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Anne Boleyn for Dummies

February 28, 2008 by WendyB

The Other Boleyn Girl opens in theaters today. I was reading about the movie on some random website and noticed this in the comments: “Why are they using the Ugly Betty necklace in the Boleyn movie?” Why indeed?

Allow me to explain. Let’s start with a simple image search for “Anne Boleyn.” It will result in multiple links to this famous portrait of her.

That is Anne Boleyn wearing a “B” pendant. “B” stands for Boleyn. Got it? Good! So why does Ugly Betty wear a copy of that pendant? Because “B” can also stand for Betty. I know some of you are thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” But seriously, peeps, I’ve seen questions like this all over teh Internets. Not everyone is gorgeous AND smart like you bitches.

Embed from Getty Images

Anyway, fairly inexpensive copies of the Boleyn portrait necklace have been around for years, and an Ugly Betty stylist picked one for the show.

I wear a “B” necklace too. Why? Because “B” stands for Brandes, as in Wendy Brandes. I preferred my initial pendant to stand for my last name rather than my first name, the same as Anne’s necklace did.

Boleyn necklace in 18K yellow and rose gold and diamonds
© Wendy Brandes 2007-2008
(Photo by John Muggenborg)


In other ways, my necklace differs from the original. I didn’t use any pearls. I also changed the shape and added a crown. I thought the original was pretty fabulous for the 16th century, but I was looking for something a bit more graceful for myself. No offense intended to AnneB.

Oh yeah, and you can order my necklace in any letter you want. You’re not required to get a “B”!

Can’t get enough of Anne? Once again, here are the links to my old posts. (I’ll stop reposting these as soon as I stop seeing stupid questions online. In other words, you’ll never see the end of them.)

  • Introduction to Anne Boleyn
  • Anne Boleyn, Continued
  • More Anne Boleyn

My gorgeous sister, Terri Berry, was going to pick up one of the Anne biographies, but I suggested she read The Wives of Henry VIII first. It covers all the basics on Anne and provides more context about the reign of Henry teh 8 than an Anne-centric biography does. That’s my recommendation for anyone looking for some post-Boleyn Girl nonfiction.

Writing about the “B” reminded me of the giant “M” that my photographer John Muggenborg has hanging on the wall of his studio.

It could use some diamonds, don’t you think?

(To buy your own Boleyn necklace, contact me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com.)

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Filed Under: anne boleyn, movies, my designs, necklaces, queens, TV

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aisha says

    February 28, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    wow, I hadn’t noticed about Betty’s “B” pendant until today =L

  2. Lynette says

    February 28, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    DiaMonds on the M. By George, I think you’ve got it!

  3. Jelenie says

    February 28, 2008 at 10:49 pm

    I love your version of the B necklace!

  4. Jello on Springs says

    February 29, 2008 at 12:00 am

    They should have used your version instead! That way when i saw the movie in theatres I could have yelled out “thats wendy B’s necklace, but you don’t know who she is because she’s too fabulous for you”

  5. Princess Poochie says

    February 29, 2008 at 12:18 am

    You should Rickroll them, not just send them to Google-duh site. That’s a more fitting end.

    Luv
    Poochie

  6. Shaz says

    February 29, 2008 at 3:35 am

    haha are you serious…some one actually thought ugly betty would have so much influence of a historically based movie?? Well you set them straight wendy, and in the process perhaps add some diamonds to the Big M 🙂

  7. Allure says

    February 29, 2008 at 7:04 am

    What’s all the fuss with the Tudor? They’re everywhere. I’m not complaining, but it’s weird. There must be something behind that.

  8. ღ mey ♥¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨♥ღ says

    February 29, 2008 at 7:27 am

    I liked that nacklace “B”. I want a “M” like that.

    kisses sweetie girl!

  9. Blue Floppy Hat says

    February 29, 2008 at 7:45 am

    I still want to see the movie…Natalie Portman rarely disappoints me.

  10. In Yr Fshn says

    February 29, 2008 at 8:45 am

    Oh, how I wish the Other Boleyn Girl would be good! But I know deep down that it won’t. I’m glad you are here to educate the people, WendyB!

  11. shell says

    February 29, 2008 at 9:30 am

    i think your necklace is by far the prettiest! i tend to use my first name initial rather than my last name though, just because i like how ‘m ‘ looks rather than ‘l’. 🙂

  12. Pomegranate says

    February 29, 2008 at 10:08 am

    I use my first initial because that’s who i am 😉 But if it makes u feel like a princess to use the last initial, so be it!

