The Court Jeweller

The Court Jeweller



I'm so excited to introduce my newest royal jewel project to all of you! The Court Jeweller will cover jewels from throughout history up to the present day, with a focus on jewels worn by royals and nobles. We'll look at historical photos, read about jewel news from the past, and recap glittering events from today. I can't wait to see you all there, and I hope you enjoy

The Mountbatten Star Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Edwina Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma; Penelope Knatchbull, Lady Brabourne; Penelope Knatchbull, Lady Brabourne; tiara detail; Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma


Happy New Year's Eve, everybody -- time to break out the champers and sing Auld Lang Syne! But not before we look at our final tiara of the year: another starry

The Hesse Star Tiara

Photos: Hereditary Grand Duchess Cecilie of Hesse and by Rhine


As we wrap up our wild and wonderful year of tiaras, I think it's only fair that we reach for the stars, don't you? Today and tomorrow, we'll look at two more star tiaras, and today's sparkler is the star kokoshnik once worn by Cecilie of Hesse and by Rhine.



The Hesse family gained prominence in the nineteenth century when one

Weekend Bonus: The Cartier Indian Tiara

Lady Rose Gilman (born 1980) "wears" the Cartier Indian Tiara (click here for provenance info) with the assistance of her mother, the Duchess of Gloucester (born 1946), in a portrait taken by Norman Parkinson in 1981

Weekend Bonus: The King Edward VII Ruby Tiara

Countess Sonia Bernadotte af Wisborg (1909-2004), the second wife of Count Sigvard Bernadotte af Wisborg, wears the King Edward VII Ruby Tiara (click here for provenance info) at the eighteenth-birthday celebrations for her niece, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, in 1958. As an extra bonus, Princess Margaretha of Sweden (born 1934) wears the Khedive of Egypt Tiara (click here for provenance

The Belgian Art Deco Bandeau Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Queen Mathilde of the Belgians; Queen Astrid of Belgium; Queen Paola of Belgium; tiara detail


Our final diamond bonus tiara of the week is one of the remaining heirlooms in the Belgian royal collection: the art deco bandeau that once belonged to Queen Elisabeth.



The tiara was made for Elisabeth in the early twentieth century. The tiara is relatively small,

The Arabic Scroll Tiara

All photos: Queen Rania of Jordan


Our final queenly tiara of the week belongs to one of the most glamorous queens consort in the world: Rania of Jordan. This tiara, the Arabic Scroll, combines traditional design with the beauty of Arabic script.



In the early years of her husband's reign, Rania primarily wore the Cartier tiara that once belonged to Queen Alia. But that tiara was never hers;

The Weiller Art Deco Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg; Countess Diane de Nassau; Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg; tiara detail


We've discussed a veritable boatload of Luxembourgish tiaras here this year, but here's one more for the road: the diamond art deco tiara owned by Princess Sibilla, a sister-in-law to the current grand duke.



Princess Sibilla got her current royal title

The Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): María Mercedes, Countess of Barcelona; Queen Ena of Spain; Queen Ena of Spain; Queen Ena of Spain; Queen Sofia of Spain


The Spanish royal family have a good number of beautiful heirloom tiaras in their vaults, but today's tiara, the Fleur-de-Lys, is the one they call "La Buena." Through decades of upheaval, they've managed to hang on to the good one, and it's

The Danish Floral Aigrette Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; Mrs. Lauritz Melchior; Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; Queen Ingrid of Denmark; Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (as brooch)


One of the sparkliest diamond tiaras in Denmark is the floral aigrette tiara that belongs to the reigning queen, Margrethe II. But this versatile aigrette took a bit of a meandering path to its current home in

The Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Sibylla of Sweden; Queen Victoria of Sweden; Queen Silvia of Sweden; Queen Josefina of Sweden; Queen Louise of Sweden


Merry Christmas, everybody! To kick off our holiday celebration, we're going to look at one of the most magnificent tiaras owned by a royal family today: the tiara from the Leuchtenberg sapphire parure. And stay tuned after the tiara

The Princess Anne Festoon Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Princess Anne, the Princess Royal; Autumn Phillips; Princess Anne, the Princess Royal; tiara detail


After all of the Windsor tiaras we've marveled at this year, there's still one more diamond sparkler to discuss from the collection. Today, let's talk about the diamond festoon tiara owned by the Princess Royal.



As the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Anne

The Wolfers Tiara

All photos: Queen Fabiola of Belgium


The Belgians may not have extensive jewel vaults, but there are several tiaras in the royal family's possession that are reserved primarily for queens. The main one is the Nine Provinces Tiara, but there are two tiaras that have only been worn by one queen, Fabiola. We've already talked about her Spanish tiara; today, let's have a look at the one created

The Savoy-Aosta Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Princess Anne, Duchess of Aosta; Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy; tiara detail; Princess Astrid of Belgium; Princess Astrid of Belgium


To keep you all in the holiday spirit, how about a bonus week of diamond tiaras? Consider it my Christmas gift to all of you! Let's kick off the festivities by looking at a tiara with Italian roots that is today worn by a Belgian

The Maltese Cross Tiara

For our last full week here at A Tiara a Day, we're going to have a look at some of the most regal sparklers around: tiaras that are worn primarily by queens. Today's tiara, the Maltese Cross, is one of the heirlooms in the Norwegian royal vaults.


As is the case with many of the historical tiaras owned by the Norwegian royals, this piece came from another country: the United Kingdom. It

Weekend Bonus: The Cartier Diamond and Pearl Tiara

Queen Sofia of Spain (born 1938) wears the Cartier Pearl and Diamond Tiara (click here for provenance info) at the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004. She also wears an heirloom diamond collet necklace that belonged to Queen Ena of Spain

Weekend Bonus: The Queen Sophie Diamond Tiara

Queen Friederike of the Hellenes (1917-1981) wears the Queen Sophie Diamond Tiara (click here for provenance info); as an extra bonus, she wears as a necklace the family's emerald parure tiara (click here for provenance info) and other pieces from the parure

The Londonderry Diamond Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Theresa Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marchioness of Londonderry; Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marchioness of Londonderry; Theresa Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marchioness of Londonderry; tiara detail


Let's cap off our week of British noble tiaras with a sparkly tiara that was worn at one of the most glittering events of the nineteenth century: the Londonderry Diamond Tiara.

The Portland Sapphire Tiara

Images (clockwise from left): Ivy Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland; tiara worn by model; tiara worn by model; tiara detail


Gilded Age Britain was full of oversized, exaggerated tiaras. Today, let's look at one of the very biggest of the bunch: the sapphire, diamond, and pearl tiara owned by the Dukes of Portland.



The tiara was made for the family by E. Wolff & Co. for Garrard. Most

The Curzon Boucheron Tiara

Photos (from left): Mary Victoria Curzon, Lady Curzon; tiara detail; Mary Victoria Curzon, Lady Curzon


Yesterday, we looked at a diamond Boucheron tiara made for an American-born peeress, and today we're discussing ... a diamond Boucheron tiara made for an American-born peeress. Shocking, I know! The buccaneers did love Boucheron. Today's tiara is the sparkler the jeweler made for Mary

The Marlborough Boucheron Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan; Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan; Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan; tiara detail


At the turn of the twentieth century, some of the sparkliest jewel collections in Britain were owned not by the nation's royal princesses but by the wives of aristocrats. One of the most magnificent aristocratic tiaras around belonged to the American-born wife of the

The Windsor Emerald Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Wallis, Duchess of Windsor; Wallis, Duchess of Windsor; tiara detail (similar piece)


It's hard to think of many twentieth-century royal figures whose jewels hold more interest than Wallis Simpson, the American woman for whom Edward VIII gave up the British throne. The Duchess of Windsor's jewels show up in the news frequently, as they are often sold and

Weekend Bonus: The Cartier Pearl Drop Tiara

Princess Caroline of Monaco (born 1957) wears the Cartier Pearl Drop Tiara (click here for provenance info) in a portrait also featuring her late husband, Stefano Casiraghi, and their three children, Andrea, Charlotte, and Pierre

Weekend Bonus: The Queen Louise Diamond Tiara

Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld (born 1938) wears the Queen Louise Diamond Tiara (click here for provenance info). As an extra bonus, Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler (born 1934) wears the Diamond Four Button Tiara (click here for provenance info)

The Vasa Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Astrid of Norway; Princess Astrid of Norway; Crown Princess Märtha of Norway; tiara detail; Princess Astrid of Norway


We've viewed some good and some perhaps not-so-good tiaras during our bonus week of Norwegian sparklers -- what do you say we close out the series with one of the ones I like the best? This is the Vasa Tiara, currently owned by the

The Napoleonic Cut Steel Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson; Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld; Queen Silvia of Sweden


Crown Princess Victoria may not have attended this year's Nobel ceremony, but she did bust out a sparkler for the King's Dinner on Wednesday. Let's have a look at her tiara of choice: the Napoleonic Cut Steel

The Norwegian Gold Bandeau Tiara

Photos: Princess Astrid of Norway


Okay, let's get down to business here: while Princess Astrid of Norway is one of my favorite spunky royal ladies, she really got the short end of the stick when it came to some of her tiaras. While she does have some good pieces -- we've already talked about her turquoises, and stayed tuned tomorrow for a rather lovely piece from her collection -- she also

The Swedish Laurel Wreath Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Princess Lilian of Sweden; Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden (as necklace); Princess Lilian of Sweden; Princess Lilian of Sweden; Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden


One of the Swedish royal women who was a fixture at the Nobel ceremonies for decades is no longer with us: Princess Lilian, who died earlier this year at the impressive age of 97. In her honor, let's

The King Olav Gift Tiara

All photos: Princess Märtha Louise of Norway


We talked a few months ago about some of the tiaras that royal princesses had received for their eighteenth birthday. It's something of a Scandinavian tradition; Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine of Sweden each received one, as did each of the three Danish princesses (Margrethe, Benedikte, and Anne-Marie). Even a future Scandinavian

The Swedish Diamond Button Tiaras

Photos (clockwise from left): Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (wearing the Six Button); Six Button detail; Princess Madeleine of Sweden (wearing the Four Button); Four Button detail


At yesterday's Nobel ceremony, the group of royal ladies in attendance was a bit smaller than usual. Crown Princess Victoria was away celebrating the life of the late Nelson Mandela, and Princess Madeleine, who

The Queen Maud Diamond Tiara

Photos (from left): Queen Maud of Norway; Princess Ragnhild of Norway; Queen Maud of Norway


For our bonus Norwegian tiara yesterday, we looked at the tiara that Princess Ragnhild inherited from her Danish grandmother; today, let's have a look at the important diamond tiara that she wore from the collection of her British grandmother, Queen Maud of Norway.


