Manchester’s oldest jeweller is celebrating the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II by shining a light on some of her most famous jewellery pieces, marking what would have been her 100th birthday.
Hancocks Jewellers has released a dedicated editorial piece honouring the late monarch, focusing on the Queen Elizabeth II jewellery collection and the key moments in which its most recognisable items were worn. The feature has been published in the lead-up to the anniversary of her birth.
The editorial reflects on how the Queen used jewellery as a form of expression throughout her reign, with each piece contributing to a broader narrative. Whether worn at national services, state banquets or formal evening events, the jewellery is presented alongside the occasions that gave it meaning, helping readers understand both its significance and its role.
The Hancocks feature centres on four particularly notable pieces from the Queen Elizabeth II jewellery collection, each of which remains instantly recognisable in photographs and widely remembered by the public.
One of the featured items is the Cullinan III and IV brooch, known as “Granny’s Chips”, a celebrated set of diamonds worn during major national moments, including the Diamond Jubilee service at St Paul’s Cathedral and a Dutch state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
The Brazilian Aquamarine Parure Tiara is also included, a distinctive and elegant piece created to complete the aquamarine suite, last seen during the Spanish State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2017.
Also explored are the Greville Chandelier Earrings, a deeply personal piece of jewellery that became central to the Queen’s evening wear, first worn at the Royal Variety Performance early in her reign and revisited across subsequent decades.
The feature further highlights the King George VI Victorian Sapphire Suite, a sapphire collection closely tied to themes of family and duty, and frequently worn at prominent engagements from the early years of her reign through to her official Canadian portrait.
Roy Lunt, owner of Hancocks Jewellers, said: “So many people remember where they were when they saw certain photographs of the Queen. Her jewellery is part of those memories. This edit is our way of honouring her, by sharing the pieces that helped define the look of a reign, and the moments in which they were worn.”
