A New Year's Eve Dream Filled with Diamonds!

Every little girl dreams of being a princess - even us tomboy types.  I mean, after all, we have all kinds of movies and cartoons about it.  Disney makes a killing on the fantasy of it all.  And, well, for about 90 percent of the female population, the only chance we have to be a princess is to dress up like one for a special occasion and very rarely do we get to wear diamonds like those of royalty!  

The Prussian or Hellenic Tiara - 1913 by the German jeweler Koch. Currently owned by Queen Sofia of Spain given to her by her mother, Queen Frederica of Greece who was given it her by her mother, Princess Victoria Louise of Hanover who received it from her father Kaiser Wilhelm II on her wedding day.  Uhhh.....YES!  Who wouldn't want to try this beauty on?!?!

Well, it just so happens that tonight is New Year's Eve!  So, even though I don't have, or know, a Fairy Godmother; I thought I'd sprinkle some virtual fairy dust so we could all take a look at some amazing royal jewels - both past and present.  And daydream, just a little.

The Black Orloff Diamond - A 68-carat stunner originally owned by Catherine the Great & passed down through the Russian royal family.
Because every little black dress needs a little bling to go with!

Discovered in South Africa, the Cullinan is the largest diamond ever found.  Ultimately, it was cut into more than 100 smaller pieces, nine of which belong to the British royal family.  Above is a brooch made out of Cullinan III & IV. The pear-shaped diamond is 94.4 carats, while the cushion-shaped one is 63.6 carats.  Yup, I'd wear it.

Diamond necklace that was given from Napoleon to his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise.
Classics never go out of style!

Queen Sophia of Greece's Laurel Leaf Tiara.  Personally, I think you could even wear it with blue jeans!

Princess Charlène of Monaco, wearing the sapphire & diamond Ocean Tiara made by Van Cleef & Arpels.
This has got to be one of my favorite tiaras!  It is simply stunning!

The Royal Pearl 166.16 grains or 8.3 grams that boasts an illustrious provenance, having been the
property of Queen Mary, wife of King George V.  Cartier has also incorporated the pearl as the centerpiece
of a grand diamond necklace that can be also be worn as a tiara.  Personally, I think it looks stunning as a pendant!

Two large yellow diamonds - a cushion-shaped diamond weighing 102.54 carats & a pear-shaped diamond
weighing 82.48 carats - from the collection of Marquise de Païva, or simply la Païva, the famous 19th century
courtesan. She was called “the diamond eater” behind her back. She came from a poor Jewish
family of a Moscow tailor, but she convinced her close friend Théophile Gautier that she was the illegitimate
daughter of Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich Romanov.  Wow!

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