This tri-level diamond tiara was

The Napoleonic Amethyst Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Princess Madeleine of Sweden; Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; Queen Silvia of Sweden, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld


The family that currently sits on the Swedish throne has genealogical ties to Swedish kings from centuries ago, but they're more immediately descended from French nobility. Because of this, the

The Boucheron Circle Tiara

All photos: Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen


While the Swedes are responsible for handing out the majority of the Nobel prizes, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded each year by their Scandinavian cousins, the Norwegians. Although Norway's Nobel ceremony is a much more low-key, daytime affair -- read: hats, not tiaras -- it's only right that we celebrate their jewels with a set of bonus tiaras,

The Nine-Prong Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Sofia of Sweden; Queen Louise of Sweden; Queen Silvia of Sweden; tiara detail; Queen Silvia of Sweden; Queen Sofia of Sweden


For Swedish royal jewel lovers, this week is one of the most important of the year. Tomorrow, the Bernadottes will dress up in their finest to honor the winners of this year's Nobel prizes, and it's quite possible that today's

Weekend Bonus: Romanian Greek Key Tiara

Crown Princess Margarita of Romania (born 1949) wears the Romanian Greek Key Tiara (click here for provenance info)

Weekend Bonus: The Romanov Pearl Kokoshnik Tiara

Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia (1872-1918) wears the Romanov Pearl Kokoshnik Tiara (click here for provenance info)

The Hesse Turquoise and Moonstone Tiara

Images (clockwise from left): Grand Duchess Eleonore of Hesse and by Rhine (portrait detail); tiara detail; tiara detail


Today's a pretty special tiara day, my dear magpies -- it's the final day of our week of turquoise sparklers, and it also happens to be my birthday! To share my birthday cheer with all of you, I thought I'd feature one of my personal favorite turquoise tiaras: the unusual

The Queen Maud Turquoise Tiara

All photos: Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner


For today's turquoise tiara fix, we turn our attention to the Norwegian royal jewel collection. Their heirloom turquoise and diamond tiara, which has roots in Britain, is worn today by the king's sister, Princess Astrid.



While this tiara is often identified with the first queen of modern independent Norway, Queen Maud, it actually goes back a

The Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Turquoise Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Hereditary Princess Kelly of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Princess Victoria Adelheid, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Hereditary Princess Kelly of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; tiara detail


When you hear of princess and princesses of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, one very famous member of the family, Prince Albert, may be the first who springs to mind. But although the consort

The Persian Turquoise Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom; Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom; Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom; tiara detail


When the Queen Mum married the Duke of York in 1923, the two of them never expected to become monarch and consort one day. But even the second lady of the land would have needed quite the jewel collection in those days, and

The de Tornos Turquoise Tiara

All photos: the Duchess of Vendôme

Even when you're marrying a royal groom who isn't technically royal anymore, you need a serious tiara. This is perhaps even more true when you're marrying the man who is the heir to the headship of the House of Orléans (and therefore will one day be one of the pretenders to the French throne). This turquoise and diamond tiara, the de Tornos Tiara, was the

Weekend Bonus: The Princess Ingeborg Star Tiara

Crown Princess Märtha of Norway (1901-1954) wears the Princess Ingeborg Star Tiara (click here for provenance info)

Weekend Bonus: The Teck Turquoise Tiara

Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (1901-2004) wears the Teck Turquoise Tiara (click here for provenance info)

The Ogilvy Tiara

All photos: Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy


Let's wrap up our week of Kent tiaras with a sparkler owned by one of my favorite British princesses, Princess Alexandra. This is her diamond and pearl tiara, which can also be adapted to take other stones.



The tiara was made out of a series of diamond floral hair ornaments that Alexandra wore before her marriage. Around the time that

The Kent Aquamarine Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top): tiara detail; the Duchess of Kent; tiara detail; the Duchess of Kent


Along with the Kent Pearl Fringe Tiara and the current incarnation of the Cambridge Sapphire Tiara, the Duchess of Kent's tiara collection is rounded out with today's piece: the Kent Aquamarine Tiara.



Made in 1908 by George Fouquet, the tiara was originally an enamel and diamond kokoshnik that

The Kent Sapphire Necklace Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Lady Nicholas Windsor; Lady Nicholas Windsor (as necklace); tiara detail


They may not be the most prominent members of the extended British royal family, or even the most prominent members of the Kent family, but Lord and Lady Nicholas Windsor actually find themselves at white-tie events more than you might expect. And for a woman with a fairly slim jewel

The Kent Pearl Fringe Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): the Duchess of Kent; tiara detail; Lady Helen Taylor; tiara detail


Today's Kent family has three branches: the families of each of George and Marina's three children, Prince Edward (the current duke), Princess Alexandra, and Prince Michael. Today, let's have a look at the tiara that is currently in the hands of the current duke and duchess: the Kent Pearl Fringe

The Kent Russian Pearl Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara/necklace detail; Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent; Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy; Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark; Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy


They may not sit on the British throne, but of all the branches of the Windsor family tree, it's actually the present-day Kents who can boast of the greatest royal ancestry. This

Weekend Bonus: The Mellerio Shell Tiara

Queen Sofia of Spain, then Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark (born 1938), wears the Mellerio Shell Tiara (click here for provenance info) at the ball held prior to her wedding to the future King Juan Carlos I of Spain in 1962. As an extra bonus, Sofia wears another of her wedding presents, the Spanish Floral Tiara (click for provenance info), as a necklace

Weekend Bonus: The Aosta Knots and Stars Tiara

Princess Claude of Orléans (born 1943), wears the Aosta Knots and Stars Tiara (click for provenance info) at her wedding to Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta on July 22, 1964

The Queen Wilhelmina Wedding Gift Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands; tiara detail; Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands; Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands; Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands


To wrap up our final week of sapphire tiaras on the blog, let's look at one of the biggest of them all: the sapphire tiara which formed a part of a parure gifted to Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.

The Orléans Diamond and Sapphire Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Bárbara Cano y de la Plaza; Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz; Laura Ponte y Martínez; Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz; tiara detail


Another day, another chance for us to delve into the tangled web of Spanish royal genealogy via a diamond and sapphire tiara. The piece in question this time is owned today by the king's sister, Infanta Pilar, Duchess of

The Harewood Diamond Scroll Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood; Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood; Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood; tiara detail


During her lifetime, Princess Mary -- daughter of George V and aunt of the current queen -- had several tiaras at her disposal. We've already looked at one of her sapphire tiaras (the

The Maria Alexandrovna Sapphire Parure Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia; necklace detail; Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia; necklace detail


For today's sapphire tiara, let's peek once more into the collection of the Edinburgh women: Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, Duchess of Edinburgh (and later Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), and her daughters, Alexandra, Marie,

The Calabria Chaumet Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Infanta Alicia of Spain, Dowager Duchess of Calabria; tiara detail; Infanta Alicia of Spain, Dowager Duchess of Calabria; tiara detail


We've seen lots of tiaras this year from the royal family of Spain, both the main line and its various branches. Today, let's travel through the family tree of the House of Bourbon to have a look at the tiara once owned by the

Weekend Bonus: The Prussian Tiara

Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia, Princess of Hanover, Duchess of Brunswick (1892-1980) wears the Prussian Tiara (click here for provenance info)

Weekend Bonus: The Cartier Halo Tiara

Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom (1930-2002) wears the Cartier Halo Tiara (click here for provenance info) with her coronet and robes at the coronation of her sister, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, on June 2, 1953

The Queen Sophie Diamond Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Sophie of the Hellenes; Queen Sophie of the Hellenes; Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece; Queen Friederike of the Hellenes; Queen Friederike of the Hellenes


Without a doubt, the biggest surprise return of a long-lost tiara recently was the reemergence of one of the most impressive diadems belonging to the former royal family of Greece: the diamond

The Argyll Tiara

All photos: Iona, Dowager Duchess of Argyll


Today's tale of a lost-and-found tiara nearly didn't include the "found" part. Word to the wise: if you own a tiara like the Argyll, and you're going on a trip, pack it in your carry-on bag.



The diamond tiara in question is a nineteenth-century heirloom that belongs to the Campbells, a noble Scottish family with historic connections to the

The Brunswick Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Victoria Louise of Hanover, Duchess of Brunswick; Princess Caroline of Monaco, Princess of Hanover; Princess Victoria Louise of Hanover, Duchess of Brunswick; Princess Victoria Louise of Hanover, Duchess of Brunswick; Princess Caroline of Monaco, Princess of Hanover


The Ancona Tiara wasn't the only showstopper piece to appear at the 2004 wedding of

The Swedish Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Sibylla of Sweden; Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler; Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler, Princess Sibylla of Sweden; Baroness Sibylla von Dincklage 


Royal weddings offer a great opportunity to royals to really dig around in their jewelry boxes and give a public airing to goodies that many jewel lovers feared had perhaps been broken up or sold. One

The Ancona Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro; Lydia d'Arenberg, Duchess of Pistoia; Lydia d'Arenberg, Duchess of Pistoia; tiara detail


So often on this blog, we hear tales of gorgeous royal tiaras that have graced various regal heads before ultimately being sold at auction. Happily, today's tiara is something of a reversal of that tale: the Ancona

Weekend Bonus: The Pearl and Diamond Choker Tiara

Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein [right] (born 1957) wears the Pearl and Diamond Choker Tiara (click here for provenance info) without the upright pearls. As an extra bonus, her sister, Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria [left, with her husband, Archduke Carl Christian] (born 1954) wears the Emerald Peacock Necklace Tiara (click here for provenance info)

Weekend Bonus: The Dutch Aquamarine Tiara

Princess Irene of the Netherlands (born 1939) wears the Dutch Aquamarine Tiara (click here for provenance info) in 1962. As an extra bonus, Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands (born 1938) wears the Antique Pearl Tiara (click here for provenance info)

The Queen Alexandra Amethyst Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom (colorized version); detail of coordinating necklace; Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom; detail of coordinating necklace


Our final "lost" British tiara of the week is another tiara that once belonged to the Danish-born Queen Alexandra: her amethyst tiara.