  13. jayne says

    February 29, 2008 at 11:30 am

    WHAT!? really- b can stand for both boleyn and betty!? woah woah woah, mind blowing wendy!

    haha just kidding, what idiots

  14. Miss Janey says

    February 29, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    Diamonds make anything better. The big red “m” just cries out for them.

  15. iñaki says

    February 29, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    I find it quite amazing. I do so because you managed to make it fit for a Queen yet looking updated. Bravo.

    xx

  16. stacy says

    February 29, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    good catch. I also want to know why they think we will stretch are imaginations so far to believe that Scarlett and Natalie could be sisters.

  17. LBIC says

    February 29, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    Something tells me the movie is going to suck. One of the reasons is that they didn’t use your necklace. The other reason is that it looks boring as hell.

    I say we make our own Boleyn movie starring Jordan as Anne and Coco as Mary. Now that would be interesting.

  18. bronwyn says

    February 29, 2008 at 3:00 pm

    Just been catching up on your blog – your Queen Min rings are absolutely exquisite!!!

  19. enc says

    February 29, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    I love Tudor England. But I’ve already told you that! I also love your jewelry, too, but I’ve already told you that, too!

  20. Belle says

    February 29, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    When I firt saw the poster for this movie that’s exactly what I thought.
    I like your copy of the necklace too, maybe even better.

  21. roller coaster teacher says

    February 29, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    I don’t have any B in my name, first, middle or last! I’m on the hunt for a good, solid initial pendant.

  22. the iron chic says

    February 29, 2008 at 6:28 pm

    I feel like the movie might suck too but I have to see every British History movie out of a sense of duty.

  23. Oh Lady E says

    February 29, 2008 at 6:34 pm

    hahahahahahahahahahaha. hahahahahaha. i’m glad i paid attention in my art history classes. the ugly betty necklace indeed. maybe that’s what they will teach kids in a few years.

    i’m getting married soon and my last name will start with a B… maybe i should get a B instead of an E.

  24. LML says

    February 29, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    i cannot wait to see that movie!

  25. Prunella Jones says

    February 29, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    I wish I had a B in my name so I could wear one of those. Of course, I am a bitch so that’s close enough. Gimmee!

  26. Jen (MahaloFashion) says

    February 29, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    i think the necklace is beautiful and i love it’s significance.
    Can’t wait to see the movie!!

  27. WendyB says

    February 29, 2008 at 8:45 pm

    Jello, I would sure love to hear you yell that.
    LBIC, you have the best!casting!idea! ever.
    Oh Lady, are you going to be “Oh Lady B”? You know, I tried to get my husband to change his last name but he was all stubborn about it.
    Prunella, how about a “P”?

  28. The New Look says

    February 29, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    Your jewelry is fantastic.I love the skull ring a few posts down.

  29. Prêt-à-Porter P says

    March 1, 2008 at 6:13 pm

    i think i love that 3rd Paragraph entirely too much!

  30. Bobble Bee says

    March 2, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    LOL great post B, my fave part? “(I’ll stop reposting these as soon as I stop seeing stupid questions online. In other words, you’ll never see the end of them.)”

    😀

  31. ParisBreakfasts says

    March 3, 2008 at 6:55 pm

    Ugly Betty should be wearing a big “H”, since she’s for Mrs. Clinton..
    UGH

  32. Rose says

    March 10, 2008 at 6:36 am

    Nice blog!

  33. flutterbyblue says

    April 9, 2008 at 12:46 pm

    These necklaces are FANTASTIC! I love the gold and diamonds version (and the silver is very trendy as well!)

  34. Beth says

    June 29, 2008 at 6:48 am

    I’m late to the party, but I adore Anne Boleyn’s B necklace, the original. My husband wants to have it recreated for me for our 20th wedding anniversary. I love the pearls close to the neck, the large pearls with the tear drops underneath. She didn’t need a crown, she wore one on her head, when she had it!

  35. WendyB says

    June 29, 2008 at 10:51 am

    Beth, as I’ve said more than once,there are plenty of “museum replicas” of the original pendant online for about $60. That’s where the Ugly Betty producers got theirs. There’s no need to “recreate” a cheap piece that is readily available. That’s why I did something original.

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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