Queen Letizia of Spain’s Sparkling Diamond Collet Necklace Is Rich With History
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Sophie WangWed, May 6, 2026 at 5:39 PM UTC
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Queen Letizia’s Heirloom Diamonds Have a HistoryCarlos Alvarez - Getty Images
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Diamonds really are a girl’s best friend. And the only thing better than a strand of sparkling jewels is a strand of sparkling jewels that is rich with family history.
At Barcelona’s Maritime Museum for the 50th anniversary of the El País newspaper, Queen Letizia of Spain celebrated the milestone in a black, ankle-length off-the-shoulder dress that perfectly highlighted her diamond collet necklace.
Carlos Alvarez - Getty Images
From the collection of Queen Victoria Eugenie (known as Ena), the sparkling rivière piece featured 30 massive stones, each in a vintage rimmed setting. Its center diamond was originally presented to the late royal by her husband, King Alfonso XIII, at their 1906 wedding. The monarch continued adding to the piece over the years, with portraits tracking its growth from a choker to the longer style seen today.
Ena, who was not only a Spanish queen but also the granddaughter of Queen Victoria, ruled alongside Alfonso from their wedding until the Second Spanish Republic was established in 1931.
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Alfonso XIII, King of Spain, and Victoria Eugenie, Queen of Spain.Topical Press Agency - Getty Images
Letizia first wore the storied piece in 2019, at the enthronement of Japanese Emperor Naruhito.
And this week, she paired it with Ena’s matching chaton earrings, which were crafted to complement the necklace. She contrasted the vintage pieces from the vault with a clutch from contemporary designer Aquazzura. The little bag tied the dress and the jewelry together, with its silky black fabric and sparkling crystal bow detail.
Carlos Alvarez - Getty Images
The queen’s long hair was curled for the occasion, which she attended alongside her husband, King Felipe VI of Spain. For shoes, she selected pointed-toe slingback heels from Massimo Dutti.
Chef’s kiss.
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