See the Glitziest Jewels That the British Royal Family Rarely Wears
See the Glitziest Jewels That the British Royal Family Rarely Wears
Alex GurleySun, April 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC
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King Charles and Queen Elizabeth on their coronation daysCredit: Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty; The Print Collector/Getty -
The British crown jewels include over 100 objects and 23,000 gemstones, many dating back to the 17th century
The coronation spoon, preserved during the English Civil War, is the oldest surviving piece of coronation regalia
The Timur ruby is rarely worn publicly due to its controversial history
The British royal family's most precious and valuable possessions date back centuries — and have been stored away under the protection of armed guards in the Jewel House at the Tower of London since the 1660s.
As part of the royal collection, the British crown jewels — which consist of over 100 objects and more than 23,000 gemstones — are priceless and have immense cultural, historical and symbolic value. Most of the collection was sold or destroyed following the English Civil War in 1649. However, new pieces were commissioned by King Charles II for his coronation in 1661 — and have remained in use ever since.
However, one item was preserved during the English Civil War by a royal official: the coronation spoon. Dating back to the 12th century, it remains one of the oldest pieces in the Crown Jewels collection, according to Historic Royal Palaces.
In addition to items used during coronations, the collection also includes luxurious pieces of jewelry worn by kings and queens. From diamond necklaces to sparkling red spinels, these glitzy items have immense personal and historic value.
From the coronation spoon to the sovereign's ring, here's everything to know about some of the British royal family's rarely worn jewels.
The sovereign's sceptre with cross
King Charles on his coronation dayCredit: Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty
The sovereign's sceptre with cross dates back to 1661, when it was first used at the coronation of King Charles II. It's been used at every coronation since then, including the crowning of King Charles in 2023, representing the monarch's temporal power and good governance, per Historic Royal Palaces.
Crafted from gold and enamel, the sceptre features two faceted amethysts that form the monde, while the cross pattée is set with an emerald at the front and a diamond at the back. In total, it is decorated with 333 diamonds, seven sapphires, 15 emeralds and 31 rubies, according to the International Gem Society.
Through the years, the sceptre has been altered, most significantly with King George V's addition of the Cullinan I diamond in 1910. The incredible jewel is the largest portion of the Cullinan Diamond, which was discovered in 1905 in South Africa and gifted to Edward VII by the Transvaal government. At 530.2 carats, the Cullinan I is the largest colorless cut diamond in the world.
The sovereign's orb
Queen Elizabeth on her coronation dayCredit: Bettmann
The sovereign's orb was also first used at the coronation of King Charles II in 1661. As a part of the coronation regalia, it is one of the objects that the monarch is presented with, representing their powers and responsibilities. The hollow golden globe, surmounted by a cross, is meant to symbolize that the monarch's power is derived from God and represents their position as head of the Church of England, according to Royal Central.
It is crafted from gold and set with bands of nine emeralds, 18 rubies, nine sapphires and 365 diamonds.
The coronation spoon
Golden Ampula and spoon used in the anointing of British monarchsCredit: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty
The oldest surviving piece of coronation regalia and one of the oldest pieces in the crown jewels collection, the coronation spoon — which dates back to the 12th century — is used by the Archbishop of Canterbury during the most sacred part of the coronation ceremony. At that time, chrism oil is poured on the spoon, which the archbishop dips their finger into to anoint the monarch on their head, chest and hands.
Unlike many other pieces designed and crafted during the same era, the coronation spoon survived Parliament's destruction of the crown jewels in 1649. During that time, it was purchased by Clement Kynnersley, an official of the royal wardrobe of King Charles I, who assisted with the sale of the late royal's personal items. Following the Restoration in 1660, Kynnersley returned the coronation spoon to King Charles II, hoping to curry favor, per Historic Royal Palaces.
The sovereign's sceptre with dove
King Charles during his coronation dayCredit: Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty I
Also used as part of the coronation, the sovereign's sceptre with dove has come to be known as “the Rod of Equity and Mercy” since being created by royal goldsmith Robert Vyner in 1661. It represents the sovereign's spiritual role, with the dove representing the Holy Ghost.
