Mattel's newest Barbie doll is literally fit for a queen. Sculpted in the likeness of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, the new Barbie Signature Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Doll celebrates her 70 years of service and reflects her love of fine jewelry. The toy company released the collectible on the Queen's 96th birthday, April 21.
Jewelry lovers will notice right away that Mattel's designers paid extreme attention to the miniature queen's blingy accessories, which include a replica of the iconic headpiece called the "Queen Mary Fringe Tiara." Elizabeth wore this tiara on her wedding day in 1947.
"I loved working on the accompanying jewelry, being a fan of the Crown Jewels myself," noted Robert Best, Senior Director of Barbie Design. "I've been fortunate to see the actual Crown Jewels in the Tower of London Museum! It was a cool opportunity to recreate some of them in miniature. I worked closely with (Product Design Manager) Monica LaValle, who did the technical drawings that were then translated by our sculptors."
Mattel explained on its website that each of the jewelry pieces has a history and a meaning, which was important for Robert, Monica and the sculpting team to get just right.
"The tiara is based on Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, and the little medallions on ribbons are the Royal Family Orders," Best said. "The pink ribbon was given to the Queen by her father George VI, and the pale blue by her grandfather George V. Creating miniatures of all the jewelry did have some challenges, as capturing the details becomes increasingly difficult at such a small scale. I think Monica and the sculpting team did an amazing job and I love the way they turned out!"
The actual, full-size Fringe Tiara was originally crafted in 1919 for Elizabeth’s grandmother, Queen Mary, by royal jewelers Garrard and Co. The diamonds adorning the 47 vertical bars of the tiara were harvested from diamond necklaces given by Queen Victoria to Mary on the occasion of her wedding in 1893.
Fun Fact: In 1947, a hair stylist accidentally snapped the frame of the Fringe Tiara while assisting Elizabeth with her wedding attire just before she was scheduled to head out to Westminster Abbey for the ceremony.
Fortunately, a jeweler from Garrard and Co. was standing by in case of an emergency. Legend has it that the jeweler was rushed back to his workshop via police escort. There, he quickly mended the tiara and returned it to Elizabeth just in time.
During the Queen’s long reign, she has generously lent the Fringe Tiara to the young brides of the royal family, including Princess Anne and Princess Beatrice.
Best added that the miniature gown is not a copy of any one dress the queen wears, but rather a gown inspired by the style and color of gown that she's favored in royal portraits of herself for the past several years.
He said, "If you look at those portraits or how she dresses for important events, she very much has a signature style and look – always a very simple design in white or ivory, which makes sense given that she must then wear all the accompanying jewelry and sash as befits her rank."
The Gold Label Queen Elizabeth II Doll is available for $75, with a limit of three dolls per person.
Credits: Barbie Signature Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Doll images courtesy of Mattel. Queen Elizabeth II portrait Photograph taken by Julian Calder for Governor-General of New Zealand, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you uplifting songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, newly engaged Canadian recording artist Avril Lavigne performs “Fly,” a power ballad inspired by the athletes of the Special Olympics.
In this song about having the inner strength to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges, Lavigne metaphorically states that “we were all meant to fly,” and compares the discovery of one’s special ability to unearthing a precious stone.
In the first verse, she sings, “There’s a light inside of all of us / It’s never hiding, you just have to light it / It’s the one thing that you gotta trust / It’s like a diamond, you just have to find it.”
Lavigne, who recently announced her engagement to fellow pop-punk rocker Mod Sun and shared a peek at her new 5-carat, heart-shaped diamond ring on Instagram, performed “Fly” live for the first time during the stirring opening ceremonies of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
Proceeds from the song benefited the Special Olympics in association with The Avril Lavigne Foundation, a charity that provides support to children and youth living with serious illnesses or disabilities.
“This song means a lot to me personally,” Lavigne said at the time. “It is inspired by the many young people I’ve met throughout my work with my Foundation. They pursue their dreams no matter what obstacles they face.”
“Special Olympics’ mission is to unleash the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports,” she added, “so they’re a natural fit for this song.”
