crown-of-jewels: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, literary, historical
Quick answer
What does “crown-of-jewels” mean?
A traditional ceremonial headpiece, especially one from specific cultural traditions, adorned with jewels and precious stones as its defining feature.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A traditional ceremonial headpiece, especially one from specific cultural traditions, adorned with jewels and precious stones as its defining feature.
Can refer to any exceptionally ornate or jewel-encrusted crown; used metaphorically to describe something that is the ultimate achievement or most prized possession in a collection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally rare in both variants. British English may have slightly more frequent usage in historical or royal contexts.
Connotations
Both carry connotations of extreme luxury, historical significance, and ceremonial importance.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. More likely to be encountered in specialized texts (history, jewelry, descriptions of art) than in general usage.
Grammar
How to Use “crown-of-jewels” in a Sentence
The [royal title] placed the crown-of-jewels upon [possessive] head.The museum displayed the ancient crown-of-jewels.It was the crown-of-jewels of [collection/achievement].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crown-of-jewels” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The exhibition will crown-of-jewels the museum's anniversary celebrations. (rare, metaphorical)
American English
- Her latest promotion really crown-of-jewels an incredible year. (rare, metaphorical)
adjective
British English
- The crown-of-jewels tiara was the highlight of the auction. (attributive noun use)
American English
- They displayed the crown-of-jewels collection behind bulletproof glass. (attributive noun use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in marketing: 'This flagship store is the crown-of-jewels in our retail portfolio.'
Academic
Used in history, art history, or archaeology to describe specific artifacts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in jewelry, antiquities, and heraldry descriptions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crown-of-jewels”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crown-of-jewels”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crown-of-jewels”
- Using it as a common noun for any crown (incorrect).
- Writing it as a single unhyphenated word (crownofjewels).
- Confusing it with 'jewel crown' which is less idiomatic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specific term used primarily in formal, historical, or descriptive contexts.
It is best used for crowns where the jewels are the paramount, defining characteristic, often in a traditional or ceremonial context. For a general expensive crown, 'bejewelled crown' is more common.
A 'crown-of-jewels' is a type of crown, often full-circlet, where jewels are the main feature. A tiara is typically a semi-circular headpiece, often worn by women, which may or may not be heavily jewelled.
When used as a compound noun to describe a specific type of crown, it is typically hyphenated as 'crown-of-jewels', especially in attributive position (e.g., a crown-of-jewels design).
A traditional ceremonial headpiece, especially one from specific cultural traditions, adorned with jewels and precious stones as its defining feature.
Crown-of-jewels is usually formal, literary, historical in register.
Crown-of-jewels: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn əv ˈdʒuːəlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn əv ˈdʒuəlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the crown-of-jewels of the collection”
- “to be the crown-of-jewels in someone's career”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CROWN so covered in JEWELS that you see the jewels first – a crown OF jewels.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MOST VALUABLE PART IS A CROWN (e.g., 'This painting is the crown-of-jewels of the gallery.').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'crown-of-jewels' most appropriately used?