What Meghan Markle’s $12,000 Tattoo Necklace Is Really Saying to the World

Alexandra Whittaker
Updated

Good evening everyone. Your Excellencies, prime minister, Mr. and Mrs. Bridges, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening. [FOREIGN] [LAUGH] [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] Your Excellency, thank you for your warm welcome to Government House this evening, as well as for hosting me and Harry during our special time in New Zealand. We are proud to be able to join you tonight in celebrating the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in your country. The achievements of the women of New Zealand who campaigned for their right to vote and were the first in the world to achieve it are universally admired. In looking forward to this very special occasion, I reflected on the importance of this achievement but also the larger impact of what this symbolizes. Because yes. Women's suffrage is about feminism, but feminism is about fairness. Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote, but also what that represents, the basic and fundamental human right of being able to participate in the choices for your future and that of your community. The involvement and voice that allows you to be a part of the very world that you are a part of. And women's suffrage is not simply about the right to vote for women, but also about what that represents, the basic and fundamental right of all people, including those members of society who have been marginalized. Whether for reasons of race, gender, ethnicity or orientation to be able to participate in the choices for their future and their community. So bravo New Zealand for championing this right 125 years ago for the women who well deserve to have an active voice, And acknowledged vote. And for all of the people that this effort has paved the way for globally. We all deeply thank you.

Meghan Markle is nearing the end of her whirlwind royal tour with Prince Harry, but her fashion choices are working overtime to send a message while she's still in the spotlight. In a predictable move, Markle's jewelry has contained covert references all its own, hidden beyond first glance.

And like many of Markle's previous fashion choices, a little digging has helped shed more light on the intent and optics of her wardrobe.

As she stepped into a formal dinner in a custom Gabriela Hearst LBD, Markle also wore a diamond spiral pendant on a silver chain called the "Tattoo Pendant" ($11,425; modaoperandi.com).

It is designed by New Zealand-born Jessica McCormack, which fits the host country-heavy style narrative Markle has stuck to throughout her first royal tour. The pricey piece sells for almost twelve grand, and is "set with 0.90 carat of brilliant-cut diamonds handcrafted in blackened 18K white gold on an 18k yellow gold chain."

Having a New Zealand connection through the designer's country of birth isn't even the most New Zealand-specific story of the pendant, though.

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HRH The Duchess of Sussex wears her @jessicamccormackdiamonds Tattoo necklace in New Zealand ?????????? The collection is based on the beautiful spiral pattern found in Ta Moko “So bravo New Zealand, for championing this right 125 years ago for the women who well deserve to have an active voice and an acknowledged vote, and for all of the people that this effort has paved the way for globally - we all deeply thank you. In the words of your suffragette, Kate Sheppard: all that separates, whether race, class, creed or sex is inhuman and must be overcome” - The Duchess of Sussex

A post shared by Jessica McCormack (@jessicamccormackdiamonds) on Oct 28, 2018 at 4:20am PDT

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T? Moko tattoos traditionally represent different Maori tribes, and different patterns of them have distinct meanings. It's yet another way that Markle has spun her style into a message about her host country.

Leave it to the Duchess of Sussex to teach the world about culture and tradition abroad just by plucking something from her jewelry box.