Dynastic Jewels at the Hôtel de la Marine

From 10 December 2025 to 6 April 2026, the Hôtel de la Marine in Paris will transform into a theatre of brilliance and historical emotion. Dynastic Jewels, the third chapter in the acclaimed trilogy created in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum, is not only an exhibition—it is a breathtaking encounter with the jewels that shaped European history. These are not ornaments; they are witnesses. They have graced the brows of empresses, illuminated coronations, sealed political alliances, whispered love, ambition, triumph, and sometimes tragedy. For specialists, connoisseurs, collectors, and lovers of exceptional craftsmanship, this exhibition stands as one of the most anticipated jewelry events of the decade.

A Sanctuary of Royal Glamour

The Al Thani Collection—renowned worldwide for its exquisite curatorial eye—opens its doors to rare treasures from both its own masterpieces and the V&A’s storied reserves, many of which are appearing in France for the very first time. Imagine walking into a space where Catherine the Great, Joséphine Bonaparte, Marie-Louise, and Queen Victoria suddenly feel tangible, their presence summoned through the jewels they once touched, commissioned, or adored.

Jewelry, perhaps more than any other decorative art, condenses the language of power. In Dynastic Jewels, it becomes a narrative force: sapphires that legitimized a queen, diamonds that proclaimed authority, emeralds that traveled oceans and empires, tiaras that defined eras.

This is the exhibition Paris has been waiting for.

Gallery 1 – Precious Stones: The Geometry of Power

The opening gallery is a triumphant celebration of nature’s most coveted creations. Standing before the legendary Star of Golconda—a 57.31-carat diamond whose icy perfection has mesmerised generations—you feel the pulse of history. Nearby, the Briolette of India, a remarkable 90.38-carat diamond reputedly worn by an Indian maharaja, refracts centuries of cultural exchange and artistic trade.

One of the exhibition’s most stirring inclusions is a two-coloured sapphire recorded in the French Crown Jewels during the 18th century. Its mysterious bicolour hue, suspended between blue and violet, encapsulates the luxury and intrigue of the Ancien Régime.

For gemstone lovers, seeing these stones outside of archival books or auction catalogues is a rare privilege—almost an initiation.

Gallery 2 – Majestic Tiaras: When Royalty Meets Radiance

The tiara gallery alone could justify a voyage to Paris. Eleven extraordinary pieces unfold the evolution of European elegance, from the refined neoclassicism of the Napoleonic era to the audacious geometry of Art Deco.

You will meet:

• the seven surviving diamond elements gifted by the future King George IV to Mrs. Fitzherbert,
• the poetic Leuchtenberg Tiara, attributed to Fossin, shimmering with historical romance and the spirit of Joséphine,
• the aristocratic splendour of the Manchester Tiara, created by Cartier for a duchess,
• and the ethereal lightness of the Bourbon-Parma Fuchsia Tiara, whose delicate silhouette foreshadows the modernity of 20th-century design.

To stand before these tiaras is to feel centuries of coronations, romances, and dynastic ambitions condensed into platinum and diamond.

Gallery 3 – Bejewelled Heritage: Love, Legacy and Dynasty

This gallery is the emotional core of the exhibition. It gathers the jewels that survived revolutions, exiles, and political tumults—pieces once worn by Catherine the Great, Queen Victoria, and the Bonapartes.

Queen Victoria’s sapphire and diamond coronet, designed by Prince Albert himself, is reunited here with the emerald and diamond tiara he created for her six years after their wedding. This intimate pairing alone is worth the visit: an imperial love story told in gemstones.

Nearby, Mellerio’s rose brooch for Princess Mathilde and a spectacular peacock feather brooch commissioned by Empress Eugénie revive the grandeur of the Second Empire.

This gallery is not just about jewels—it is about inheritance, identity, and the power of objects to preserve human stories.

Gallery 4 – Power Jewels in Modern Times

The final chapter explores the 20th century, when crowns gave way to new industrial fortunes and the language of jewelry modernised. Highlights include Cartier’s Soleil Tiara with its fiery 32.58-carat yellow diamond, the architectural brilliance of Doris Duke’s Art Deco bracelets, and the mesmerizing turban ornament created for Maharaja Digvijaysinhji of Nawanagar.

The cross-cultural dialogues between Parisian maisons and Indian royalty illuminate how jewelry became not just a symbol of status, but a tool of reinvention in a rapidly changing world.

Why You Cannot Miss This Exhibition

Dynastic Jewels is not a display—it is a revelation. It is a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of masterpieces that typically lie hidden in royal treasuries, private vaults, and museum archives. Whether you are a historian, a gemologist, a collector, or simply captivated by the poetry of craftsmanship, this exhibition will deepen your understanding of the intimate relationship between jewelry, politics, emotion, and identity. It is a rare invitation to witness how jewels shaped dynasties—and how their radiance continues to shape our imagination.