In 1848, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle in the Highlands of Scotland. Victoria, enchanted with Scottish design, began wearing tartan plaids to royal events. She also commissioned jewelry like this piece, made with indigenous Scottish stones (Aberdeen granite and quartz). Once HRH - the arbiter of 19th century style - was seen wearing these Scottish jewels in London, fashionable Victorian women would have instantly recognized the style as a reference to the Queen's beloved country home and high-tailed it to the nearest jeweler to get a piece of Scottish "pebble" jewelry of their own.