These earrings are one of those Kate items you'd absolutely need to repli-kate, as opposed to getting the real deal, even if you really wanted/could afford to, as these are rumored to be a wedding gift from the Prince of Wales and very likely bespoke and/or antique (together with the matching bracelet).
They made their first appearance shortly after the wedding, during the North American tour:
1 July 2011 - Attending Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa.
9 July 2011 - The bracelet worn with different diamond earrings at a BAFTA Brits to Watch event in Los Angeles.
27 October 2011- Hosting a charity gala at Clarence House on behalf of the Prince of Wales.
4 June 2013 - Attending the Coronation anniversary service at Westminster Abbey, as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
11 February 2014 - A dazzling duo, with the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, at the National Portrait Gallery annual Portrait Gala.
10 April 2014 - Attending a reception at Government House, Wellington, New Zealand.
25 April 2014 - Attending a reception at Government House, Canberra, Australia (plus a good close-up of the matching bracelet).
As of February 2016, the bracelet was worn most recently at the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala at the Natural History Museum on 27 October 2015 and the earrings at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on 7 November 2015:
There might be a matching ring in the set, although it's difficult to tell for sure due to the lack of HD images available. The photo below was taken at the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala on 24 October 2013, the only occasion when the Duchess appears to have worn the complete set (if indeed it's a set we're talking about):
The set appears to be either platinum or white gold; it's made up of diamond florets or circles, *possibly* with yellow diamond accents, alternating with baguette-cut diamonds:
I purchase my repli-kate earrings in February 2015 for $53 including shipping to Italy (£37/€48). They're still available at The Looking Glass Shop for $40 (£28/€37) plus shipping (which, in my case, comes up to $15/£11/€14, so total cost has gone up by $2 since I purchased them last year).
From the description on the shop Etsy page: Worthy of a princess, these gorgeous earrings are custom-designed replicas of earrings worn by Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.
They feature 2 beautiful cubic zirconia stones surrounded by pave style halos, separated by 3 baguette stones. They measure just under 1 1/2 inches in length [approx. 3.8 cm] and have nickle-free posts.
They feature 2 beautiful cubic zirconia stones surrounded by pave style halos, separated by 3 baguette stones. They measure just under 1 1/2 inches in length [approx. 3.8 cm] and have nickle-free posts.
My main gripe about these is that in the originals the three baguette-cut diamonds that connect the florets appear to be articulated. However, this is not the case in the repli-kate. Also, the three stones appear to be the same size, whereas in the repli-kate the top two are the same size but the bottom one is longer by around 1 mm on each side (I know I'm nitpicking, but I reckon I might just spill the beans and tell things as they are).
Front and back view:
Also, in the originals the central brilliants appear to be slightly raised from the surrounding pavé border, as seen in the image below (notice the dark circle visible between the two):
In the year or so I've had them, I've also noticed some very minor verdigris developing. I've highlighted the most noticeable bit in the photo below; in all fairness, although there are a few specks here and there, it's hardly noticeable for now:
Despite the differences, I would still buy these because they're very pretty and great for different occasions and fashion ensembles. I would wear these with so many different outfits. Thank you for the review!
RispondiEliminaThat's true, they're very versatile and suitable for both day and eveningwear (just like Kate's!).
EliminaGlad you found the review useful!