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The Royal Crowns: Queen Mary

In this new crown for the Emperor of India a new pattern for the arches has been adopted, and it is. nearly the same as that used for the crowns of Queen Alexandra as well as that made for Queen Mary.

The arches are no longer complete, but are kept as half-arches, and the continuous reverse curve, known architecturally as an ogee, has been adopted. There are eight of these half-arches, one rising from the top of each cross-patée, and one from the top of each fleur-de-lys. They do not quite join at the top, but finish with small additional outward curves which flatten slightly at their points, thereby allowing room for some fair-sized brilliants to be set upon them. These projections, which are close to each other, form a singularly effective collar for the support of the rich mound and cross at the top. Each half-arch is of open work, closely set with diamonds, and broadens out towards its centre, narrowing sharply towards its upper end. The outline is evenly kept all along, and the wreath within it is a graceful conventional design of leaves and flowers. It was made by Messrs. Garrard for the coronation of King George V. as Emperor of India at Delhi in 1912.