Sophie Countess of Wessex has £3m worth of jewellery – collection has this royal link

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, has been married to Prince Edward for 20 years and has been a full-time working royal since. The couple said “I do” at Windsor Castle and Sophie wore a stunning tiara reportedly made from four pieces of Queen Victoria’s Regal Circlet. She also wore a black and white pearl necklace and earring set which was gifted to her by her husband. Since then, Sophie has continued to wear eye-catching pieces of jewellery and her collection could be worth over £3 million.

By looking at key pieces from her collection, Sophie appears to favour aquamarines, Ailsa Russell, Appraiser Prestige Pawnbrokers of Channel 4’s Posh Pawn, explained.

The jewels have been popular among other members of the Royal Family, including Meghan Markle and Princess Diana.

Ailsa told Express.co.uk: “Two of the three tiaras the royal has been known to wear feature incredible designs with aquamarines.

“The ‘Five Aquamarine Tiara’, also coined the ‘Canadian Aquamarine Tiara’ after the Queen wore it on a state visit to Canada in 1970, is a high sitting tiara with floral and ribbon motifs set with diamonds and large aquamarines.

“It would possible for this tiara to reach £1 million on the open market today.

“Known as the ‘Aquamarine Necklace Tiara’, the second aquamarine tiara often seen worn by the Countess of Wessex is far more modern in design.

“Featuring diamond set wave motifs, with a large oval cut blue-green aquamarine in the centre. On the open market it could possible reach a value of £500,000.”

During her time as a royal, Sophie has worn an aquamarine brooch many times which is sure to be very popular with bidders if it was to go on sale.

“This Art Deco design brooch favoured by the Countess of Wessex features a large emerald step-cut aquamarine of intense sea blue colour surrounded by diamond and set within bands of blue and green enamel,” Ailsa said.

“Debuted by the Countess to the wedding of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco in July 2011, the brooch has seen many public appearances since including several visits to Royal Ascot.

“The impressive brooch is a jewellery staple for the Countess and as such could reach £250,000 at auction.”

So, why has she favoured aquamarines and what is the royal link?

“They remain very popular and desirable on the open market, there was a noticeable increase in demand after Meghan Markle wore princess Diana’s Asprey ring,” the expert revealed.

“Aquamarines, like emeralds, are a colour scale of the mined gem stone called beryl.

“Emeralds are green to blue beryls and aquamarines are blue to green beryls. Alongside rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, aquamarines are the most popular hard gemstone for jewellery.

“As most aquamarines are greenish blue, the more intense and saturated the blue colour, the rarer the stone and therefore the more expensive they are.”