Jewels of Titanic Debuts in Orlando

Sapphire ring retrieved from the Titanic

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It’s been some time since I visited the attractions on Orlando’s visitor-centric International Drive. But I have to admit when I received an invitation from the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition that promised a new display featuring recovered precious jewelry worn by some of the world’s wealthiest people in 1912, I was intrigued.

What surprised me most was that among I-Drive’s neon-light attractions, this one seemed more like a museum, with guides (hired actors in period clothing) who eloquently tell the riveting story of the Titanic’s sinking — combining history with a dash of entertainment that complements the street’s fun atmosphere.

The new “Jewels of Titanic” exhibition features 15 pieces of restored vintage jewelry, some marked by corrosion from so many years in a resting spot 2.5 miles beneath the ocean’s surface. The dainty sapphire-and-diamond ring, with its deep blue oval stone surrounded by 15 pear-shaped diamonds, could easily have been a young British woman’s engagement ring, given the fact that England’s Queen Victoria, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton all received rings embedded with sapphires. Diamond, onyx and gold button covers for a gentleman’s formal evening attire caught my eye, as did a gold nugget necklace, which could have been a gift to Margaret Tobin Brown, whose husband was celebrating his partnership in the Little Jonny Mine in Colorado.

After touring this exhibition, it's easy to understand how after so many years, the public is still transfixed by this tragedy at sea. You can see the "Jewels of Titanic" exhibit and much more from the ill-fated ship at Orlando's Titanic the Experience. 

Tags: International Drive | orlando | Titanic