For this week’s Fashion Friday, allow me to discuss one of the many things I truly admire (and long to have) in this world — quality Jewelry pieces.

I love jewelry like the average girl. They’re not only nice to look at and wear, but the artistic skills that went behind their creation also deserve admiration. With the refined skills of talented jewelers, rough gemstones and precious metal ingots turn into exceptional pieces. They’re simply true artists.

Most women mainly use jewelry pieces for accessorizing, while others believe these ornaments have more function beyond style. Apart from being quality investments, jewelry pieces may serve as a symbol of the wearer’s social status. And it’s most certainly true in the case of these three women I’ve chosen for this post.

It isn’t surprising that many of the most powerful and influential women in the world own an impressive collection of jewelry pieces. Here are three of the most enviable women on earth, at least in terms of jewelry ownership:

Queen Elizabeth II, monarch

Her collection is so extensive it needs a special room. And it’s not just any other room. It’s needs one as big as an ice rink to keep them locked safely inside the Buckingham Palace. Excluding the British Crown Jewels, this queen’s personal jewelry collection is estimated to be worth $57 million, consists mostly of personal gifts. Yes, she’s got some generous friends.
One of the highlights of the collection is a 352.50-carat spinel called Timur Ruby. Its previous owners’ names —mostly Mughal emperors —are inscribed in it.


Diana, Princess of Wales
Among the late princess’ famous Diana jewels, the one that she’s most remembered for was her engagement ring. Personally chosen by Diana herself, the famous ring became as iconic as its owner. It was picked from a selection presented by Garrard Jewelers, and it was considered a rare choice for someone about to be a member of the royal family. This is because at that time, anyone could purchase the same item from the jeweler’s catalog. Even a regular girl and not a princess-to-be can have her own piece of a royal jewel. It somehow reminded me of The Princess Diaries (“Anyone can be a Princess.”).
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William's wife, and one of my favorite style icons at the moment, now owns this ring.

Elizabeth Taylor, British-American actress
Like the Queen of England’s collection, the jewelry pieces owned by one of the greatest screen actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age consist largely of gifts. The actress received the 69.42-carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton Diamond and the the 33.19-carat Krupp diamond from Richard Burton, actor and her on-and-off husband. Another one of Burton’s gifts is the heart-shaped yellow diamond which was originally a gift from Shah Jahan in 1621 to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This lady inspired one of India’s treasured wonders, the Taj Mahal.

You can read my previous Fashion Friday post here: Wardrobe Essentials - Must-Have Jacket Styles for Every Woman

Credits:
http://www.royal-fans.com/queen-elizabeth-ii-jewellery-collection/
http://www.dianasjewels.net/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1411088/Diana-left-jewellery-to-her-sons-future-wives.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2153250/Queen-diamonds-Her-Majesty-owns-worlds-precious-gems-Royal-author-says-personal-ones-mean-most.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/16/kate-middleton-engagement-ring_n_784275.html
http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20475651_20475776_20927636,00.html