Windsor Auctions was conceived and developed by the founders of House of Windsor Group, which created the Hollywood Royalty Collection, which was established based upon bringing forth the beauty of jewels worn by movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Barbara Stanwyck, Vivien Leigh, Janet Gaynor, Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard, Norma Shearer, Natalie Wood, Lana Turner, Veronica Lake, Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Joan Fontaine and many more. The Hollywood Royalty Collection is offered at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.

The United Kingdom is based upon the history and the attraction of the Royal family and of course, the crown jewels. The crown jewels cannot travel beyond the United Kingdom and therefore one would have to visit U. K. to view the crown jewels.

The House of Windsor Group British Monarcy Collection is on display at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida...

Thus, the Windsor Group was established based upon the premise that if you don’t have the time to visit the United Kingdom - The House of Windsor Group would bring one of the most awe-inspiring collections of select jewels and royal crowns to United States.

The goal to bring the “best” of the monarchy was not an easy task. The House of Windsor Group expended funds that would otherwise not be readily available to even large museums due to budget cut backs. Additionally, acquiring specific objects and/or commissioning objects to be replicated can be a time-consuming process spanning months (or even years). The main focus of the collection revolves around Queen Mary and King George V.

Museum creators, designers, goldsmith and jewelers ensured that each object was entirely handmade. Care was given to each piece to preserve their intricate detail. Additionally, in order to obtain the beauty of each piece, precious and semi-stones have been included wherever possible.

The House of Windsor Collection includes original royal portraits signed by Queen Mary and King George V. The crown jewels collection includes the Queen Mary Crown (created specifically to celebrate the Maiden Voyage of the Queen Mary II) and the Imperial Crown of India.

The collection also includes Queen Victoria’s Jubilee necklace (later worn by the present Queen at her coronation), the Cambridge and Delhi Durbar Parure, created for Queen Mary in 1911 using emeralds won in a lottery by Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (a century earlier) and 102 Cullinan diamond cleavings.

The House of Windsor Group has also acquired the entire Cullinan collection of diamonds (nine in total-including the rough). The Cullinan diamond yielded The Star of Africa (530.20 carats and is the largest diamond in the world).

Additionally, the Cullinan yielded the Second Star of Africa (317.40 carats). The Second Star of Africa now adorns the front of the circlet of the Imperial State Crown. Cullinan three in concert with Cullinan four adorns the crown of Queen Mary, however, they were removed and are now set together in a brooch. Cullinan five is 18.80 carats, is heart-shaped and was also set in a brooch. As no King has ever worn a crown in which the Koh-I-noor was placed, Cullinan five was the diamond, which replaced the Koh-I-noor in the crown for the coronation of King George VI. Cullinan six is set in an emerald necklace worn by the Queen. Cullinan seven and eight are set in a brooch and Cullinan nine is set as solitaire in a ring with a claw setting.

While the House of Windsor Group Cullinan Collection has been replicated, replicating such works to exact detail was an extensive undertaking for master jewelers in Europe. The Cullinan collection took years to complete with each stone consuming hundreds of hours to cleave, facet and polish for this exhibition.

There are many stories, which revolve around the Koh-I-noor, the Cullinan diamonds and even the Imperial Crown of India. It is the goal of The House of Windsor Group to convey those stories of the people (whom, through the simple act of wearing these objects’ d’ art) gave these in adamant objects a life of their own.

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