Glittering Stones >> Small Diamond

Small diamond

These diamonds are the smallest and mainly commonly found diamond. These diamonds are found while mining.

History of Small Diamond Crown

On the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert, in 1861, the sorrow stricken Queen Victoria retreated into mourning and for a time withdrew from public life. In 1871, soon after she resumed some of her public duties, she commissioned this small diamond crown from Garrard & Co. to wear on top of her widow's veil. The silver border is set with 1186 diamonds which, unlike colored stones, were acceptable during the period of grief being of small stature, she found the Imperial State Crown too heavy and too large for her. She broke diamonds out of a necklace to generate this small head ornament, which measures just 9cm (31/2 inches) across, 10 cm high and weighs just 6 ounces.

Queen Victoria first wore her little diamond crown at the State Opening of Parliament on 10th February 1872, with the Imperial State Crown being approved on a cushion before her. The small crown, which she wore often for the rest of her reign, came to symbolize her. Queen Victoria left the small diamond crown to the Crown. It was infrequently worn by Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary.

Victoria was born at Kensington Palace, London, on 23rd May 1818. She was the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, and fourth son of George III. Her father died shortly after her birth and she became very heir to the throne because the three uncles who were ahead of her in succession - George IV, Frederick Duke of York, and William IV - had no rightful children who survived. On William IV's death in 1837, she became Queen at the age of 18.

She married Prince Albert, to whom she was loyal, in 1841 and sank into deep depression on his death in 1861 at the age of 42.

For the remaining 41 years of her reign she wore black. Victoria continued her duties to the end at the age of 83 and on her death in 1902 the small diamond crown was placed on her coffin at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight before being conveyed to London for the State Funeral