To my knowledge, Alexandra was only photographed in this diamond

The Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; tiara detail


Unlike her beloved granny, the current British queen doesn't tinker extensively with her jewel collection. That is, except for one rather big example: the dismantling of today's sparkler, the Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara.



This

The County of Surrey Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; necklace detail; Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; tiara detail


Today's "lost" tiara is another sparkler that met its fate at the hands of Magpie Mary, the most innovative of all royal tiara wearers. And like yesterday, the piece was another of her wedding gifts, this time from the County of

The Ladies of England Tiara

All photos: Queen Mary of the United Kingdom


If nothing else convinces you that Queen Mary of the United Kingdom had one of the most impressive collections of diadems around, consider this: it's November in this year-long tiara journey, we've already seen an entire week dedicated to her tiaras, and I'm still posting about pieces from her inventory. Today's tiara was one of the first sparklers

The Queen Alexandra Wedding Gift Tiara

All photos: Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom


For many years, one of the biggest tiara mysteries surrounding the British royal family had to do with a showstopper tiara associated with one of the family's matriarchs, Queen Alexandra. But in recent years, much more has been revealed about the piece, which Alexandra received as a wedding gift, and its eventual fate.



Most of you will

Weekend Bonus: The Mike Todd Tiara

Dame Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011) wears the Mike Todd Tiara (click here for provenance info) in a portrait taken at the premiere of Staircase in October 1969. In her left hand, she clutches La Peregrina, the famous pearl that has belonged to many royals, including Philip II of Spain and Napoleon III of France; Richard Burton reportedly outbid a member of the Spanish royal family when he

Weekend Bonus: The Empress Eugénie Pearl Tiara

Princess Margaretha of Thurn and Taxis (1870-1955) wears the Empress Eugénie Pearl Tiara (click here for provenance info) with coordinating pieces of pearl and diamond jewelry

The Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg; necklace detail; Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria; Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg


For our final convertible necklace tiara of the week, we've got one of the most important necklace/tiara combinations in any royal collection: the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara,

The Grimaldi Sapphire Necklace Tiara

All photos: Princess Caroline of Monaco, Princess of Hanover (as tiara and necklace)


When you don't have a ton of tiaras at your disposal -- and the ones you do are sometimes loaned out for exhibits on your famous mother's life -- you have to get a bit creative sometimes. Princess Caroline provided an excellent example of tiara innovation when she put her diamond and sapphire necklace on a

The Norwegian Amethyst Necklace Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): necklace detail; Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway; Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway; Queen Sonja of Norway; Princess Martha Louise of Norway


Like many crown princesses, Mette-Marit of Norway has a slightly smaller tiara collection than her mother-in-law, Queen Sonja. We've already looked at the other two tiaras she wears -- her wedding tiara and Queen

The Pearl and Diamond Choker Tiara

All photos: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (as tiara and necklace)


I know it probably seems like we've covered every diadem in the grand duchy of Luxembourg, but believe it or not, we're not done yet! Today's tiara, a convertible pearl and diamond necklace/tiara, is worn by the country's current grand duchess, Maria Teresa.



The sparkler, which is easily recognizable for its

The Dutch Sapphire Necklace Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Máxima of the Netherlands; necklace detail; Princess Margriet of the Netherlands; tiara detail


One of my favorite things about the Dutch royal family is their willingness to innovate with their jewels. Today's tiara, one of the family's "newest" pieces, is actually composed of a sapphire necklace supplemented by elements from another dismantled sapphire

Weekend Bonus: The Pearl Button Tiara

Princess Margriet of the Netherlands (born 1943) wears the Pearl Button Tiara (click here for provenance info) at her wedding to Pieter van Vollenhoven in 1967

Weekend Bonus: The Spanish Floral Tiara

Queen Sofia of Spain (born 1938) wears the Spanish Floral Tiara (click here for provenance info). The black and gray pearl necklace was made by Mellerio and originally belonged to Queen Maria Cristina of Spain

The Queen Alia Cartier Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Rania of Jordan; Princess Haya of Jordan, Sheikha of Dubai; Queen Alia of Jordan; Queen Rania of Jordan; Princess Haya of Jordan, Sheikha of Dubai


To wrap up Cartier Week, let's peek once more into the jewel cases of the glamorous women of the royal family of Jordan. Today's tiara, the Cartier tiara that belonged to the late Queen Alia, has been worn by

The Queen Elisabeth Cartier Bandeau Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princes Lilian of Belgium, Princess of Réthy; tiara detail; Princess Lilian of Belgium, Princess of Réthy; Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians


Time for our fourth Cartier tiara of the week, dear readers! Today's tiara is a magnificent royal tiara with a rather complicated and even difficult story: the Cartier tiara owned by Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians.

The Cartier Wave Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Tsarina Marie Feodorovna of Russia; Tsarina Feodorovna of Russia; tiara (and necklace) detail; tiara detail

While jewelers like Bolin and Faberge may be more associated historically with the Romanovs, Cartier also supplied the Russian imperial family with jewels. One of the most striking of these pieces is today's sparkler, the Cartier Wave Tiara, which once

The Cartier Loop Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Sofia of Spain; the Countess of Barcelona; Doña Simoneta Gómez-Acebo y de Borbón; Infanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz; Queen Sofia of Spain

For a royal family that has faced serious upheaval in the last century, the Borbóns of Spain have managed to hang on to some serious heirloom tiaras. That's been possible in part because the family has largely

The Bonaparte Olive Wreath Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess George of Greece and Denmark; tiara detail; Princess George of Greece and Denmark; tiara detail


What do you get when you combine a classic tiara design, a renowned jeweler, and one of the most fascinating princesses of the twentieth century? The answer, of course, is today's tiara: the olive wreath diadem created by Cartier for Princess Marie

Weekend Bonus: The Romanian Massin Tiara

Queen Marie of Romania (1875-1938) wears the Romanian Massin Tiara (click here for provenance info)

Weekend Bonus: The Cartier Indian Tiara

Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein (1872-1956) wears the Cartier Indian Tiara (click here for provenance info)

The Nassut Tiara

Photos (from left): Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; tiara detail; Queen Margrethe II of Denmark


Our final brand-new tiara of the week is yet another sparkler from Denmark, a country that's really cleaned up in terms of royal tiaras made in this century. Today's piece, the Nassut Tiara, is the newest tiara in the collection of the nation's current queen, Margrethe II.


Made of bright yellow

The Bäumer Aigrette Tiara

All photos: Princess Charlene of Monaco


Today's twenty-first century tiara belongs an equally new member of the Monegasque princely family, Princess Charlene. In fact, the diadem, the Bäumer Aigrette Tiara, is actually the only tiara that the princess has ever worn in public, much to the chagrin of tiara lovers 'round the world.



The tiara was made by Lorenz Bäumer in 2011 as a wedding

The Flora Danica Tiara

Photos (clockwise from left): Princess Marie of Denmark; tiara detail; tiara detail


Like her sister-in-law, Crown Princess Mary, Princess Marie of Denmark also has both an heirloom tiara (the Dagmar Floral) and a new tiara. She may not have worn it yet, but Marie was instrumental in the design of this twenty-first century sparkler, the Flora Danica Tiara.



The tiara was made in 2011 by

The Asturias Ansorena Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; the Princess of Asturias (as a brooch); brooch detail; brooch detail


The Danish aren't the only royals who have twenty-first century tiaras tucked away in their vaults. Today's tiara, which we'll call the Asturias Ansorena Tiara, is a brand-new tiara owned by members of the Spanish royal family. But while the provenance and ownership details of

The Midnight Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Crown Princess Mary of Denmark; Crown Princess Mary of Denmark; Crown Princess Mary of Denmark


While the Danish royal jewel collection includes a number of antique heirloom tiaras, the women of the family also have a few contemporary diadems at their disposal. One of them, the Midnight Tiara, is worn exclusively by the nation's future queen.


Crown Princess

Weekend Bonus: The Princess Andrew Meander Tiara

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal (born 1950) wears the Princess Andrew Meander Tiara (click here for provenance info) in a portrait by Norman Parkinson, taken in 1971 to mark her twenty-first birthday

Weekend Bonus: The Savoy Tourmaline Tiara

Princess Clotilde of Savoy (born 1969), better known as the actress Clotilde Courau, wears the Savoy Tourmaline Tiara (click here for provenance info) and matching earrings at her 2003 wedding to Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy

The Cartier Pearl Drop Tiara

All photos: Princess Caroline of Monaco, the Princess of Hanover


Rounding out our week of pearl tiaras is the grandest of all the sparklers in the Monegasque vaults: the Cartier Pearl Drop Tiara. But although it is the most intricate and sophisticated of the Grimaldi family's tiaras, it apparently actually belongs to the second lady of the land.


The intricate diamond, gold, and platinum

The Cartier Pearl and Diamond Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Sofia of Spain; Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain; Infanta Cristina of Spain; tiara detail


If you've been a longtime reader of this blog, you may remember that earlier we talked about a royal Spanish mother-in-law gift that was dismantled rather than worn: the Ansorena Heart Tiara. Today, it's finally time to look at the tiara that was made as a result:

The Kent Pearl Festoon Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent; Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy; Princess Michael of Kent; tiara detail; Princess Michael of Kent


Today's pearl tiara comes from the collection of the (arguably) most royal of all the branches of the Windsor family: the Kents. This is the diamond and pearl festoon tiara that once belonged to Princess Marina.



