Jewellery Obsessed: In Conversation with Princess Yasmine Murat

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Her Royal Highness Princess Yasmine Murat, Princess of Pontecorvo, at a jewellery event. Her husband, Joachim Charles Napoléon Murat, Prince of Pontecorvo, has an illustrious family history that includes some of the most famous figures in French history. He descends from King of Naples Joachim Murat and his wife Queen consort Caroline Bonaparte, sister of Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte. At the time, I was thrilled to discover that Princess Yasmine has a deep appreciation for jewellery and hence follows me on Instagram. We instantly connected, met for lunch to talk all things precious, and our conversation helped me discover how modern royals wear jewellery, both for daily wear and more symbolic occasions. So, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to dedicate an article to the Princess and her passions…

If you have been reading this website for some time, you will know that chance encounters are often my favourite way of meeting new people. My first interview in this series with model Farnoush Hamidian also followed a totally unplanned conversation after a Chopard High Jewellery presentation at the Cannes Film Festival. Perhaps all my future articles in this 'Jewellery Obsessed' category will follow the same theme!

Now that you have the background, let's turn our attention to jewellery! Princess Yasmine discovered her love of jewellery like so many of us do, through her mother. Born in Algeria, she recalls how the family jewellery collection was a source of pride, not just for her family but for many others in the same circles, noting how it "was important to have good taste, not too much, but just enough". Each family had its own jeweller, so that new pieces could be crafted for special occasions. Pieces were also passed down from mother to daughter, especially as marriage gifts. This spirit of women passing down to women is something I also appreciate, especially as my grandmother and mother were so instrumental in my love of jewellery too.

When I asked if there were any special pieces from her childhood that stand out for sentimental reasons, Princess Yasmine surprised me with two cuffs that she had brought with her. "These bracelets are made with pure gold, either 18k or even 24k," she explained, presenting a pair of beautiful filigree gold bangles. "They are crafted with the gold coins of Napoléon III, only his, and no other coins. Napoléon III was very special to the Algerian people at a time when Algeria was part of the French Empire. He respected all religions and people, and was committed to a lot of sectors, like construction and law. Ladies used to wear his coins in jewellery as a symbol of good luck."

The level of detail in these bracelets is quite remarkable, almost like handcrafted lace with incredibly fine patterns and millgrain. Nowadays, jewellers do not take the time to sculpt each millimetre of gold, often leaving the surface of a jewel smooth and rather plain. One bangle was passed down to Yasmine from her grandmother, while the other from her mother, and her sister has a matching pair too. She also told me about a belt made from similar golden coins, although I can't begin to imagine the weight of such a creation!

Another piece that Princess Yasmin feels attached to is an elegant Chaumet brooch from one of its recent collections. It is sculpted from yellow gold to look like two ears of wheat (a signature of the Maison) wrapped in a golden ribbon and set with diamonds.

And yet, despite all this incredible history and splendour, the jewel that is most sentimental to Princess Yasmine is her diamond ring stack – a modern creation that she personally owns, crafted by a "traditional and confidential" designer in her own words. Sometimes, it is the pieces that we pursue for ourselves that are the most important, even if they lack many centuries of provenance. I think this perfectly exemplifies who the Princess is – a down-to-earth woman who has found herself in remarkable circumstances, surrounded by lineage, and part of a beautiful tradition that she now helps to nurture for the next generation. It was a pleasure to meet her and step into her royal world, even just for an afternoon.

As you understand from this article, her Royal Highness recognises the power of jewellery; it not only enhances her femininity but also helps her feel more joyful or sophisticated, depending on the occasion. As a first port of call, she seeks out impeccable craftsmanship, interesting design, and technical precision, rather than eye-catching gemstones. Why? Because in Princess Yasmine's own words: "Techniques and know-how are a part of history". This statement resonated with me deeply, and I am sure you feel the power of these words too.