Jewels have always told history in a different way. Through their stones and metals, they speak of power, transmission and the staging of sovereigns. The exhibition Dynastic Jewels at the Hôtel de la Marine offers an erudite reading of European history to understand how fine jewellery became a political and cultural symbol.
On display until 6 April 2026, Dynastic Jewels brings together more than 140 exceptional pieces, most of which are being exhibited in Paris for the first time. The exhibition is the third and final instalment of a prestigious trilogy organised by the Al Thani Collection in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the world's leading authority on decorative arts and historical jewellery.
A major exhibition of historical jewellery in Paris
From the sapphire and diamond tiara designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria to jewels that belonged to Empress Josephine, Catherine II of Russia and the British and imperial aristocracy, the exhibition brings together works from exceptional loans. The Royal Collection, Historic Royal Palaces, and the great heritage houses of fine jewellery, including Cartier, Chaumet, Mellerio and Van Cleef & Arpels, are collaborating with the treasures of the Al Thani Collection.
The exhibition, spread across the four rooms of the Al Thani Collection, follows a fluid narrative from precious stones as attributes of power and majestic tiaras to the transformation of jewellery into a social and stylistic symbol in the 20th century.
Dynastic jewels: jewellery changes hands in the 20th century
The last room of Dynastic Jewels marks a decisive shift in the exhibition. In the 20th century, power did not disappear from jewellery, but changed hands. The fall of European monarchies and political upheavals led to the dispersal of royal treasures to new centres of influence, including American industrialists, wealthy heiresses, socialites and style icons. Jewellery thus became a reflection of a more diffuse, economic and cultural power.
From the Rockefeller pendant to the daring Soleil de Cartier tiara, a modern reinterpretation of the Russian kokoshnik, fine jewellery took on new, more graphic and more international forms. Art Deco, embodied by Doris Duke's bracelets and the spectacular Patiala necklace commissioned by the Maharajah of Nawanagar, affirmed this globalised jewellery, nourished by Indian, Russian and Western influences.
Why visit
The Joyaux dynastiques exhibition captivates visitors with its accurate staging and coherent narrative. In a place historically linked to the jewels of the French Crown, there is a real resonance in understanding how jewellery has shaped the image of power, influenced fashion and survived the centuries without ever losing its aura.
Practical information:
Exhibition: Dynastic Jewels
Dates: 10 December 2025 to 6 April 2026
Location: Al Thani Collection – Hôtel de la Marine, 2, place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris
Opening hours:
Open every day from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Late night opening on Fridays until 9:30 p.m.
Translated by Bethszabee Garner