Lots

The Mellerio Shell Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top): tiara detail; the Princess of Asturias; Queen Sofia of Spain; Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain; Infanta Isabella, Princess of Asturias


Of all the diadems in royal vaults, the regal tiaras created by Mellerio dits Meller frequently rank as favorites among the tiara lovers of the world. Today's diamond and pearl tiara, the Mellerio Shell Tiara, is one of the most

The Queen Marie José Seed Pearl Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Marie José of Italy; tiara detail; Queen Marie José of Italy; tiara detail


Many royal tiaras feature stupendously large pearls -- think the pearl drops on the Vladimir, or the upright pearls on the Danish star and pearl tiara -- but others showcase the beauty of smaller pearls. Today's tiara, the seed pearl tiara that once belonged to an Italian queen,

Weekend Bonus: The Dutch Ears of Wheat Tiara

Princess Viktória of Bourbon-Parma (1982-present), née Viktória Cservenyák, wears the Dutch Ears of Wheat Tiara (click here for provenance info) at her wedding to Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Parma. Prince Jaime, who is a first cousin of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and a member of the extended Dutch royal family, married his fiancée on Saturday in Apeldoorn

Weekend Bonus: The Mellerio Ruby Tiara

Queen Emma of the Netherlands (1858-1934) wears the Mellerio Ruby Tiara (click here for provenance info) along with other coordinating pieces from the same parure. Later today, Emma's great-great-grandson, Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Parma, will marry his fiancée, Viktória Cservenyák, in Apeldoorn

The Maria Vladimirovna Kokoshnik Tiara

All photos: Maria Vladimirovna of Russia


Let's round out our week of kokoshnik tiaras with a look at a modern-day example, shall we? This is the kokoshnik worn today by Maria Vladimirovna, one of the pretenders to the Russian throne (and claimants of the headship of the House of Romanov).


Maria Vladimirovna is the granddaughter of royals we've talked about on the blog: Grand Duke Kirill 

The Blackened Steel Kokoshnik Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; tiara detail; Queen Marie of Romania; tiara detail


While most kokoshnik tiaras share the same familiar halo-esque shape, the twentieth century saw jewelers beginning to experiment with the traditional kokoshnik materials and form. One example of this kind of innovation is today's tiara: the Blackened Steel Kokoshnik.



The tiara was made in

The Marie Feodorovna Sapphire Kokoshnik Tiara

Images: Tsarina Marie Feodorovna of Russia; tiara sketch; Tsarina Marie Feodorovna of Russia


One of the most magnificent kokoshniks in the collection of Tsarina Marie Feodorovna of Russia was her diamond and sapphire tiara, a part of a larger diamond and sapphire parure. Like most of the rest of her grand jewels, this tiara no longer exists -- but perhaps not for the reason you might think.

The Westminster Blue Enamel Kokoshnik Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Constance Cornwallis-West; tiara detail


We've already talked on this blog about the connections between the family of the current Duke of Westminster and the Romanovs -- the current duchess is a descendant of Nicholas I of Russia and of the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. But while you might be forgiven for thinking that the family

The Marie Feodorovna Diamond Kokoshnik Tiara

All images: Tsarina Marie Feodorovna of Russia



Most tiara lovers know the tale of the British royal family's glittering kokoshnik tiara: Queen Alexandra requested that the diamond fringe tiara be made in the style of a Russian kokoshnik after admiring such a tiara in the collection of her sister, Tsarina Marie Feodorovna of Russia. Today, let's have a look at the tiara that inspired its

Weekend Bonus: The Oriental Circlet Tiara

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1900-2002), photographed in 1948 by Cecil Beaton, wears the Oriental Circlet Tiara (click here for provenance info). She also wears the Coronation Necklace with the Lahore pendant, her own coronation necklace, Queen Victoria's Fringe Brooch, and Queen Victoria's diamond bracelet

Weekend Bonus: The Connaught Fringe Tiara

Lady Patricia Ramsay, born Princess Patricia of Connaught (1886-1974), wears the Connaught Fringe Tiara (click here for provenance info) at the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937. As an extra bonus, Lady Patricia's niece, the future Queen Ingrid of Denmark (1910-2000), wears the the Pearl Poiré Tiara (click here for provenance info) with the pearl jewels that were given

The Marie Antoinette Floral Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Marie Antoinette of France; tiara detail; Queen Marie Antoinette of France; tiara detail


Hold on to your hats, tiara lovers: today's sparkler is one for the ages. It's a diamond tiara that supposedly once belonged to the one and only Marie Antoinette -- one that allegedly today belongs to the family of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.



The tiara,

The Rosebery Primrose Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Alison Primrose, Countess of Rosebery; tiara detail; tiara detail


When your surname is Primrose, and your peerage is Rosebery, it's only right that you have a floral tiara in your collection, don't you think? Continuing on with our week of nature-inspired sparklers, today let's have a peep at the Rosebery Primrose Tiara.



The tiara actually takes its name

The Kinsky Honeysuckle Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Tatjana of Liechtenstein; tiara detail; Princess Angela of Liechtenstein; Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein


The principality of Liechtenstein may be one of the tiniest countries in the world, but its princely family still has a couple of pretty impressive tiaras in the vaults. We've already talked about the family's fringe tiara; today,

The Fabergé Cyclamen Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): The Hon. Eleanor Birch Wilson Fox; necklace detail; tiara detail


While the House of Fabergé is well-known for its jeweled creation, they weren't really known for making tiaras. But the ones they did make -- several of which we've already seen on the blog this year -- were intricate and often unusual, and today's sparkler, the Fabergé Cyclamen Tiara, is no

The Luxembourg Vine Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Claire of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; Princess Claire of Luxembourg


This weekend in the south of France, the tiny grand duchy of Luxembourg gained a new princess. When Claire Lademacher married Prince Félix on Saturday, she got her

Weekend Bonus: The Victorian Sapphire Coronet Tiara

Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood (1897-1965) wears the Victorian Sapphire Coronet Tiara (click here for provenance info). As an extra bonus, her sister-in-law, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (1906-1968), wears the original Cambridge Sapphire Tiara (click here for provenance info)

Weekend Bonus: The Chaumet Emerald Tiara

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (1956-present), shown here with her husband, Grand Duke Henri, wears the Chaumet Emerald Tiara (click here for provenance info). Today, the second son of Henri and Maria Teresa, Prince Félix of Luxembourg, will marry his fiancée, Claire Lademacher, in a religious ceremony in the south of France. The pair married civilly earlier this week in Germany

The Spencer Tiara

All photos: Diana, Princess of Wales


Our final bridal tiara of the week is, in many ways, the royal bridal tiara -- the Spencer Tiara -- which is rather ironic when you consider that it's not really a royal tiara at all. But the role that it played in the biggest royal wedding of the last century is impossible to underestimate and hard to forget.



When Lady Diana Spencer arrived at St.

The Luxembourg Turquoise Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; Princess Tessy of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; tiara detail


One of the newest additions to the grand ducal tiara collection in Luxembourg is today's tiara: the double-row turquoise and diamond tiara that belongs to the current grand duchess, Maria Teresa.



As with many of the Luxembourg

The Dutch Ears of Wheat Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Margriet of the Netherlands; Princess Annette of Orange-Nassau; Princess Anita of Orange-Nassau; Princess Marilène of Orange-Nassau; Princess Aimée of Orange-Nassau


When you think about motifs for wedding tiaras, probably hearts and flowers and such come to mind long before you arrive at ears of wheat. But when you consider the traditional symbolism

The Citrine and Pearl Bandeau Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg; tiara detail; Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg


One of the more unusual tiaras in the Luxembourg vaults is today's piece: a bandeau tiara of pearls and stones that are either citrines or yellow topazes. (We'll go with citrine

The York Tiara

All photos: Sarah, Duchess of York


When many people think about royal weddings, two of them immediately spring to mind: the big royal nuptial bashes held in Britain in the 1980s. Today, let's look at the bridal tiara worn to the second of those weddings -- the sparkler worn by Sarah, Duchess of York.



Most will remember that Sarah Ferguson walked up the aisle of Westminster Abbey in 1986

The Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg; tiara detail


While many of the tiaras in the vast Luxembourg family collection were created within the past century, today's sparkler, the Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde Tiara, is one

The Princess Claire Wedding Tiara

All photos: Princess Claire of Belgium


When Claire Lademacher becomes a princess of Luxembourg this week, she'll be the second Princess Claire in the extended Belgian-Luxembourgish royal family. The first, who was born Claire Coombs, wore this delicate diamond tiara at her wedding to Prince Laurent of Belgium.



The specific provenance of this all-diamond tiara doesn't seem to have been made

The Luxembourg Aquamarine Bandeau Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein


Another day, another colorful bandeau tiara from the grand ducal vaults of Luxembourg! Today's tiara is the family's aquamarine bandeau, which was reportedly made

The Prussian Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Sofia of Spain; Queen Sofia of Spain; the Princess of Asturias; Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia, Duchess of Brunswick


While we wait to see which tiara the soon-to-be Princess Claire of Luxembourg chooses for her religious wedding, our afternoons this week will be devoted to other tiaras worn by royal brides. To kick off the bonus week, let's have a

The Amethyst and Pearl Bandeau Tiara

Photos (from left): Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria; Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg; Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria


Tiara lovers, you're in for a week of fun! This week, we've got a royal wedding on the calendar: Prince Félix, the second son of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, will marry his German fiancée, Claire Lademacher. For coverage of the

Weekend Bonus: The Lannoy Tiara

Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg (1984-present) wears the Lannoy Tiara (click here for provenance info) at her 2012 wedding to Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume

Weekend Bonus: The Small Nassau Floral Tiara

Archduchess Marie Christine of Austria, Countess of Limburg-Stirum (1983-present) wears the Small Nassau Floral Tiara (click here for provenance info) at her wedding in 2008. Marie Christine is the niece of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg

The Westminster Halo Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Rose Movius Palmer; Loelia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster (later Lady Lindsay); tiara detail; Loelia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster (later Lady Lindsay); Nancy Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster


Let's cap off our week of British aristocratic sparklers with one of the most incredible of the bunch. The Duke and Duchess of Westminster, heads of one of the

The Essex Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Crown Princess Margarita of Romania; Clementine, Lady Churchill; Crown Princess Margarita of Romania; tiara detail


It's funny how a tiara can link together remarkable figures who would never otherwise be discussed in the same conversation, isn't it? Today's tiara, the Cartier sparkler originally made for a Countess of Essex, is just such a piece, worn by a

The Raine Spencer Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Raine Spencer, Countess Spencer (as necklace); tiara detail; Raine Spencer, Countess Spencer; tiara detail


Thanks to their connections to the current generation of the Windsors, the Spencer family is one of the highest-profile aristocratic clans in the country these days. Today, let's have a look at a tiara owned by one of their more controversial countesses:

The Tavistock Amethyst Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Lydia Russell, Duchess of Bedford; tiara detail; tiara detail; tiara detail


Like yesterday's tiara, today's piece features a proliferation of leaves set with diamonds. But unlike yesterday's piece, today's tiara features some of the largest amethysts you'll ever see in a diadem. This is the amethyst tiara that belongs to the family of the Duke of Bedford.

