The Queen's Diamonds

This mammoth book is the most beautifully researched book in my entire collection. It's printed on heavy, glossy paper, and it features photographs that are so clear and detailed, including pull out pages that provide exception close ups of some of the most famous jewellery items in the Royal collection.With 320 pages and weighing more than five pounds it has dimensions of a large coffee table book. But it's not just a pretty package with lovely pictures. Roberts who was the Director of the Royal collection until 2010, was granted unprecedented access to these jewels and to the people who own them, including the Queen herself. His archival research is especially wonderful, and every entry includes extensive footnotes that cite documents like original purchase orders, jewellery inventories, and notes from jewellers who created and maintained each piece. A fascinating insight into a world we only get a glimpse off.

A beautiful book. The photography is stunning throughout. The descriptions are wonderful, but it is the photographs that are great.The jewels are shown real size and also often enlarged, with a few pieces given fold-open to twice the open size of the book. The detail is stunning.One can really admire the quality of the workmanship. And knowing the history of some of these jewels is lovely.You won’t see in here anything that belongs to The Crown Jewels. These are The Queen’s personal diamonds.This is a really fab talking point of a book. It gets the thumbs up from all the friends that have seen and pursued it.I hope that you have found this review helpful.

A whopping price and a whopping size. Unless you have either a very large bed or a very large bedside table I wouldn't purchase this with a view to bedtime browsing. That said, the pictures are eye popping and the catalogue entries are very thorough. You wouldn't want to get between Queen Mary and a piece of jewellery. The Queen Mum was clearly no slouch either. This tome has made me take more of an interest in the jewellery that emerges from HMQ's vaults and though there's a lot of diamonds in here I suspect there's more than a few tiaras still under the mattress in case of a non reigning day.

Big and bulky this is a magnificent book,on a splendid subject.Better and more detailed photos than ever seen before and excellent information on the history of diamond jewellery belonging to the British Queen. It is arranged chronologically so you can follow the development of styles. There is also reliable information on various versions of the same piece of jewellery. The emphasis is on diamonds and pearls (and the most impressive emeralds) so jewels also set with sapphires or rubies or other colour stones are not included. Nor is the majority of minor items, such as rings and most brooches.A sequel, of the same first-class quality, would be highly welcome. After all the jewels at the Queen's disposal - whether state-owned or private - would be the most extensive collection in the world.Indispensable for anybody interested in the art and craftmanship of high jewellery.

I have wanted this book for so long but the price was a bit steep. I decided if I wanted it I should just get it. Glad I did. Lovely stunning photos. Really beautiful book.

The condition of the book was excellent. The book was extremely well package. It arrived on time

This book is a must-have, in my opinion. The history of the jewels is absorbing, and the information about the stones and settings is brilliant too (forgive the pun). This is an awe-inspiring collection of jewels, and it's lovely to know know about the background to each of the lovely pieces. The jewels themselves I wouldn't even try to describe. Well photographed and set out - a wonderful book.

This has to be the best Royal Book I've bought in over 30 years of collecting.It is lavish, extremely good quality and fantastic detail, all the various pieces of jewelry beautifully cross-referenced .I cannot say enough to encourage prospective buyers and here at Amazon at a bargain price; I have seen it advertised at over 70 pounds new.Don't miss out, buy it now, you won't regret it.It sets out the collection of diamonds, tiaras, necklaces, brooches from Queen Charlotte up to Queen Elizabeth 2.Enjoy!!