabilia of the Duke to the exquisite jewels designed mostly by Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels. Includes a list of prices from the sale of the collection in 1987. Carefully researched and designed, both books are recommended. Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson CityCopyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.