Jeweller designs sapphire brooch fit for a Queen
Canada 150 gift has Nunavut stones in north star shape set by Hillberg & Berk
During a celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday in London, Queen Elizabeth II was presented with an exceedingly rare gift designed in Regina by local jeweller Hillberg & Berk.
The gift marks this year’s celebration of the Queen’s sapphire jubilee, as well as the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation. It was designed to look like a snowflake in the shape of the north star. Governor General David Johnston presented the brooch to her on Wednesday at Canada House in London’s Trafalgar Square.
The one-of-a-kind brooch boasts 48 Canadian sapphires of varying colour and shape, totalling 10.19 carats, interspersed between more than 400 diamonds with a total carat weight of 4.39, fit into a setting of 18 karat Canadian white gold.
The Queen will be one of very few people in the world able to claim ownership of Canadian sapphires, as there is only one known deposit in the country, discovered in 2002 by Seemeega and Nowdluk Aqpik near the hamlet of Kimmirut on Baffin Island in Nunavut.
This isn’t the first piece of Hillberg & Berk jewelry to grace Her Majesty’s collection. In October, 2013, Saskatchewan’s LieutenantGovernor Vaughn Solomon Schofield presented her with a brooch in a five-petalled flower design made with pieces of pink tourmaline from Madagascar, which were surrounded by diamonds and centred around a freshwater pearl.
“I can think of no other woman who better represents what sparkle truly means to us,” founder and CEO of Hillberg & Berk Rachel Mielke said in a statement. “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a symbol of strength and inspiration, not only for Canadians, but to people around the world. Being chosen to create this truly one-of-a-kind brooch on behalf of the Government of Canada is a tremendous honour. We are truly humbled to have created this special piece for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
I can think of no other woman who better represents what sparkle truly means to us.