King Charles' coronation: Guide of crowns, rings, scepters and other shiny royal jewels

 King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will have a major jewelry upgrade after the coronation on Saturday. 

May 6 will mark the first time in nearly 70 years that Britain has crowned a new monarch since Charles' late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, had her coronation in 1953. The headpieces, swords, scepters and rings used decades ago for the queen's coronation will reemerge from the royal collection to anoint Charles as the sovereign monarch of Britain. 

The gold, silver and jewel-adorned relics are collectively called the crown jewels, and when it isn't coronation day or any other rare, momentous occasion, they are heavily guarded in the Tower of London. 

 Here are the details of sacred and secular objects at the center of the royal event.  

King Charles' coronation crown

Before Charles and Camilla take off in the golden stagecoach back to Buckingham Palace, they'll be vested with crowns to symbolize their time as the head of the monarchy. 

King Charles will wear two crowns during the ceremony: St. Edward's crown and the Imperial State Crown. The former crown will only be used for ceremony purposes before being switched out for the Imperial Crown, or Tudor Crown, for the procession back to Buckingham Palace.

St. Edward's Crown is the traditional coronation crown dating back to 1661 for King Charles II; Queen Elizabeth II also used the headpiece for her coronation ceremony. The crown features four crosses and four fleurs-de-lis with a cross and orb at the top to represent Christianity. The circumference of the crown is made with solid gold and encrusted with rubies, amethysts, sapphires and other jewels. The cap portion is made of purple velvet and the base is made of ermine fur, and will be modified for the new king. 

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Before leaving the ceremony Charles will switch to the Imperial State Crown, which looks similar to St. Edward's Crown but shines with 2,868 diamonds and several famous jewels including the Cullinan II diamond. The Imperial State Crown, made in 1937, gets more wear than St. Edward's as it's worn during the state opening of parliament.

Will Queen Camilla wear a crown?

Queen Consort Camilla will also get fancy headgear as she'll be crowned with Queen Mary's Crown. Camilla chose to be adorned with the headpiece, marking the first time a queen consort will be crowned with an already existing crown. Queen Mary's crown was created in 1911 for Queen Mary's coronation but will be customized for Camilla with new diamonds that belonged to Queen Elizabeth. 

Coronation rings will have sapphire, diamonds, rubies

With fancy crowns come even fancier rings, rods and scepters that Charles and Camilla will hold and wear during the ceremony. 

The archbishop will put the Sovereign's Ring, nicknamed the wedding ring of England, on Charles' fourth finger before he will receive St. Edward's crown. The gold ring has a sapphire centerpiece with a ruby cross set in diamonds over the top. Every monarch dating back to King Edward VII has worn the piece of jewelry for their coronation, it was first made in 1831.

Camilla's ring will also be made of rubies and has been worn by many of the queen consorts before her, including the Queen Mother. The gold ring was created in 1831 for Queen Adelaide who was married to King William IV. 

Scepters, rods and the soverign orb

Both will carry scepters and a rod that closely resemble one another with symbols of doves and crosses; the queen consort's dove emblem is held on a rod instead of a scepter.

The king's scepter with a cross "represents the sovereign's temporal power," according to Buckingham Palace, and consists of the Cullinan I diamond set by a heart-shaped gold enamel. Camilla's corresponding cross scepter is pared down with crystals instead of diamonds, with a cross sitting on the top. 

The dove scepter, which is also named "The Rod of Equity and Mercy," is representative of Charles' spiritual duties with the dove signifying the Holy Ghost. Camilla's dove rod will be made of ivory with a dove sitting atop a golden globe. 

King Charles' orb, which weighs almost 3 pounds, and was made in the 17th century. The crown jewel represents the king's power while representing the Christian world as a cross sits atop the sphere. The orb will be placed in King Charles' right hand before its placed at the altar.