Eugenia Martínez de Irujo shows the most special medallion in her jeweler (dedicated to her mother)

It was March 2017 when Eugenia Martínez de Irujo surprised us with her most personal project. It was 'Tanuca' her jewelry collection for the firm Tous, inspired by her mother: Cayetana de Alba.

At that time, the youngest of the Alba presented her work to the whole world with a most emotional publication on social networks. Next to a sepia-colored photograph with her mother, Eugenia wrote these heartfelt words: “ Tanuca. The name of my next collection dedicated to my mother . The most special collection for me. It has a lot of sentimental value ”, she added next to the image.

Her mother, who died in 2014, was baptized with 19 names. One of them was Cayetana, and they affectionately called her Tana or 'Tanuca'. And as the aristocrat recounted: “ Tanuca, it was what my grandfather Jacobo used to call my mother when I was little and, today, I call my daughter ”.

Today, four years after the firm's presentation, Eugenia demonstrates to her almost 300,000 thousand Instagram followers that this jewelry collection is still her best accessory. She also still wears on her wrist, along with a garnet cord, the medallion that she designed for her mother.

Eugenia Martínez de Irujo was inspired by a jewel from Queen Victoria Eugenia

To create her collection inspired by her mother, Eugenia Martínez de Irujo, she was inspired by a gold medallion that Queen Victoria Eugenia gave her at her birth. “My mother traveled to Laussane to visit the Queen, who was her godmother and whom she adored, because she wanted to meet me. For my mother, this medallion was very valuable, although it was not spectacular, she always kept it with her. I never had it in my possession until she died and that is why I thought it was nice to make a replica of it in her memory, ”she said, visibly moved at the presentation that took place in Seville.

The medallion has a great history, linking royalty since the 19th century. It belonged to Empress Eugenia de Montijo, to whom Queen Victoria of England had given it. The empress in turn gave it to Queen Victoria Eugenia, whose godmother she was at baptism. And finally it was the wife of Alfonso XIII who gave it to the Duchess of Montoro.

From this gold, enamel and diamond medallion, the daughter of the Duchess of Alba created the line for Tous with 3 pendants and bracelets with different chains. The jewels, which can be found in the 'Tanita' collection on the firm's website, are engraved with the words friendship (in French), peace (in English) and love (in Italian): 'Amitié', 'peace' and 'amour', in three key colours: blue, pink and green. Their prices range from 59 to 85 euros.

The high quality jewels are made of 18kt gold plated sterling silver with a thickness of 3 to 5 microns and without any other metal between them.