Happy Birthday to Infanta Elena of Spain, Duchess of Lugo, who turns 62 today! The elder sister of the current Spanish Sovereign, the Infanta was a working member of the Spanish Royal family for almost three decades, amassing a splendid jewellery collection, which includes several contemporary pieces, such as the Diamond Chain Necklace which we are featuring today!
The necklace is an elegant and resolutely modern creation, crafted in platinum and entirely set with diamonds. Its design is composed of approximately twenty articulated rectangular links, each pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds.
According to reports, the diamond chain necklace was a gift from Don Jaime de Marichalar to his wife to celebrate the birth of their eldest son, Felipe de Marichalar y Borbón, in 1998. The jewel made its debut at the infant’s christening, although not in its now-familiar form. For that occasion, the necklace was cleverly converted into a pair of bracelets, a transformation that highlights the remarkable versatility of the design.
Infanta Elena later wore the piece in its necklace configuration on numerous occasions, often styling it with a pair of long diamond chain earrings finished with two pearl drops. These earrings appear to have been designed as part of the same suite.
The diamond chain necklace became something of a signature jewel for the Infanta during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was notably paired with the Marichalar Tiara for several state banquets at the Royal Palace of Madrid.
Doña Elena also wore the diamond chain both as necklace and bracelets on some family occasions, such as the Wedding of Princess Alexia of Greece in 1999, and the Wedding of Princess Victoria of Borbon-Two Sicilies in 2005.
On at least one occasion, Infanta Elena further personalized the piece by suspending a large aquamarine and diamond pendant from the chain. It has been some time since we last saw this diamond necklace in public, but let’s hope it will one day make a reappearance—either on Infanta Elena herself or perhaps on a younger generation.
This article was written by assistant editor, David Rato, who runs the Spanish Royal Jewels account on Instagram!
