This pearl and diamond necklace features 21 cultured pearls measuring 5.85mm to 13.5mm as well as circular cut diamonds in trefoil and floral designs. Queen Mary gifted the necklace to her niece Mary, Duchess of Beaufort. It was sold in 1986 and later sold by Sotheby’s in 2004. It’s catalogue references that it was made by Hennell in 1928 for Queen Mary.
The London jeweller Hennell was commissioned to make the necklace in 1928 as a reproduction of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee necklace, which had been presented to Queen Victoria in 1888 to celebrate her Golden Jubilee in 1887, celebrating fifty years on the throne. The original necklace was presented to Queen Victoria and was paid for using funds from the Women’s Jubilee Offering and was made by London jewellers Carrington & Co.
Hennell’s necklace was nearly identical to the original. Queen Victoria’s original was set with diamond and pearls around a crowned trefoil centre individual pieces could be detached and worn as a brooch or bracelets. The Golden Jubilee necklace was inherited by the Crown and became a favourite of Queen Elizabeth II. She wore it for her first State Opening of Parliament in 1952.
Queen Mary amassed a huge jewellery collection, much of which has been inherited by the royal family. Queen Camilla and Catherine, Princess of Wales regularly wear her pieces.
The necklace will be auctioned on November 9, 2026 in Phillips’ Geneva Jewels Auction: VII. It features in the Collections and Provenance Section alongside other jewels from noble and royal families.
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