The Duchess of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg- Gotha ruby parure.

One of the most beautiful ruby parures was originally owned by Marie Alexandrovna, the Duchess of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg- Gotha. Only daughter of Tsar Alexandar II of Russia, Marie Alexandrovna was used to having the best of everything. Her jewelry collection was superb and the bridal gifts from her father were no exception.

Created by Bolin and given in 1874, the year of her marriage to Prince Alfred, the parure consisted of a lotus-motif tiara, a devant de corsage and a sumptuous necklace. As for the other pieces shown, I am personally not certain of the background of the three separate pieces, pendant earrings and one lone cluster.

The Duchess of Edinburgh wore her rubies for the coronation festivities of Tsar Nicholas II in 1896. Here she is photographed wearing the devant de corsage and necklace. There seems to have never been pictures of Marie Alexandrovna wearing the tiara, although she had another ruby tiara in her collection.

From the Duchess of Edinburgh, the parure went to her daughter Alexandra, Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. http://royal-jewels.blogspot.fr/