The Norfolk Oak Leaf Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Gwendolen Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk; tiara detail


It's not so unusual to encounter tiaras that incorporate elements from nature into their designs -- think of the proliferation of floral and wreath tiaras in various royal and noble collections. But today's tiara, which comes from the Norfolk family, looks to a different part of the

Weekend Bonus: The Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara

Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1944-present) wears the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara (click here for provenance info). The diamond necklace she wears is half of a larger necklace that belonged to her grandmother, Queen Alexandrine; Queen Ingrid divided the necklace and gave half to Benedikte and half to Benedikte's younger sister, Queen

Weekend Bonus: The Teck Crescent Tiara

Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck (1833-1897) wears the Teck Crescent Tiara (click here for provenance info). She has supplemented the base of the tiara with two diamond rivieres; she also wears another Teck family piece, the diamond hoop necklace, which can be worn as a tiara

The Victorian Sapphire Coronet Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom; Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood; Andrea Lascelles; tiara detail


Our final sapphire tiara of the week is small, but it packs a major historical punch. This is the sapphire coronet that once belonged to Queen Victoria and now resides in the collection of the Lascelles family.



The sapphire coronet

The Ocean Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Princess Charlene of Monaco (as necklace); tiara detail; necklace detail


When Charlene Wittstock became the Princess of Monaco in 2011, she received two new tiaras to mark the occasion. The more substantial of the two was this sapphire and diamond sparkler, the Ocean Tiara.



The tiara was created for Charlene by Van Cleef & Arpels, the jeweler

The Barberini Sapphire Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; tiara detail; tiara worn by model


Today's tiara for you sapphire-loving September babies is a sparkler that features lovely pale blue gemstones. Once in the possession of an Italian noble family, today the piece belongs to a lucky unknown buyer.



Although we don't know who made this unusual sapphire floral tiara, we do know approximately when

The Princess Thyra Sapphire Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Elisabeth of Denmark; Princess Thyra of Denmark; Princess Elisabeth of Denmark; Princess Elisabeth of Denmark; tiara detail


With so much attention paid to the daughters-in-law of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, it's easy to forget sometimes that there's another tiara-wearing Danish princess in the family. Today, let's have a look at Princess

The Sapphire Art Deco Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (as a necklace); Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg


Welcome to month #9 of our year of tiaras, everyone! Today's tiara -- the Sapphire Art Deco Tiara from the Luxembourg collection -- is a piece that can be

Weekend Bonus: The Cambridge Sapphire Tiara

Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (1907-1968) wears the original Cambridge Sapphire Tiara (click here for provenance info) and the rest of the sapphire parure at the wedding of Crown Princess Margrethe of Denmark in 1967. Her escort is a young Crown Prince Harald, Norway's current king

Weekend Bonus: The Princess Charlotte Fringe Tiara

Princess Charlotte of Monaco, Duchess of Valentinois (1898-1977) wears her fringe tiara (click here for provenance info). Charlotte's great-grandson, Andrea Casiraghi, will reportedly marry his fiancée, Tatiana Santo Domingo, in Monaco today

The Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): the Duchess of Gloucester; Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester; tiara detail; the Duchess of Gloucester; Queen Mary of the United Kingdom


Our final tiara of the week is the workhorse of the Gloucester tiara collection, their diamond honeysuckle tiara. When you consider its versatility, it's not a surprise that the current duchess trots this sparkler out on

The Teck Turquoise Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester; tiara detail; Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester; the Duchess of Gloucester


Our penultimate Gloucester tiara of the week is one that comes from Queen Mary's family, the Tecks. Combining turquoises with diamonds in an intricate design, the tiara has been worn by two generations of Gloucester duchesses.



The piece was

The Cartier Indian Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein; the Duchess of Gloucester; Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein; tiara detail


Today's tiara, the Cartier Indian, came to the current Duchess of Gloucester from a lesser-known branch of Queen Victoria's family tree. The tiara was originally owned by Victoria's granddaughter, Princess Marie Louise, who was

The Gloucester Emerald Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): the Duchess of Gloucester; Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (with Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester); tiara detail


The current Duchess of Gloucester, the wife of a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, may be a relatively minor member of the British royal family, but she has a tiara collection that easily rivals or even surpasses that of some other royal

The Iveagh Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; the Duchess of Gloucester; Lady Rose Gilman; the Duchess of Gloucester; Lady Rose Gilman


When tiara lovers today hear the phrase "wedding gift to Queen Mary," you can almost bet that their thoughts turn quickly to one of her most famous sparklers, the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. But that wasn't the only tiara

Weekend Bonus: The Baden Palmette Tiara

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (1940-present) wears the Baden Palmette Tiara (click here for provenance info)

Weekend Bonus: The Antique Corsage Tiara

Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark (1980-present) wears the Antique Corsage Tiara (click here for provenance info) at the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden earlier this year; she also wears the Order of Saints Olga and Sophia

The Emerald Sunburst Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Fatimeh Pahlavi; tiara detail; Princess Fatimeh Pahlavi; Princess Fatimeh Pahlavi


While most sunburst tiaras stick to diamonds, our final sunny tiara of the week incorporates pearls, emeralds, and even a massive, twenty-five carat spinel in its design. This is the sunburst tiara that once belonged to Princess Fatimeh Pahlavi, the half-sister of the

The Pearl Sunburst Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Crown Princess Masako of Japan; Empress Michiko of Japan; Empress Michiko of Japan; Crown Princess Masako of Japan; Crown Princess Masako of Japan


Although the tiara collection of the imperial family of Japan is perhaps not as large as some of the other royal collections we've explored, the pieces they do have pack some serious punch. One of the most easily

The Bavarian Sunburst Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Ursula of Bavaria; Princess Anna of Bavaria; Princess Felipa of Bavaria; tiara detail; Princess Ursula of Bavaria


The Badens weren't the only former German royal family with a sun tiara; until a few months ago, the Bavarians also had one: this sunburst tiara, which stayed in the family for more than a century until it was sold.



The diamond tiara

The Sunray Meander Tiara

Photos: Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom


What do you get when you cross a fringe tiara -- one of those fence-like sparklers that is also sometimes called a "sunray" tiara -- with a meander tiara? It turns out you get something a lot like today's sunny tiara: the sunray meander that once belonged to Queen Victoria's youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice.



The tiara actually first

The Baden Sunburst Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Hereditary Princess Stephanie of Baden; the Margravine of Baden; tiara detail; Hereditary Princess Stephanie of Baden; Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark, Margravine of Baden


Here in the northern hemisphere, it's the height of summertime, so what could be more appropriate than a week of sunny tiaras? While star tiaras were perhaps more popular in the

Weekend Bonus: The Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997) wears the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara (click here for provenance info)

Weekend Bonus: The Prussian Meander Tiara

Princess Sophie of Prussia (1978-present) wears the Prussian Meander Tiara (click here for provenance info) at the evening reception following her marriage to Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia in 2011

The Queen Maud Vifte Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Maud of Norway; Queen Sonja of Norway; Queen Sonja of Norway; Queen Sonja of Norway; necklace detail


One of the older tiaras in the Norwegian royal collection also happens to be one of the smaller ones: the so-called "Vifte" tiara that once belonged to Maud, the first queen of modern-day independent Norway.



In Norwegian, the word "vifte" roughly

The Emerald Peacock Necklace Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria; Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg (as a necklace); Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; tiara detail


One of the smallest tiaras in the collection of the grand ducal family of Luxembourg is this diamond and emerald sparkler: a convertible piece that can be worn either as a tiara or a necklace. While the

The Boucheron Bracelet Tiara

All photos: Queen Rania of Jordan


We talk about lots of tiaras on this blog that can be converted into other pieces of jewelry. Generally, tiaras are transformable into necklaces or brooches. But today's small tiara is one of the few sparklers that can be worn as either a tiara or a bracelet.



The piece, which was made in 2008 by Boucheron, belongs to one of the most stunning queens in the

The Diamond Haircomb Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): comb detail; Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands; Queen Máxima of the Netherlands; comb detail; Queen Máxima of the Netherlands


The prize for the tiniest tiara in the vast Dutch royal jewel collection definitely goes to this one: a diamond haircomb worn as a tiara by two Dutch queens.



The piece was first worn by Wilhelmina, who was only ten when she came

The Braganza Bandeau Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Maria Francisca of Orléans-Braganza, Duchess of Braganza; Dona Isabel de Herédia, Duchess of Braganza; Dona Isabel de Herédia, Duchess of Braganza; Dona Isabel de Herédia, Duchess of Braganza; Dona Isabel de Herédia, Duchess of Braganza


Members of reigning royal houses aren't the only people these days who need tiaras. With invitations to weddings,

Weekend Bonus: The Papyrus Tiara

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1900-2002) wears the Papyrus Tiara (click here for provenance info)

Weekend Bonus: The Cameo Tiara

Queen Ingrid of Denmark (1910-2000) wears the Cameo Tiara (click here for provenance info). Ingrid borrowed the cameo parure in 1933 from her sister-in-law, Princess Sibylla of Sweden, to wear at a charity masquerade ball where she portrayed one of her ancestors, Queen Josefina of Sweden and Norway

The Victorian Emerald and Diamond Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine; Caroline Worsley, the Hon. Lady Worsley (formerly Caroline, Duchess of Fife); Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom; Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom; tiara detail


To wrap up our week of green tiaras, let's have a look at one of the more famous sparklers to come from the era of Queen Victoria, shall we? This is

The Chrysoprase Tiara

Photos: tiara detail


Picture it: London, 1835. You're a woman of some means who has clambered her way up the social ladder, and now you're appearing at the opera and in ballrooms, surrounded by royal and noble women in the finest jewels. They're all in tiaras, too -- the early nineteenth-century craze for the ornaments has spread from the court of Napoleon to all of the major royal courts of

The Rosse Emerald Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Anne Parsons, Countess of Rosse; tiara detail; tiara detail; Anne Parsons, Countess of Rosse


We've talked a lot about the rather fabulous tiaras owned by the late Princess Margaret. Today, let's have a look at an emerald tiara worn by one of the non-royal women in her life: her mother-in-law, the Countess of Rosse.



