Happy Birthday to Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah of Malaysia, who turns 66 today! The accomplished Perak Princess who is the consort of the Sultan of Johor and the current Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen) of Malaysia, Queen Zarith Sofiah has gained access to the Gandik Diraja Tiara but has a spectacular collection of jewels, including the heirloom Johor Diamond Necklace!
The Diamond Collar and long Diamond Chain Necklace composed of large Collet Diamonds in a Victorian Fringe design were created at the same time as the Johor Diamond Diadem and the Diamond Tiara likely by J.W. Benson in London, the Crown Jeweller of the Sultan of Johor.
The Diamond Collar and Necklace were worn with the Diamond Tiara by all but one of the six wives of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor; Ungku Maimunah Binti Ungku Abdul Majid, Che’ Ruqaiyah, Sultana Helen, and Sultana Marcella, notably at the Coronation of King George VI in 1937 and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
The Diamond Collar and Necklace were also worn with the Diamond Tiara by Sultanah Ungku Tun Aminah binti Ungku Ahmad and Sultanah Nora binti Tengku Panglima Raja Tengku Ahmad, the consorts of Sultan Ismail.
The Diamond Collar and Necklace was also often worn by Sultanah Zanariah, the consort of Sultan Iskandar, with the Diamond Tiara and also the Gandik Diraja Tiara for a plethora of events including the Wedding of the Crown Prince of Brunei in 2004.
In 1986, the Diamond Collar was loaned to Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah when she married the Crown Prince of Pahang. Queen Azizah has also created her own version of the Johor Necklace.
Sultanah Zanariah’s daughter also told me that a portion of the Necklace had also been adapted to be worn as a Tiara, which appears to have been worn in this portrait.
Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah most notably wore the magnificent Johor Diamond Necklace with the Johor Diamond Diadem for her Coronation as the Permaisuri (Queen) of Johor in 2015. Let’s hope we see the Diamond Necklace worn again soon!
