Anne Parsons, Countess of Rosse (née Messel, previously Armstrong-Jones; February 8 1902, Paddington – July 3, 1992, Sussex), was an English socialite and one of the founders of The Victorian Society. She was the sister of theatrical designer Oliver Messel, and the mother of Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon by her first marriage, and Brendan Parsons, 7th Earl of Rosse by her second.
The Rosse emerald parure (set of matching jewelry) dates from the late 19th century, circa 1885–1890, made in London. The tiara is designed in a modified kokoshnik style. It features eight large pear-shaped emeralds (some briolette-cut) suspended from double rows of diamonds, with a central emerald-cut emerald and a kite-shaped emerald, both surrounded by diamonds.
The parure also included a necklace, earrings, and a large brooch. The necklace comprised around sixteen graduated Colombian emeralds, each surrounded by old-cut diamonds, alternating with smaller emeralds with pear-shaped diamond drops, and had a prominent emerald pendant.
The tiara (and the rest of the parure) was notably worn by Anne at the Coronation of King George VI in 1937. She also wore it at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
At the wedding ball in 1960 for her son Antony Armstrong-Jones (1st Earl of Snowdon) and Princess Margaret, she wore the full emerald parure — tiara, necklace, and earrings — paired with a Victor Stiebel gown. The next day (wedding day), she wore the large emerald dragonfly brooch.
The tiara and accompanying necklace were sold separately at Christie’s in the 1980s.
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