After the Köchert Exhibition in Budapest and the Albion Jewels at the Victoria & Albert Museum, we were invited to the private viewing of the magnificent Royal and Noble Jewels on display in the landmark ‘Dynastic Jewels’ Exhibition at the Hôtel de la Marine in Paris, which is a collaboration between the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Al-Thani Collection.
Highlighting the significance of jewellery as an enduring expression of power and status, while emphasising its sentimental value and role as a mark of royal favour, the exhibition presents pieces associated with the reign and legend of some of the most notable figures in European history including Empresses Catherine the Great, Joséphine Bonaparte, Marie-Louise, and Queen Victoria.
From gemstones and tiaras to brooches, diadems and necklaces, it presents resplendent pieces intended to be worn in the opulent settings of Europe’s royal courts, where they could articulate the status, heritage and authority of their owners.
The third in a trilogy of exhibitions organised by The Al Thani Collection Foundation and the Centre des Monuments Nationaux in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum, this exhibition brings together important and historic jewels from the collections of both the V&A and The Al Thani Collection, many of which are on display in France for the first time.
The exhibition is complemented by loans from other renowned institutions including the Royal Collection thanks to the generosity of His Grace the Duke of Fife, Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, Musée de Minéralogie Mines Paris – PSL, and the heritage collections of Cartier, Chaumet, Mellerio and Van Cleef & Arpels.
The Exhibition begins with a display of some of the most magnificent stones, which include the Briolette of India, the Star of Golconda Diamond, two Mughal Emeralds, and loose topazes and amethysts once belonging to Empress Marie Louise.
Then we move into the spectacular gallery which has a display of eleven Tiaras, in chronological order, on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Chaumet and Cartier Collections alongside the Al Thani Collection.
Maria Fitzherbert’s Diamond Tiara, 1810-1820
Al Thani Collection
Floral Diamond Tiara, 1835
Victoria and Albert Museum
Leuchtenberg Emerald Tiara. Fossin, 1830-1840
Chaumet Collection
Thun-Hohenstein Tiara. Köchert, 1890
Al Thani Collection
Manchester Tiara. Cartier, 1903
Victoria and Albert Museum
Chaumet Talhouët Tiara. Chaumet, 1908
Chaumet Collection
Lady Beit’s Cartier Tiara. Cartier, 1909
Al Thani Collection
Scott Townsend Tiara. Cartier, 1905
Cartier Collection
Calvocoressi-Comnène Tiara. Cartier, 1913
Victoria and Albert Museum
Chaumet Bourbon-Parma Tiara. Chaumet, 1919
Chaumet Collection
Princess Marie-Françoise of Savoy’s Diamond Tiara. Petochi, 1937
Al Thani Collection
The highlight of the exhibition is the gallery that display the most spectacular Royal and Noble Jewels, many from the Victoria and Albert Museum, with the cases divided by country and dynasties.
You begin with the magnificent Emerald Necklace and Earrings made by Nitot for Stéphanie de Beauharnais, Grand Duchess of Baden which is in the V&A, alongside a massive Sapphire and Diamond Brooch from the Al Thani Collection which supposedly originates from Empress Josephine.
On the opposite, there is Queen Josefina’s Pearl Necklace from the Al Thani Collection alongside an iconic Ruby and Diamond Corsage Brooch from Empress Josephine.
There is also a spectacular set of Gold and Cameo Jewels which originate from Empress Joséphine, who may have been given them from her sister-in-law, Queen Caroline of Naples.
The next case features massive Sapphire and Emerald Brooches from Empress Catherine the Great of Russia which are in the Al Thani Collection, alongside a Ruby and Diamond Brooch and Diamond Ornaments from the Russian Crown Jewels which were given by Lady Cory to the V&A.
Most notable are Princess Marina’s Diamond Bow Brooch and Diamond Girandole Earrings, which both now belong to the Al Thani Collection. Beside that is the Londonderry Topaz Brooch and a Pendant from the V&A which was given by Queen Mary.
The main case features Queen Victoria’s Emerald Tiara on loan from the Duke of Fife alongside Queen Victoria’s Sapphire Coronet and Bracelet from the V&A and the Badge of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert.
The Dufferin and Ava Shamrock Tiara and the Londonderry Emerald Parure from the V&A .
The magnificent Portland Sapphire Tiara alongside the Sapphire Devant de Corsage and a Purple Sapphire Brooch, which all now belong to the Al Thani Collection.
On the reverse are a Tiara, a massive Diamond Spray Ornament, several Brooches and a spectacular Sapphire and Diamond Necklace and Earrings all given by Lady Cory to the Victoria & Albert Museum.
On the side is the Seringapatam Emerald Parure, which was part of the loot of Major-General George Harris, the 1st Baron Harris, following the defeat of Tipu Sultan of Mysore in 1799.
The next case displays a Peridot Parure given by King George IV, alongside several jewels, brooches and miniatures all from the V&A collection.
The last case in the room features the jewels of the French Second Empire, among them Princess Mathilde Bonaparte’s massive Diamond Rose Brooch, Empress Eugénie’s Mellerio Feather Brooch and a pair of Pearl and Diamond Earrings also from Empress Eugénie. The case also has several brooches and ornaments from the Al Thani and the V&A collection.
The final gallery displays some of the most unique jewels created with the patronage of royal and aristocratic clients, who provided a lot of input on the stones and the final designs, creating iconic pieces and setting new trends.
We begin with a massive Diamond Parure that once belonged to Queen Amelie of Greece and is now in the Al Thani Collection.
Beside that is the Hope Spinel and some magnificent Brooches created by Bolin, Cartier, Chaumet, Mauboussin, Van Cleef & Arpels and others, in the midst of which is a massive Cartier Diamond Corsage and the Countess of Suffolk’s Cartier Sunburst Tiara, as well as a familiar Cartier Aquamarine Tiara.
Then we get to the jewels created for foreign royals, like the Maharaja of Nawanagar’s Cartier Ruby Necklace and Eye of the Tiger Sarpech, the Maharaja of Patiala’s Cartier Diamond Necklace, and some traditional Indian Jewellery from the Al Thani Collection before finishing with a replica of the Crown of Empress Farah of Iran created by Van Cleef & Arpels.
We were graciously invited to attend the private viewing of the Exhibition and the reception held later that evening at the spectacular Hôtel de la Marine.
Dynastic Jewels runs from 10 December 2025 – 06 April 2026!