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It has been used by the monarch at every coronation since its creation. During the service, it is presented along with a number of spiritual ornaments, including the sovereign's orb and several swords, per the Royal Collection Trust.
The sovereign's ring
The sovereign's ring during King Charles' coronationCredit: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo
The sovereign's ring was crafted in 1831 for the coronation of King William IV and has been used by all monarchs since King Edward VII, who began his rule in 1901. It has come to symbolize “kingly dignity,” per Royal Collection Trust, and is placed on the fourth finger of the sovereign by the archbishop.
The gold ring is composed of a mixed-cut octagonal sapphire which is overlaid with four rectangular-cut and one square-cut rubies. The ring also features a border of 14 cushion-shaped diamonds.
The Timur ruby
Timur rubyCredit: FM Archive / Alamy Stock Photo
The Timur ruby was first discovered in the 14th century and was named after the conqueror Timur, the founder of the Timurid Empire in Asia. Through the years, the gem changed possession several times and its owner's names — from a Mughal emperor to the King of Afghanistan — have been etched into the stone.
It came to be a part of the collection of British royals around 1851, per The Court Jeweller. At that time, the stone was in possession of the ruler of the Sikh empire; after Britain waged war on the empire and annexed the Punjab region, the Timur ruby was ceded to the monarchy and presented to Queen Victoria, who later had it made into a necklace. The acquisition has made the gem controversial and, consequently, it has rarely been worn publicly.
Now set in a necklace, housed in the British royal collection, the Timur ruby was also discovered to not actually be a ruby. Upon British acquisition, closer examination revealed that the gem was actually a 361-carat polished red spinel.
The coronation necklace
Queen Elizabeth on her coronation dayCredit: The Print Collector/Getty
The coronation necklace has become an iconic piece in the British Royal Collection, having been worn during five different coronations. It was originally created by the jeweler Garrard for Queen Victoria in 1858 and was a favorite piece in her collection, having worn it in portraits for her Diamond Jubilee. In 1902, it was worn during a coronation for the first time by Queen Alexandra. She was followed by Queen Mary in 1911 and the Queen Mother in 1937. It was most recently worn by Queen Elizabeth and Queen Camilla.
The necklace is composed of 26 diamonds, some taken from a Garter badge and sword hilt, according to The Court Jeweller. It also includes a 22.48-carat pendant called the Lahore diamond that was acquired at the same time as the Timur ruby and was initially part of the Timur ruby's necklace.
The coronation earrings
Queen Camilla during her and King Charles' coronationCredit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Around the time that the coronation necklace was crafted, Garrard also created a pair of diamond pendant coronation earrings. In Queen Victoria's will, she designated both the earrings and necklace as heirlooms of the crown. The Queen Mother wore both the necklace and earrings on her coronation day in 1937, and nearly two decades later, Queen Elizabeth did the same.
The earrings consist of a pair of cushion-cut diamond collet studs from which round brilliants and pear-shaped pendants are suspended — all of which are detachable, per The Court Jeweller.
The two similar — but not identical — pear-shaped pendants were created from the armlet setting of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which was originally mined in India in the 18th century. Weighing 105.6 carats, the Koh-i-Noor diamond changed possession many times over the years, but was acquired by the British in 1849 as part of a treaty marking the end of the second Anglo-Sikh war.
The Darnley jewel
The Darnley jewelCredit: David Cheskin/PA Images via Getty
The Darnley jewel is one of the most notable early jewels in the British Royal Collection. According to the Royal Collection Trust, it was likely crafted in 1571 for Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox — the mother of Lord Darnley, who was the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.
The richly decorated jewel is heart-shaped — a symbol of the Douglas family — and is believed to be a commemoration of Margaret's husband's death. It also features a series of symbols that reveal their ambitions for their grandson, the future James VI.
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