Even the Royals pawn their jewels

The Crown Jewels of England and Wales are kept in the Tower of London, England. Edward the Confessor (King of England 1042-66), was probably the first British monarch to put together a regalia of a crown, sceptre and so on, set with precious stones. During an overseas campaign he was short of money to pay his troops and pawned the lot.

In 1649, Oliver Cromwell ordered the Crown Jewels to be broken up because of their symbolism of the â€œdetestable rule of kingsâ€. The jewels were removed from their settings and sold and the precious metals were sent to the Mint to be made into coins. Luckily, there were detailed records of the Crown Jewels and it was possible to reproduce them later.

You can read more about the British Crown Jewels and the Monarchy at the official website. If you’re looking for jewelry that’s a bit more contemporary, have a look at http://www.jewelleryportalonline.com

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