Granny’s Chips, the story of the most precious brooch in the world that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II

The world’s most precious brooch comes from the largest rough diamond ever found and has been passed down through generations in the English royal family.

Author: Clara Salzano

Queen Elizabeth II and the brooch nicknamed Granny’s Chips

Two huge diamonds, the Cullinan III and the Cullinan IV, make up Queen Elizabeth II’s most precious jewel. nicknamed grandma’s chipsthe expensive gem has nothing to do with food, its history is much more fascinating and its value goes beyond 50 million of pounds.

Queen Elizabeth II with the precious brooch
Queen Elizabeth II with the precious brooch

When it’s about grandma’s chips of Queen Elizabeth II we are not referring to her favorite dish, but to a unique gem in the world of good 158 carats. Composed of two cut diamonds from the legendary Cullinan diamond, the largest diamond ever found, is the most precious brooch in the world. It was bequeathed to Elizabeth by her grandmother and queen mary when the old sovereign only 27 years old and she was about to become queen. This family heirloom was a gift of love and that’s why Elizabeth II always had a special fondness for this brooch, so much so that she nicknamed it Grandma’s Chips.

The brooch worn by Queen Mary at the coronation of George VI
The brooch worn by Queen Mary at the coronation of George VI

Granny’s Chips jewelry is an important testament to the bond between Queen Elizabeth II and her grandmother, Queen Mary. Elizabeth II didn’t wear the precious jewel very often, they are on very significant occasions like hers. 2012 jubilee. The brooch comes from one of the greatest wonders of the world: the Cullinan, the biggest diamond in the rough in the world, in size, clarity and white color, which had a total weight of 3,106 carats. Found in South Africa in 1905 in what was later named Cullinan Mines, named after the mine’s founder.

The Granny's Chips brooch
The Granny’s Chips brooch

The Cullinan, according to scientists, was formed over 1 billion years ago, well ahead of time. The precious diamond was donated to King Edward VII as a sign of loyalty from the British South African colony and are varied the legends who tell of their arrival in England: it appears that the diamond was sent with a normal package while a replica was traveling, equipped with an escort, in a steamboat. Also the man who was hired to cut the diamond, Joseph Asscher, it looks like he passed out when he made the first cut in the exceptional jewel. The huge diamond was cut into several parts, all indicated with Roman numerals. The Cullinan III and the Cullinan IV, which weigh respectively 94.4 AND 63.6 caratstoday they make up the brooch so dear to the late monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II during her 2012 jubilee
Queen Elizabeth II during her 2012 jubilee

Source: Fan Page IT

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