The touching significance behind the Queen’s art deco aquamarine brooch

The Queen’s distinctive aquamarine brooch was worn on a recent outing, and the piece holds an invaluable worth to Her Majesty

the Queen's aquamarine brooch has a special sentimentality behind it
(Image credit: Kirsty O'Connor-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Her Majesty the Queen braved the recent heatwave hitting the United Kingdom, making a public appearance to open the Thames Hospice in Maidenhead with Princess Anne. Fans spotted the Queen’s aquamarine brooch, a piece which the Queen holds close to her heart and has deep connections to her family.  


Looking stylish and cool in the heat, the Queen stepped out with her daughter, Anne, the Princess Royal, to open a hospital on Friday. Opting for a pale blue frock, Her Majesty scored style points for the colorful dress which she paired with a hot pink lipstick.

Many eyes were also drawn to the dazzling aquamarine brooch which completed the outfit.

Here’s everything we know about the Queen’s aquamarine brooch and why it is said to hold a special place in Her Majesty's heart.

The Queen's aquamarine brooch was a favorite of her mother's

(Image credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Pool/Getty Images)

Who designed the Queen’s aquamarine brooch?

With multiple cuts of aquamarine jewels and diamond accents, experts agree the brooch is very much in the style of Cartier jewels from the time, however, the maker is unconfirmed.

What is known is that the aquamarine brooch dates back to the 1930s, with one of its first documented appearances in 1939, when the Queen Mother wore the jewel to meet with President Lebrun of France at Windsor Castle.

The brooch was given to Queen Elizabeth II when her mother died in 2002.

She has worn the aquamarine brooch only on a few special occasions since her mother died

(Image credit: John Stillwell-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Perhaps because it was such a favorite of her mothers, Her Majesty didn’t resurface the art deco aquamarine brooch for over a decade.

It wasn’t until 12 years after her mother’s death that the Queen wore the brooch in public, stepping out at Royal Ascot with the stunning gem pinned to her jacket.

The art deco gem has been worn several times since then, usually at times of celebration where the Queen might have been keeping memories of her mother close to her heart.

The Queen Mother's aquamarine brooch has been passed down to the Queen

(Image credit: AFP/Getty)

The brooch was worn in 2015 for both the Queen’s annual broadcast and the Royal Family attending church.

Maxwell Stone, creative director at luxury jewelry firm Steven Stone estimates the piece is valued at around $40,000. 

Jack Slater
Freelance writer

Jack Slater is not the Last Action Hero, but that's what comes up first when you Google him. Preferring a much more sedentary life, Jack gets his thrills by covering news, entertainment, celebrity, film and culture for woman&home, and other digital publications.


Having written for various print and online publications—ranging from national syndicates to niche magazines—Jack has written about nearly everything there is to write about, covering LGBTQ+ news, celebrity features, TV and film scoops, reviewing the latest theatre shows lighting up London’s West End and the most pressing of SEO based stories.