While the emeralds garnered lots of press

The Habsburg Peridot Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Archduchess Isabella of Austria; tiara detail


Today's tiara is a true royal rarity: a diamond sparkler that also includes a generous helping of peridot, the birthstone of all of you August babies. What could make it better? Why, a provenance that connects it with the Habsburgs, surely!



The tiara is actually a part of a complete parure of

The Harcourt Emerald Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top): tiara detail; Mary Ethel Harcourt, Viscountess Harcourt; tiara detail; Doris Baring, Lady Ashburton


Sixty years ago, the current queen of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II, was crowned in Westminster Abbey. The British nobility busted out their tiaras for the occasion, and this diamond and emerald tiara made an appearance on the head of Lady Ashburton. But it

Weekend Bonus: The Delhi Durbar Tiara

Queen Mary of the United Kingdom (1867-1953) wears the complete parure created for the Delhi Durbar of 1911, including brooch, stomacher, earrings, necklace, and the Delhi Durbar Tiara (click here for provenance info). She wears the tiara here topped by several of the Cambridge emeralds, which were later removed; you can also see the cushion-shaped Cullinan IV diamond mounted in the center

Weekend Bonus: The Yugoslavian Emerald Tiara

Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna "the Younger" of Russia (1890-1958) wears the Yugoslavian Emerald Tiara (click here for provenance info) with its coordinating necklace, also by Bolin

The Romanian Greek Key Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Grand Duchess Viktoria Feodorovna of Russia; Queen Anne of Romania; Queen Helen of Romania; Queen Helen of Romania; Crown Princess Margarita of Romania


So far this week, we've seen Romanian tiaras that have all left the family's collection, either stolen or sold (or maybe both). It's only right that we cap off the week with the only Romanian tiara that is

The Romanian Diamond Loop Tiara

All photos: Queen Marie of Romania


When Queen Marie of Romania shopped for a new tiara in her aunt's Romanov jewel collection, she did not select (or, perhaps, was not offered) the most famous of Maria Pavlovna's tiaras still worn today: the Vladimir Tiara, worn currently by Queen Elizabeth II. There could have been any number of reasons that Marie acquired the sapphire tiara instead, but

The Vladimir Sapphire Kokoshnik Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Ileana of Romania, Archduchess of Austria; Queen Marie of Romania; Queen Marie of Romania; Queen Marie of Romania; Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (the Elder) of Russia


The jewel collection of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (the Elder) of Russia -- better known to many as Grand Duchess Vladimir -- was the royal gift that just seemed to keep on giving in

The Edinburgh Turquoise Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Marie of Romania; tiara detail; tiara detail


When Princess Marie of Edinburgh married Ferdinand, the crown prince of Romania, in 1893, she received a veritable treasure trove of wedding presents from her British aunts and uncles. One of them was this piece, a lovely diamond and turquoise tiara.


Marie's father was Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, who

The Romanian Massin Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Marie of Romania; Queen Marie of Romania; Queen Elisabeth of Romania; Queen Marie of Romania; Queen Elisabeth of Romania


When it comes to nineteenth-century jewelers, a consistent favorite among tiara lovers seems to be Oscar Massin. His most famous tiara creation is likely the diamond tiara that belonged to the Duchess of Fife, but while working for

Weekend Bonus: The Norwegian Emerald Parure Tiara

Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner (born 1932) wears the Norwegian Emerald Parure Tiara (click here for provenance info) along with other jewels from the same parure. Astrid served as first lady of Norway between the death of her mother in 1954 and the marriage of her elder brother, now King Harald V, in 1968

Weekend Bonus: The Queen Margherita Musy Tiara

Queen Marie José of Italy (1906-2001) wears the Queen Margherita Musy Tiara (click here for provenance info) at a reception in honor of the wedding of her daughter, Princess Maria Pia, to Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia in 1955

The Burmese Ruby Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; tiara detail; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom


One of the newest tiaras in the Windsor collection, which is comprised largely of heirlooms from generations past, is this one: the Burmese Ruby Tiara. Aside from the Oriental Circlet, this is the only major ruby tiara

The Empress Joséphine Coronation Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Grace of Monaco; Princess Grace of Monaco; Princess Grace of Monaco; tiara detail


After she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Grace Kelly never again took an acting role. But you can take the actress out of the film, but apparently not the film out of the actress: Grace clearly relished dressing up and playing different parts in other parts of

The Linley Beechwood Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Serena Armstrong-Jones, Viscountess Linley; tiara detail


One of the very most unusual tiaras ever to grace the head of a Windsor is undoubtedly this one: the beechwood tiara made by David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley.



Viscount Linley, who is the only son of the late Princess Margaret, is an aristocrat with a job: he is the founder and

The Savoy Headpiece Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Carey Mulligan; Carey Mulligan; Carey Mulligan; Carey Mulligan; tiara detail


Cartier isn't the only jeweler creating tiaras specifically for film productions these days. Tiffany & Co. has gotten into the tiara game, too. They're the creators of this headpiece, which was used in the new Baz Luhrmann adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.



The

The Papyrus Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon; Serena Armstrong-Jones, Viscountess Linley; Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; tiara detail


Today's British bonus tiara is another piece from the collection of the late Princess Margaret, sister of the current queen. Unlike yesterday's tiara, however, this tiara, the Papyrus, has a lengthy Windsor family history.



The

The Bains de Mer Tiara

All photos: Princess Grace of Monaco


Princess Grace may have taken a loaner sparkler out for a spin a time or two, but she did own some of her own tiaras, too. One of the most unusual pieces from her own collection was this one: the Bains de Mer Tiara.



Made by Cartier, this tiara gets its name from the company who gave it to the Monegasque princess: the Société des Bains de Mer. SBM owns

The Snowdon Floral Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Lady Sarah Chatto; Lady Frances von Hofmannsthal; Lady Sarah Chatto; brooch detail; Lady Frances von Hofmannsthal


It may be hard to believe that Princess Margaret could have owned a tiara and never worn it, but it's true! This piece, the Snowdon Floral Tiara, was a part of Margaret's collection, but never adorned her royal crown.



The tiara was a wedding

The Mike Todd Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Dame Elizabeth Taylor; Dame Elizabeth Taylor; Dame Elizabeth Taylor; Dame Elizabeth Taylor; tiara detail


Liz Taylor may not have been actual royalty, even if she was made a dame by Elizabeth II, but she certainly was Hollywood royalty. It's no wonder that her film producer husband thought she needed her very own tiara!



The husband in question was Mike Todd

The King George VI Sapphire Tiara

All photos: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom


As Baby Cambridge is officially on its way, I think it's only right that we celebrate with a week of British bonus tiaras! Let's kick it off with one of Great-Granny Lilibet's sparklers: the King George VI Sapphire Tiara.



You'll also sometimes see this tiara called the "Victorian Sapphire Suite Tiara," and that's because it was acquired

The Princess Grace Van Cleef & Arpels Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Grace of Monaco; Lily Collins; Julia Roberts; tiara detail


Although she was both an Oscar-winning Hollywood star and a princess of one of the world's most glamorous nations, Grace of Monaco's tiara collection was quite slim. This tiara, which she only wore once, was likely never actually hers, but rather was loaned out for the occasion.



The event

Weekend Bonus: The Brabant Laurel Wreath Tiara

Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Duchess of Brabant (born 1973) wears the Brabant Laurel Wreath Tiara (click here for provenance info). Today, Mathilde becomes the first ever queen consort of the Belgians to have been born a Belgian citizen

Weekend Bonus: The Nine Provinces Tiara

Queen Paola of the Belgians (right, born 1937) wears the Nine Provinces Tiara (click for provenance info). Tomorrow, Paola's son, Prince Philippe, will become king when her husband, King Albert II of the Belgians, abdicates; if tradition holds, this tiara will pass to her daughter-in-law, Mathilde. As an extra bonus, Paola's sister-in-law, the late Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of

The Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara

All photos: Queen Fabiola of Belgium


Our final ruby and diamond tiara of the week is one of the most versatile tiaras in any royal's jewelry box: Queen Fabiola of Belgium's convertible diamond tiara. The piece can be worn not only in three different configurations but also with three different sets of colored gemstones.


The Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara is named as a such because it was a) a

The Ruby Dragonfly Tiara

Photos: Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro; tiara detail; Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro; Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro



Another day, another tiara belonging to yet another group of former Italian royals. Sometimes it seems like every other person in Italy must be the grandson of an exiled king, prince, or

The Hutton Ruby Necklace Tiara

All photos: Barbara Hutton


Today's ruby and diamond tiara is something of a mystery, one I'm still working on trying to solve. The only photographs I've been able to track down of the piece show it being worn by American heiress Barbara Hutton, but there are claims that it actually has a much more royal pedigree.


Hutton's tiara is actually a necklace set on a tiara frame. You can see her

The Infanta Eulalia Ruby Star Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Elena Farini de Orleans-Borbón; Beatriz de Orleans-Borbón; Elena Farini de Orleans-Borbón; Elena Farini de Orleans-Borbón


Rubies provide a focal point for the diamond stars that make up this heirloom tiara, one of the few jewels left from a large collection that once belonged to a Spanish princess.