In 2014, Lavigne herself was faced with a daunting physical challenge when she was struck down with Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by ticks. The illness left her bedridden for five months.
“I felt like I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t talk and I couldn’t move," she said. "I thought I was dying.”
Lavigne was able to overcome her bout with Lyme disease and seemed to be in top form as she delivered a beautiful performance of “Fly” on July 25, 2015, in front of a stadium of onlookers and an international television audience.
Please check out the official video, below. The lyrics are are included if you'd like to sing along…
“Fly”
Written by Avril Lavigne, David Hodges and Chad Robert Kroeger. Performed by Avril Lavigne.
There’s a light inside of all of us
It’s never hiding, you just have to light it
It’s the one thing that you gotta trust
It’s like a diamond, you just have to find it
So if you ever feel like giving up
Yeah, just remember that.. we were all meant to fly
Spread your wings across the universe
It’s your time to—it’s your time to shine
There’s a light inside of all of us
Soon, you’ll find that it’s your time to fly
Your time to fly
A little help is all it ever takes
Somebody else to tell you it’s worth fighting
A single step becomes a leap of faith
That’s when you realize you started flying
So, don’t you ever say you’re giving up
No, there’s no looking back… ’cause we were all meant to fly
Spread your wings across the universe
It’s your time to—it’s your time to shine
There’s a light inside of all of us
Soon, you’ll find that it’s your time to fly
It’s your time to fly
Just reach up, don’t give up
Until you’ve touched the sky
Just reach up, don’t give up
Until you’ve realized…
That we were all meant to fly
Spread your wings across the universe
It’s your time to—it’s your time to shine
There’s a light inside of all of us
Soon, you’ll find that it’s your time to fly, fly
It’s your time to—it’s your time to shine, shine
Soon, you’ll find that it’s your time to fly
Spread your wings across the universe
It’s your time to—it’s your time to shine
There’s a light inside of all of us
Soon, you’ll find that it’s your time to fly
Credits: Photo by juliastavale, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The solar eclipse is nearly here, and when it finally arrives it will treat all viewers to a once in a lifetime show of the largest diamond ring in the solar system. As the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun there will be a few brief seconds where the sun begins to peak around giving the moon something called the diamond ring effect.
Everyone in the path of totality has been extremely excited for the show, but for a jeweler it's just a little extra special.
Learn about our most recent trip to the diamond capital of the world.
We have South East Idaho's finest selection of custom one of a kind jewelry for your wedding. Have a look through our rings, or come in and try them on for yourself.
Time flies! Trite but true. Just ask a mother of a graduating senior who wonders, “Where has the time gone!? Yesterday he was holding my hand while we walked across the parking lot.” For you mothers of graduating seniors we have “Buy One Watch, Get One Free.” This promotion has been popular with watch collectors and gift givers. We still have some Fossil and a big selection of Citizen Eco-Drive and Seiko Solar. So congratulation!
Jill is joining the Dale’s Team and we are happy to have her aboard. This is such a great place to work and she is going to love it. Our customers are going to enjoy her, as well. Welcome aboard, Jill.
Geraniums mark SUMMER in my backyard. Pots overflowing with petunias, marigolds, vines, and bold, beautiful geraniums create my own little bit of heaven. On a beautiful summer morning I love sitting among my flowers, under the quakies, reading my kindle. All those beautiful colors repeating themselves in nature, teaching us mere mortals about design, balance, color, gifting us with beauty all around. Aaah, Summer
My friend Vaunita loves to cook and share her food. Every Fourth of July for the past umpteen years (I wish I could you exactly how many) she has cooked a free big, county breakfast for friends and neighbors before the parade. Her husband, Monte, helps by hauling tables, setting up chairs and doing a lot of heavy work that has to happen so the fun can begin. “Breakfast on the Boulevard” has gradually grown way beyond the fences of their neighborhood. Vaunita’s and Monte’s enthusiasm, hard work, and welcoming breakfast perfectly celebrate our Great American Story.