Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bar Brooch

Composed of 10 round diamonds in two even rows set in gold and silver, this brooch was Queen Victoria's solution to securing her Order of the Garter riband.

She originally wore it in two pieces of 5 stones each, but later had it altered to one brooch consisting of two rows. For Victoria, this was not merely a decorative brooch; she considered this a part of her Garter insignia, and it was kept with her Garter Star. It was likely commissioned at the same time as Victoria's star, in 1838, from Rundell, Bridge & Co. Queen Victoria designated this brooch as an heirloom to The crown. The designation of "heirloom of the crown'in Britain means that a a jewel

passes directly from monarch to monarch through the succession line.

The Diamond Bar Brooch was later worn by Queen Alexandra and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who frequently wore it to secure her Sash, and it passed to the Queen upon her death in 2002, though she has not yet been publicly seen wearing the piece.

Queen Elizabeth II also wore another Diamond Bar Brooch, featuring 14 diamonds, which may have also come from Queen Victoria's collection, but was pictured on Queen Mary. It passed to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and has been worn not only to secure her Garter Sash, but also worn as a regular brooch or on a tartan sash.