The princess in question was Infanta Eulalia of Spain, the

The Oriental Circlet Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; tiara detail


In terms of royal provenance, it doesn't get much better in the current Windsor collection than the Oriental Circlet Tiara. This sparkler was not only worn by Queen Victoria but also designed by her

Weekend Bonus: The Queen Sofia Star and Pearl Tiara

Queen Sofia of Sweden (1836-1913) wears her star and pearl tiara

Weekend Bonus: The Princess Dagmar Floral Tiara

Princess Dagmar of Denmark (1890-1961) wears her diamond floral tiara

The Cartier Halo Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; the Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon; tiara detail; Princess Anne, the Princess Royal


Our last Cambridge tiara of the week, the Cartier Halo Tiara, didn't have any associations with the title until two years ago. But after Kate Middleton wore the tiara at her wedding to Prince William, then the

The Teck Crescent Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Duchess of Teck; Margaret Cambridge, Marchioness of Cambridge; Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; tiara detail

One of the long-hidden tiaras of the British royal family, the Teck Crescent Tiara, has links to Queen Mary's Cambridge legacy. We've not seen it for years, but unlike many tiaras, we know precisely where it is

The Cambridge Sapphire Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; tiara detail; Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent; the Duchess of Kent; Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent


One Cambridge tiara that will sadly not be available for Kate or her daughters to wear is this one, the originally tiara from the Cambridge family sapphire parure. As is the case with most Cambridge tiaras, this piece's

The Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; Diana, Princess of Wales; Diana, Princess of Wales; tiara detail


One of the reasons I was pulling for William and Kate to be made Duke and Duchess of Cambridge back in 2011 was actually this tiara. Famously associated with his mother, the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara will surely grace

The Cambridge Star Tiara

All photos: Dorothy Cambridge, Marchioness of Cambridge


As we all wait on tenterhooks for the arrival of Baby Cambridge, the future king or queen of the United Kingdom, why not while away the time with at a week of Cambridge-related tiaras! Let's kick it off with a spangly one to bridge from last week's starry extravaganza, shall we?



This tiara, which features alternating diamond stars and

The Queen Emma Diamond Star Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Queen Máxima of the Netherlands; Queen Máxima of the Netherlands; tiara detail; Queen Máxima of the Netherlands


Our final starry sparkler of the week is a bit of a frankentiara -- a piece that features elements of two different items of jewelry mixed together to make a new tiara. As such, it's probably unsurprising that it belongs to one of the

The Queen Sofia Star and Pearl Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg; Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg; Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Countess of Pfeil and Klein-Ellguth; Carina Axelsson; tiara detail; Queen Ingrid of Denmark


Another unusual Danish star tiara is our penultimate piece of the week, although this one began

Short Tiara Delay...

Inconsistent WiFi + international travel = a short tiara delay. Look for posts to continue as usual on Monday! :-)

The Princess Ingeborg Star Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Ingeborg of Sweden; Princess Margarethaa of Denmark; Countess Ruth of Rosenborg; Princess Margaretha of Denmark; Princess Anne of Denmark


Even though turquoises are relatively inexpensive semi-precious gems, many royal families do not own significant pieces of turquoise jewelry, let alone tiaras featuring turquoises. But this tiara, once in royal

The Aosta Knots and Stars Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Elena, Duchess of Aosta; Princess Claude of Orléans; Princess Claude of Orléans; Silvia, the Duchess of Aosta; tiara detail


When the heraldic emblem of your noble/royal family is a fancy knot, it should almost be required that you possess at least one tiara that features knots made of diamonds, don't you think? The stars on this sparkler, which belongs to the

The Queen Maria Pia Star Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Amélia of Portugal; tiara detail; Queen Amélia of Portugal; tiara detail


One of the starriest and spangly-est tiaras that ever graced a royal head is the star tiara of Queen Maria Pia of Portugal. Also called the "Diadem of the Stars," the tiara is a part of the Portuguese Crown Jewels.



Maria Pia, who had been born an Italian princess, commissioned

Weekend Bonus: The Queen Mary Fringe Tiara

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1900-2002) wears the Queen Mary Fringe Tiara. She also wears two necklaces: the Queen Victoria Diamond Collet Necklace, worn by the last four British queens at their coronations, plus a longer collet necklace that was a gift from her husband, King George VI

Weekend Bonus: The Noor-ol-Ain Tiara

Farah Pahlavi (born 1938), the former empress of Iran, wears the Noor-ol-Ain Tiara

The Nine Provinces Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Astrid of the Belgians; Queen Astrid of the Belgians; Queen Astrid of the Belgians; Queen Fabiola of Belgium; tiara detail; Queen Paola of the Belgians


Last week we looked at one of Queen Astrid's tiaras that has disappeared; today, let's round out a week of meander tiaras by looking at one that has remained a central part of the Belgian royal

The Moroccan Meander Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco; Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco


The impressive meander tiara that belongs to the Moroccan royal family is something of a mystery. But that's not especially surprising, given that many things about this royal family have been kept private over the years. The tiara featured at a truly remarkable royal event in the

The Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Cynthia Spencer, Countess Spencer; Charlotte Spencer, Countess Spencer; tiara detail; tiara detail; tiara detail


If you visited the traveling exhibition on the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, today's tiara will look awfully familiar to you. The Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara isn't the most famous of the family's jewels -- that honor goes to the Spencer Tiara,

The Prussian Meander Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Sophie of Prussia; Princess Kira of Prussia; Princess Sophie of Prussia; tiara detail


Several months ago, we saw a kokoshik tiara from the former imperial family of Germany; today, let's have a look at a family tiara that could almost be its twin. This is the kokoshnik-style meander tiara of the Prussian royal family.



The tiara is more than a

The Princess Andrew Meander Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Anne of the United Kingdom; Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark; Zara Phillips; tiara detail


Most of the tiaras in the British royal collection arrived in Windsor hands through members of Queen Elizabeth II's family, especially Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and the Queen Mum. But today's Mountbatten-Windsors trace half of their royal heritage to

Weekend Bonus: The Württemberg Empire Tiara

Queen Charlotte of Württemberg (1864-1946) wears the Württemberg Empire Tiara

Weekend Bonus: The Vladimir Tiara

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (born 1926) wears the Vladimir Tiara with the Cambridge emerald drops. The portrait, which is featured in a new edition of Keepers of the Kingdom, depicts the monarch wearing the robes of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the most senior order of Scottish chivalry

The Empress Eugénie Pearl Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Empress Eugénie of France; tiara detail; Princess Gloria of Thurn and Taxis; Princess Margarethe of Thurn and Taxis


The diamond and pearl tiara of the Duchess of Alba isn't the only major pearl tiara to come from the collection of Empress Eugénie of France. This rather magnificent pearl diadem also traces its way back to the country's last empress, wending

The Alba Pearl Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Eugenia Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart; tiara detail; Eugenia Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart; Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba; Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba


There are royals, there are nobles, and then there's Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, the 18th Duchess of Alba. Cayetana may be mostly

The Tsaritsa Giovanna Pearl Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Miriam of Bulgaria, Princess of Turnovo; tiara detail; Princess Miriam of Bulgaria, Princess of Turnovo; Princess Carla of Bulgaria, Princess of Panagiurishte


Time to peek into the jewel collection of a new royal family, everyone! This is one of the heirloom tiaras that belongs to the former royal family of Bulgaria: the diamond and pearl tiara of

The Stockholm Tiara

Photos (from left): Queen Astrid of the Belgians; tiara detail; Princess Lilian of Belgium (with brooch)


Today, the jewel vaults in Belgium are apparently rather drafty and sparse, but once upon a time, the family had a more substantial collection. One tiara that belonged to the Belgians, but has not been seen in decades, is the Stockholm Tiara.



The rather unusual piece was a wedding gift

The Queen Margherita Musy Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Marie José of Italy; Queen Marie José of Italy; Queen Margherita of Italy; Queen Marie José of Italy; tiara detail; Princess Marina of Savoy


Even though the House of Savoy's tenure as monarchs was a relatively short-lived one -- they ruled over a united Italy for less than a century -- the family still managed to amass quite the jewel collection. And

Weekend Bonus: The Poltimore Tiara

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (1930-2002) wears the Poltimore Tiara; she also wears the Teck Hoop Necklace, which is now owned by Viscount Linley

Weekend Bonus: The Queen Maud Pearl Tiara

Queen Maud of Norway (1869-1938) wears the large version of the original Queen Maud Pearl Tiara

The Golden Poppies Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; tiara detail; Queen Margrethe II of Denmark


Let's wrap up a week of wild, weird, and out-of-this-world tiaras with the wackiest of them all: the Golden Poppies of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.


Made in 1976 by Arje Griegst, this piece ticks all the "unusual tiara" boxes: it's made

The Chaumet Emerald Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; tiara detail


Not all royal families have a tiara in their collections that's fit for a superhero, but I think Wonder Woman could borrow the art deco emerald tiara from Luxembourg in a heartbeat! (I assume superheros attend more white-tie

The Feather Aigrette Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner; tiara detail; Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner; Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner


Princess Märtha Louise may be the member of the Norwegian royal family who claims to be able to speak with angels, but her aunt, Princess Astrid, is the only member of the family that owns a tiara that looks as if it could take flight at any moment.



The

The Modern Gold Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Sonja of Norway; Queen Sonja of Norway; tiara detail; tiara detail


If Princess Madeleine's aquamarine tiara looks like it comes from a mythological creature, this Norwegian tiara looks like it surely was stolen from a warrior princess. Queen Sonja's Modern Gold Tiara is one of the newest additions to the Norwegian royal collection, and it certainly

The Aquamarine Bandeau Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Princess Madeleine of Sweden; Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld; Princess Madeleine of Sweden


There are few royal tiaras more polarizing than this one: the aquamarine bandeau tiara worn by Princess Madeleine of Sweden. Funny how something so simple can be so divisive, huh?


The tiara -- which is often dubbed "the cyclops" for rather

Weekend Bonus: The Canadian Aquamarine Tiara

The Countess of Wessex (born 1965) wears the Canadian Aquamarine Tiara at the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O'Neill

Weekend Bonus: The Modern Fringe Tiara

Princess Madeleine of Sweden (born 1982) wears the Modern Fringe Tiara. Her necklace is strung with diamond drops from the Connaught Diamond Tiara. Today, Madeleine's wedding to American businessman Christopher O'Neill will take place in Stockholm

ETA: It's the wedding tiara! I think I am some sort of tiara oracle...

