The famed Crown Jewels in the Tower of London is a popular attraction with visitors and locals alike.
From St. Edwards Crown to the blue Stuart Sapphire, the Crown Jewels share Great Britain’s storied history of its monarchy through a dazzling display of priceless artifacts, and two local couples had the opportunity to see these magnificent and historical pieces in a unique and personal way.
Through the purchase of the Forevermark Exceptional diamond, the Crown Jewels private tour became possible. Kelli Roberts of Underwood Jewelers in Ponte Vedra Beach helped arrange the special viewing for the couples.
Don and Carolyn Glisson bought a Forevermark Exceptional diamond a couple of years ago at Underwood Jewelers in Ponte Vedra Beach, and, when visiting London last July, the Glissons contacted Roberts about setting up a unique visit to the Tower of London.
The couple had visited the Tower of London and viewed the Crown Jewels before, but not like this. Don Glisson said the experience was extra special because of the stories behind the collection.
“For me, it was just the whole history rather than the actual materials used,” he said.
The Glissons arrived at the Tower before it opened to the public and were taken by a private tour guide through the collection. The Glissons said the experience allowed them to hear stories not shared with the public on the main tour.
“London has a lot of things to see, but I’d definitely put that on the list,” Carolyn Glisson said about viewing the Crown Jewels.
Scott MacKenzie and Jerry Cruz were also fascinated by the collection’s history. The couple go to see the Jaguars play in London every year, and had also seen the Crown Jewels before, riding along a conveyer belt with the rest of the viewing public. But during last year’s visit, they were able to see the collection from a different perspective.
“It was truly a private tour,” MacKenzie said. “You find out stuff that you normally wouldn’t find out.”
MacKenzie and Cruz were eligible for the private tour after purchasing the only matched pair of ForeverMark Exceptional diamonds of that size (5.56 and 5.57 carats) in existence last year, and it turned out to be a very special benefit.
“To me it was like one of the wonders of the world to be able to see all that in one place,” Cruz said. “It just takes your breath away. To be able to see the Crown Jewels in that way made it a lifelong experience.”
MacKenzie said he was particularly fascinated by Queen Victoria’s tiny crown made especially for her from her own diamond collection, and the opportunity to view the collection in a private setting really stood out to Cruz.
“It was so personalized and so intimate that we really felt special,” Cruz said.
The two couples have their own version of a crown jewel with the Forevermark Exceptional, which offers its own distinct and remarkable features.
Roberts said there are only 35-50 Forevermark Exceptional diamonds cut at any time, so the jewels themselves are also particularly unique. Each diamond comes with a personalized book that details the history of the diamond from the rough to when it ends up on the finger, and a unique inscription invisible to the naked eye that provides key details of the individual diamond.
Roberts also said Forevermark’s efforts in the Africa locations where it mines makes the company a standout with customers and jewelers.
“Forevermark goes above and beyond,” Roberts said. “For every acre they mine, they conserve five additional acres.”
Both couples said the uniqueness and exceptionally responsible sourcing of the Forevermark appealed to them.
“We’ve had several purchases from Forevermark, and as far as I’m concerned you can’t beat the quality,” Cruz said.
Forevermark made its U.S. launch at the Underwood Jewelers store in Ponte Vedra, and the location has had a lot of success with Exceptional collection in particular, Roberts said. The local store will celebrate the Forevermark Diamond collection at an event Thursday, Nov. 14.
