The British Crown Jewels Are Worth More Than You Think

For over 600 years, the Crown Jewels have been safely tucked away in the Tower of London for protecting and for admiring, as revealed by Historic Royal Palaces. These jewelry pieces and items are held and set on the heads of numerous monarchs. Nowadays, the monarch uses the jewels for official portraits or ceremonial events. The Crown Jewels are made of metalwork and precious gems, and include church and banqueting plates, insignia, robes, and a collection of medals which often signified the monarchy's power. But according to Royal, the original Royal regalia was actually broken up by Oliver Cromwell and sold for parts in 1649. Luckily, when Charles II came to be King, he spared no expense at replacing the sold stones for a cool £12,185 in 1661. Even though the jewels, robes, and other trinkets have had a rough go throughout history, they are still worth quite a lot of money.

Express reveals that the collection is estimated to be worth between three and five billion pounds. The most expensive gem in the collection is said to be the largest diamond, the Cullinan I diamond. Royal watchers can find this pretty sparkler in the Sceptre with the Cross, and if it were to be sold on its own, it would bring in around £400 million.

But by far the most important item in the Crown Jewels would have to be the St Edward's Crown, as it is used for the coronation of the new monarch (via The Crown Chronicles). The crown itself boasts 444 stones and is one of the most seen pieces of the collection, according to Reader's Digest. The headpiece has both precious and semi-precious accents. But heavy is the head that wears the crown, and no statement has rung truer since this piece weighs a hefty five pounds! The gold used to make the crown is said to be worth $100,000 on its own, with the crown earning a respectful price tag of $39 million.

The Jewelled Sword of Offering is another spectacular piece in the collection that dates back to King George IV's reign (via The Mirror). At the time, the King paid £5,988 out of his own privy purse, and jewel enthusiasts estimate that it is worth around £500,000 now. The sword is draped with 3,476 stones, and the blade has ornate flowers, thistles, and shamrocks on it. Interestingly enough, it is one of six swords that make up the entire collection.

Many royal watchers would have noted seeing the Queen carry a sizeable golden globe during her coronation, and many may have wondered what it is. This piece is The Sovereign's Orb and is meant to represent the world (per The Court Jeweler). The orb has a large cross transcending the globe, as it is meant to represent the Christian world. The sphere is then divided into three segments by bedazzled strips that designate the three continents that were known during the medieval European time period. Reader's Digest marks this piece as being worth $200,000 in today's money. The Crown Jewels are often labeled as priceless, since a rich history accompanies each piece. But it doesn't hurt to know that if the Queen were to fall on hard times, she could sell off some of her gems to get by.