ROYA L J E W E L S
Williamson Diamond/Edelweiss
Brooch Cartier, London, 1953
he brooch is in the form
of an edelweiss, with
the stem in baguette-cut
diamonds and two leaves in
marquise-cut diamonds, with brilliant-
cut diamonds forming the petals. The
Williamson Diamond is considered the
finest pink diamond ever discovered.
It was found in October 1947 at the
Mwadui mine in Tanganyika, owned by
the Canadian geologist and royalist Dr
John Thoburn Williamson (1907–58),
after whom the diamond was named.
When HM The Queen succeeded
to the throne in 1952, there was
speculation that the stone might be
mounted for use at the Coronation.
However, it was instead set as
the centre of this brooch, designed by
Frederick Mew of Cartier in 1953.
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