2020-05-01_Lapidary_Journal_Jewelry_Artist

“These smaller pieces of the Cullinan were referred to as

‘Granny’s chips.’ Queen Mary loved her diamonds and pearls.”

as the jewels that adorned them. The

Windsor women could aff ord the

fi nest couture of their mid-century

youth, and it’s on display in the fi rst

two seasons of The Crown.

Jaws were dropping as museum

visitors reached the royal wedding

gown from 1947. While Elizabeth had

her pick of tiaras and jewels safely

stashed in the Tower of London, the

21-year-old princess announced she

would use her 200 ration coupons

to make the gown, not wanting to

upset British subjects impoverished

by the War.

Upon hearing this, Britons mailed

their own coupons to supplement

her eff ort. On her big day, the heir-

to-the-throne appeared in a gown

A display of replicas of Elizabeth’s gowns

and tiaras at Winterthur Museum.

A section of the Costuming the Crown exhibit at Winterthur Museum.

MAY/JUNE 2020 61

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