The Gärdslösa Bridal Crown

All photos: Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler


One of the reasons that I think the Cameo Tiara has become a mainstay of Swedish royal brides is its resemblance in shape to a traditional Swedish bridal crown. When King Carl XVI Gustaf's eldest sister, Princess Margaretha, married John Ambler in 1964, she eschewed a tiara in favor of one of these traditional headpieces.


Margaretha married in

The Cameo Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Birgitta of Hohenzollern; Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; Queen Silvia of Sweden; Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld; tiara detail


When Princess Madeleine of Sweden marries Christopher O'Neill tomorrow in Stockholm, history suggests that it's likely she'll have the family's cameo tiara perched atop her royal crown. The tiara has been worn

The Queen Sofia Diamond and Pearl Tiara

All photos: Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson


Unfortunately, Queen Maud's pearl tiara isn't the only royal tiara to have been targeted by a sticky-fingered thief. More recently, this tiara, the small diamond and pearl sparkler owned by Princess Christina of Sweden (another of the Haga Princesses), was also stolen.



The tiara, which was made by Ribbhagen, had major historical roots. It was

The Queen Maud Pearl Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Princess Märtha Louise of Norway; Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway; Queen Sonja of Norway


Our penultimate Scandinavian wedding tiara of the week, the small version of the Queen Maud Pearl Tiara, has graced the heads of two generations of Norwegian royal women -- and it would have crowned a few more if only it hadn't been involved in a rather

The Crown Princess Victoria Birthday Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; tiara detail; Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden


So far this week we've seen tiaras given to Swedish princesses on their wedding days: this afternoon, let's have a look at a tiara given to a Swedish princess on a milestone birthday. This teeny tiara was presented to Crown Princess Victoria

The Crown Princess Mary Wedding Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Crown Princess Mary of Denmark; Crown Princess Mary of Denmark; Crown Princess Mary of Denmark; tiara detail; Crown Princess Mary of Denmark


When Aussie-born Mary Donaldson married Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004, she sported a brand-new diamond tiara. She also wore an heirloom veil that was first worn by Princess Margaret of Connaught a century

The Queen Louise Diamond Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld; Queen Louise of Sweden; Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld; Queen Louise of Sweden; Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld


Another day, another Haga princess, and another bonus tiara! Today, let's chat about the tiara given to Princess Désirée, the third of four daughters of Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess

The Diamond Daisy Bandeau Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway; Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway


Our second Scandinavian wedding tiara of the week belongs to the lovely Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, who almost always works a simplistic Nordic cool kind of style. This tiara, the Diamond Daisy Bandeau, definitely fits in with her overall look.



The tiara,

The Pearl Circle Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Désirée of Hohenzollern; Princess Birgitta of Hohenzollern; Princess Désirée of Hohenzollern; Princess Désirée of Hohenzollern; tiara detail


Surprise! It's another bonus tiara week, readers! We've got to celebrate Madeleine's upcoming big day in style, don't we? Let's start off with a piece, the Pearl Circle Tiara, that has a connection to another

The Princess Dagmar Floral Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Marie of Denmark; tiara detail; Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; Princess Marie of Denmark


Since she officially became an HRH in 2008, Princess Marie of Denmark has worn precisely one tiara: this diamond floral piece that has been in the family for several generations. From her wedding to the annual Danish New Year's Courts to family celebrations, it's

Weekend Bonus: The Habsburg Fringe Tiara

Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein (born 1967) wears the Habsburg Fringe Tiara at the gala event during the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in April

Weekend Bonus: The Emerald Laurel Wreath Tiara

With the help of Francesca von Habsburg (born 1958), Austrian philanthropist Gery Keszler tries on the Emerald Laurel Wreath Tiara at the Vienna Philharmonic Ball in 2008

The Golden Cross Tiara

Photos (from left): Princess Brigitta Karadjordjević; Queen Maria of Yugoslavia; Queen Maria of Yugoslavia


When the body of Queen Maria of Yugoslavia was brought back to Serbia last month to be reinterred, her grandson, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia, carefully placed this piece, her imposing golden cross tiara, atop his grandmother's flag-draped coffin. The gesture signals the importance

The Vladimir Cartier Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Olga of Yugoslavia; tiara detail; Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark; Princess Olga of Yugoslavia


Time for another peek into the jewelry collection of Princess Olga of Yugoslavia. Olga wasn't only descended from the Greek royal family; like Mignon, the last Yugoslavian queen, Olga also had Russian heritage.

The Boucheron Daisies and Leaves Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Princess Olga of Yugoslavia; Princess Barbara of Yugoslavia; Princess Olga of Yugoslavia


Today's tiara comes from one of the junior lines of the former Yugoslavian royal family. This is the floral tiara created by Boucheron that was once worn by Princess Olga of Yugoslavia, wife of Prince Paul (the cousin of King Alexander I).



Olga was born a

The Maria Alexandrovna Fringe Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Maria of Yugoslavia; Queen Maria of Yugoslavia; Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Queen Marie of Romania; Princess Beatrice, the Duchess of Galliera


In the twentieth century, the Yugoslavian royal family depended on the Romanov heritage of Queen Maria ("Mignon") for much of their glitz and glamour. Just like yesterday's

The Yugoslavian Emerald Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Queen Maria of Yugoslavia; Queen Maria of Yugoslavia; tiara detail; Queen Maria of Yugoslavia


Yesterday, a state funeral was held in Serbia for the late King Peter II, Queen Alexandra, Queen Maria, and Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia. All four had been forced to flee their country during the upheaval of the twentieth century; now, the remains of all

Weekend Bonus: The Ruby Olive Wreath Tiara

Princess Olga of Yugoslavia (1903-1997) wears the Ruby Olive Wreath Tiara with the other pieces (necklace, earrings, and brooch) of the Greek ruby parure

Weekend Bonus: The Danish Emerald Parure Tiara

Queen Ingrid of Denmark (1910-2000) wears the Danish Emerald Parure Tiara along with the earrings, necklace and brooch from the same parure

The Angoulême Emerald Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Princess Marie Thérèse, Duchess of Angoulême; tiara detail; tiara detail


There are tiaras, and then there are tiaras that belonged to the daughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Let's wrap up the week with a look at the emerald tiara that their eldest daughter, the Duchess of Angoulême, wore, shall we? Buckle up, readers -- this is quite the

The Henckel von Donnersmarck Emerald Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara shown with model; Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck; tiara detail; tiara detail

When you're the wife of one of the richest men in the world, it only seems fair that you should be given a truly remarkable tiara. But I'll bet even Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck never predicted that her emerald and diamond tiara would one day be the most expensive

The Flame Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): tiara detail; Princess Shams of Iran; tiara detail; tiara detail; tiara detail


When the last shah of Iran was crowned as the country's emperor in 1967, the ladies of the imperial family went on a tiara shopping spree. One of the tiaras commissioned especially for the occasion was this emerald and diamond piece, the tiara of Princess Shams.



Shams, who was

The Norwegian Emerald Parure Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Princess Ingeborg of Sweden; Queen Sonja of Norway; Crown Princess Märtha of Norway; Queen Sofia of Sweden; tiara detail

The tiara that belongs to the Norwegian royal family's emerald parure is a pretty divisive one -- either you love the piece, with its geometric emeralds, or you don't. It's also a tiara about which much has been incorrectly written,

The Boucheron Black Emerald Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Rania of Jordan; tiara detail; tiara detail; Queen Rania of Jordan


Let's start this week of tiaras with something a bit different, shall we? One of the most unusual tiaras ever to grace a royal head has to be this Boucheron piece, worn by the always-lovely Queen Rania of Jordan back in 2003.


The very modern tiara gets its unique look from the metal

Weekend Bonus: The Belgian Scroll Tiara

Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg (1927-2005) wears the Belgian Scroll Tiara at her wedding to Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg (born 1921) in 1953

Weekend Bonus: The Queen Alexandra Kokoshnik Tiara

Queen Mary of the United Kingdom (1867-1953) wears the Queen Alexandra Kokoshnik Tiara; her necklace is Queen Alexandra's collier résille.

The Delhi Durbar Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; tiara detail; the Duchess of Cornwall


Let's wrap up our week of May's tiaras with a look at the crowning achievement of her impressive collection: the tiara she had created for the Delhi Durbar in 1911.



The durbar was a massive celebration held in Delhi to

The Boucheron Loop Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; tiara detail


If you're a fan of frills, loops, and maybe roller coasters, I have found the tiara for you: the diamond loop tiara made by Boucheron for Queen Mary. Have you ever seen a loop tiara quite this tall?



The tiara was made in 1902 after DeBeers,

The Queen Mary Fringe Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; Princess Anne, the Princess Royal; tiara detail


Unlike many royal families, the Brits don't really have one dedicated tiara in their arsenal meant for brides. The closest the family has to a wedding tiara is this piece: the fringe tiara that

The Queen Mary Amethyst Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; tiara detail; tiara detail


Queen Elizabeth II of the UK has a massive jewel collection, with tiaras featuring all sorts of precious stones. But one notable stone lacking from the queen's tiaras is the amethyst. That wasn't always the case, though; once upon a time the Windsors did have amethyst tiaras, including this

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; Queen Mary of the United Kingdom; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom; tiara detail


Classic, balanced, and chock-full of diamonds, the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara makes a lot of tiara lovers' "best of" lists. It has an impressive royal pedigree behind the beautiful craftsmanship, too.



The tiara was made

Weekend Bonus: The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (born 1972) wears the Danish Ruby Parure Tiara (before recent alterations were made) along with other pieces from the parure

Weekend Bonus: The Greek Emerald Parure Tiara

Queen Anne-Marie of Greece (born 1946) wears the Greek Emerald Parure Tiara

The Strathmore Rose Tiara

Photos (clockwise from top left): Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; tiara detail


One of the more unusual floral tiaras in any royal collection, the Queen Mother's Strathmore Rose Tiara is a piece that remains in the Windsor vaults but hasn't been seen in public in years. Part of the reason for the tiara's disappearing act may