From Napoleon Bonaparte to JFK, how love offerings from the rich and powerful have shaped the world

The Fabergé egg began the tradition of one of the most extravagant Easter egg hunts in the world.

There was no shortage of extravagance in the Russian Imperial Court, where the Russian royal family lived a life of decadence and wealth within the walls of the royal palaces.

But the tsar decided he wanted something a little different for the Easter gift he had chosen for his wife.

So Tsar Alexander III ordered a ring box, which would reveal a surprise befitting the extravagance of the family’s royal palace.

Tsar Alexander III commissioned a total of 10 eggs for his wife – one for every Easter that followed.

Yet this love story did not end with the tsar’s death; when the couple’s son, Nicholas II became tsar, he continued the tradition of giving his mother with the bejewelled eggs – and keeping the love story alive on behalf of his father.

In total 50 Fabergé eggs were commissioned and produced, with most of which were given to Maria Feodorovna and others presented to Tsar Nicholas II’s wife, Alexandra Feodorovna.

Today, the Fabergé brand pays homage to these elaborate jewel-encrusted eggs designed for Russia’s tsar’s – and the romance that inspired them – with a contemporary range of egg-ceptional luxury designs.

Fabergé’s current selection of pendants open up to reveal everything from golden chickens to enamelled hearts.

A jewellery design that became iconic in 1796, when the French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte proposed to Josephine, is the toi et moi (“you and me”) ring.

This two-gemstone engagement design, featuring two jewels sitting side by side, or close to each other, represents the union of two people.

Although this kind of ring was available before the marriage of the future Emperor and Empress of France, the status of the double stone ring as a symbol of love was solidified by their marriage.

Well over a century and a half later, when solitaire rings dominated the style of wedding rings, another “royal union” returned the toi et moi ring to prominence.

The future US president John F Kennedy – then a US Congressman – bought a two-gemstone ring, featuring a diamond and an emerald, from Van Cleef & Arpels for his future bride Jacqueline Bouvier ahead of their 1953 marriage. 

While the solitaire ring continues to be the most popular choice for brides, the toi et moi ring has never gone out of fashion.

Among the jewellers that continue to find inspiration from this romantic symbol of love is Chaumet, the original jeweller to the French royal court and the artisan of choice for Napoleon and Josephine.

Traditionally toi et moi rings have been set with a ruby, representing passion, and a diamond, representing love.

However, Chaumet has since created numerous combinations of gemstones.

Graff is another jeweller that has added its own distinctive take on the two-stone, toi et moi ring design.

And of course, Van Cleef & Arpels, continues to draw inspiration from its ring created for Jackie Kennedy engagement ring, bringing the toi et moi ring to the 21st century with contemporary interpretations of the concept.

Napoleon’s marriage to Josephine inspired more than the popularity of “you and me” rings.

Before Napoleon became emperor, tiaras were jewels reserved only for men.

However, his infatuation with Josephine ended this tradition and sparked a trend of women wearing tiaras, which went on to influence royal families throughout Europe, according to the archives of Chaumet.

Napoleon commissioned Chaumet to create a feminine headdress that would suit the status of his empress during their coronation.

Chaumet would go on to create more jewels and tiaras for the couple.

It’s the house’s connection with Napoleon and Josephine that’s made it a name synonymous with the making of tiaras – a tradition that continues today.

One of its signature jewellery collections, Josephine Aigrette, was inspired by the headdress made for the Empress Josephine and the couple’s epic love story.

The collection’s rings have featured in another love story, involving the Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming and model/actress Angelababy, a.k.a. Angela Yeung.

The couple sealed their love with an reported US$31 million-dollar wedding in 20165, with the actress given a 6-carat Joséphine Aigrette ring said to be worth US$1.5 million.

However the collection features not only rings, but necklaces and even a watch – all with a pear-shaped centre stone – which are modern, miniaturised adaptations of Josephine’s original headdress.

Chastity belts may well have gone out of fashion a long time ago, but they served as the inspiration for another item of jewellery.

Cartier’s iconic LOVE bracelet was first launched in 1969 and has never been out of fashion since – and has become synonymous with the bond of love.

Why? Well first of all, you can’t put the bracelet on – or take it off – by yourself. You need help from someone else.

The bracelet’s designer, Aldo Cipullo, was reportedly fascinated about the idea of husbands locking up their wives in chastity belts so that they remained forever faithful in the relationship.

If you have one of Cartier’s bracelets – sold along with a screwdriver – then you’ll need a loved one to help you lock the LOVE bracelet, by screwing it shut onto your wrist, or unscrewing it when taking it off.

The enduring popularity of this bangle of choice, for everyone from American model, socialite and entrepreneur Kylie Jenner – who says she’s literally unable to take hers off any more – to the rich trust fund girls of Instagram, has seen it become part of a LOVE collection that also includes rings and earrings and pendants.

Such is their appeal that the bangles are also being worn by men, too.

Although the idea of locking someone up will never be acceptable in modern society, there is appeal, however, for love that endures – something that’s permanent in today’s Twitter-obsessed, Instagram era full of 24-hour photo diary entries and 280-character rants.

The Wellendorff spinning ring – created by the family-owned German jewellery brand – was inspired by life and love.

The idea of the ring came to Christoph Wellendorff when he was rushing to get to his wife as she was in labour.

He came to a crossroads where a left turn would take him to the cemetery and the grave of his grandfather, while a right turn would take him to his wife and soon-to-be-born son.

Wellendorff was touched by the idea of how love in life comes full circle: when you lose a loved one, when you fall in love, and when a new life comes into the world.

Christoph Wellendorff created a spinning ring that represents the constant motion that exists in our lives, and dedicated it to the deep romantic love that brought his son to the world.

He then added to the design an enamel that he had created and used for his wife’s engagement ring.

The spinning ring has since become the house’s iconic jewellery item, with special annual limited editions coveted by collectors.

The ring has become a popular wedding band over the years, and recently Wellendorff created a solitaire version, featuring a large centre stone, set on a spinning ring for the first time.

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